13 Items That Are Essential to Prepare Your Home For Winter Power Outages

Are you prepared in case your power goes out during the winter months?

Do you have extra batteries?

Do you buy food that’s nonperishable to keep on hand?

These are things you must think about in order to prepare for this winter. With the polar vortex rearing its ugly head again, we could be in for another brutally cold winter!

No one wants to be left in the cold for days without supplies. It wouldn’t be smart to know about the potential risks and not prepare for the worst. You’ll thank yourself later when you have enough supplies, and your family isn’t upset about being hungry or cold.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), there are a few essentials that should be on your list including:

1. Portable cell phone charger
2. Battery powered radio
3. Extra batteries
4. Portable heater or kerosene heater
5. Dry firewood or gas log fireplace
6. Fire extinguisher
7. Flashlights or lanterns
8. Drinking water
9. First aid kit
10. Rock salt or cat litter
11. Canned / no-cook food
12. Non- electric can opener
13. Prescription drugs and other medicines

Is there anything on our list that were missing? Please let us know what you have stored away for safe keeping! We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Call us today at (734) 424-9555 to arrange an appointment for one of CMR Mechanical’s experienced heatingand cooling Ann Arbor technicians to visit your home or business. We’ll measure your home and survey your needs, and recommend the correct heating and cooling system to maximize your comfort. We pride ourselves on honest, quality service!

Mold & Mildew Love Winter Weather – What Our Heating and Cooling Ann Arbor Technicians Say You Need to Know To Prevent It

Do you have high humidity levels in your house?

Have you had problems with a leaky roof or basement?

Is your bathroom or laundry room carpeted?

Do you have rooms that are drafty due to less insulation?

If you answered, “Yes” to any of the above questions then you might have a serious chance of developing mold and mildew if you don’t solve the problem. Many people have high humidity in their homes or have suffered a leaky roof, but fail to realize that there could be other issues as well.

The heating and cooling professionals at CMR Mechanical can help eliminate humidity and drafty rooms in your home. We’ll measure your home and survey your needs to recommend the correct heating system to maximize your comfort.

According to The Weather Channel, homeowners should do the following to remain mold and mildew free including:

• Keep the humidity level in the house between 40% and 60%.
• Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
• Be sure the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans.
• Add mold inhibitors to paints before application.
• Clean bathrooms with mold-killing cleaning products.
• Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.
• Remove or replace wet carpets and upholstery.

If you’re still having issues controlling the amount of mold and mildew developing in your home after putting the suggested tips into action, then it may be time to call a professional! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mold?

Mold and mildew are microscopic bacteria that produce enzymes to digest organic matter and spores to reproduce. However, when mold wants to digest organic materials like our homes, our health is at risk.  

How do I know if I have a mold problem?

You know you have a mold problem when you smell a musty odor. Common places to find mold would be where previous water damage has occurred, like behind wall coverings, furnishings, inside cold exterior walls, etc.

How does mold grow?

When mold finds its way in your home, it needs moisture to begin developing and feed off.

Our heating and cooling Ann Arbor technicians can evaluate your homes ventilation system, air conditioner and furnace to see if it’s affecting your homes production of mold. We pride ourselves on honest, quality service!