City of Orange City – Cold Weather Guidelines

The City of Orange City offers tips to help customers save money on utility bills while also remaining comfortable.

During normal winter conditions, it is recommended to turn down thermostats at night to save energy. But, in extreme cold, the advice depends on a customer’s home efficiency and furnace reliability.

Customers with more efficient homes and reliable furnaces can continue to set back their temperature at night to save energy and money – or program a smart thermostat to do it automatically.

For a less-efficient home or less-reliable furnace, swings in temperature settings can increase the load and stress on the furnace to reach a comfortable temperature in the morning. If either is a concern, it is recommended that those customers reduce their thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting and maintain that temperature until the frigid conditions improve.

Customers concerned about their furnace efficiency or optimizing home heat should contact a trusted heating and cooling professional.

Orange City Municipal Utility (OCMU) provides these tips to help customers maintain comfort while also saving on utility bills:

  • Check your furnace filter. If the filter is dirty, replace it according to the furnace manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • If your home furnace has outdoor plastic intake and exhaust vent pipes, clear any snow and ice to ensure they’re not blocked.
  • Check your interior supply and return air vents, baseboards and radiators to make sure warm air can circulate indoors.
  • Limit the use of space heaters when possible. Instead, add a layer of clothing or an extra blanket. If you use a space heater, place it at least three feet away from other objects. Shut it off when you go to sleep or leave the area.
  • If you have window curtains, keep them closed at night to help stop cold air that leaks in through your windows. During the day, open them when it’s sunny to help warm your home. Close curtains on windows that are not in direct sunlight.
  • If you feel cold air drafting in through windows or doors, consider adding weather stripping.
  • Do not use a gas stove to heat your home and do not run a generator indoors. This can result in carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • A working carbon monoxide detector is just as important as a smoke alarm. Test both regularly. Carbon monoxide is odorless. CO poisoning can cause flu-like symptoms – even death. If you suspect CO poisoning, dial 911, seek fresh air and remain outside or elsewhere until help arrives.
  • If you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately. From another location at a safe distance, call OCMU at 707-5000.
  • Hire a professional to inspect and service your furnace once a year to make sure it’s working correctly, which will help keep you safe and warm during the next cold snap.