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Winter Safety

When cold weather strikes, it can sometimes cause issues with water pipes and even natural gas pipelines. We want to make sure our customers are prepared. Here are a couple of quick reminders to stay safe and warm during winter months:

  1. Boost Your Energy Efficiency. From changing your furnace filter to checking for leaks in weather stripping around doors and windows, we put together 5 Tips to Save on Heat. There are many simple steps you can take to stay warm and save on energy.

  2. Say NO to C.O. Check the batteries on your smoke detector and carbon monoxide (C.O.) detector! If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector, now is the time to pick one up. If you ever hear your detector sound its alarm or if you experience carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, you should open your windows and doors, exit your home, and call 911. Here is some helpful information about Carbon Monoxide Safety.

  3. Prevent Frozen Pipes. Frozen pipes can burst, causing extensive damage to plumbing, walls, ceilings, and floors. Here are some tips to prevent frozen pipes. 

  4. Protect Your Gas Meter. Your gas meter is relatively weather-proof, but you can help to ensure that it keeps working smoothly. You can remove snow and ice from your gas meter with a broom or brush, but NEVER kick or try to chip snow or ice away with a hard object. Also, you should never wrap or box in your meter with insulation, blankets, or plastic...gas meters require open air around them! You can get more winter gas meter safety tips here.

  5. Stay Safe Around Space Heaters. Always install and use space heaters in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Unvented space heaters are not to be used as the sole source of heat in your home.

Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Frozen water pipes can cause hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars' worth of damage, resulting from burst plumbing or damaged walls, ceilings, and floors. Before colder temperatures take hold, take time to make sure your water pipes do not freeze during the winter.

Locate pipes that are most susceptible to freezing: those near outer walls, in crawl spaces, or in attics. Both copper and plastic water pipes can burst. If pipes are close to an exposed outside wall, wrap pipes with pipe insulation or layers of newspaper with plastic to keep out moisture. As cold weather sets in, you can open any attic, closet, or cabinet door to let room heat in.

It only takes a day or two of sub-freezing temperatures to cause damage. If you plan to be away from home for a period of time, consider "winterizing" your pipes (turning off the main water valve and opening all faucets to drain the system), even if you have someone looking in on your home while you're gone. Be aware that leaks sometimes don't show up until a pipe thaws, which can cause extensive damage to walls.

If you own a rental property (vacant or occupied), check frequently to be sure the building is adequately heated or, in the case of a vacant property, consider winterizing the building as above.

If your water pipes do freeze, call a professional to thaw them. NEVER use a torch.

  • Need Help With Your Gas Bill?

    We all need a helping hand sometimes. That's why we created our anonymous ProgramFinder. Answer a few simple questions, and we'll show you which customer support programs you may be eligible for and how to apply!

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  • Prepare for Severe Weather with Our Winter Safety Tips

    With severe weather approaching, it’s a good idea to review our winter tips to stay safe and warm. As a reminder, if your service is interrupted during the upcoming winter storm or due to frigid temperatures, please call our 24/7 emergency hotline at 1-800-400-4271 and we will respond as quickly as possible.

  • Give the Gift of Warmth

    The Gift of Warmth is a digital gift card that is applied directly to a Peoples customer's account. Through our partnership with ACI Speedpay, you can now purchase a Gift of Warmth digital gift card for any current Peoples customer in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, or Kentucky. Whether you're hoping to help an elderly parent by taking care of their gas bill this month, or give your college student a bit of breathing room, or just surprise a friend or family member, the Gift of Warmth is a personal, practical gift that shows you care!

    Give a Gift of Warmth