As temperatures drop, it’s important to prepare your home for what’s to come. Ensuring your home is ready for winter can help keep everyone safe and protect your property.
Safety first
Here are five ideas to keep your family safe this winter across your appliances and throughout your home.
- Hire qualified contractors for annual checkups, installation and repair of natural gas appliances.
- Clean burners and surrounding surfaces regularly.
- Maintain a clear path to your natural gas meter all year long to accommodate service visits, periodic safety inspections and emergency situations.
- Be careful using a shovel, snow blower or snowplow when clearing snow and ice near the gas meter. Remove snow and ice carefully by hand, brush or broom.
- Do not use sharp objects, salt, ice-melting chemicals or hot water to remove snow and ice from a meter.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors on a wall or ceiling near all sleeping areas in your home.
- Safeguard your home against powerful surges, which can be triggered by ice storms or faulty wiring. Consider investing in one of the Surge Protection Plans we offer.
If you smell or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately. Once you are in a safe place, call 911 and then call our Gas Leak Hotline at (800) 947-5000.
Did you know?
While DTE works throughout the year to keep energy affordable — buying natural gas in advance of when it’s needed, often when costs are lower — the company is encouraging customers to take simple steps now to make bills even more manageable this winter. Find tips for winter savings at dteenergy.com/staywarm. And, to receive instant rebates on energy-efficient products such as thermostats, insulation kits, advanced power strips and more, visit dtemarketplace.com.
We are committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable energy, and are there for you every step of the way this winter, and always. What tips from the above are you going to prioritize?