BY DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ

david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com

From car-washing to cabinet-opening, local agencies responsible for roads and utilities shared insights on steps that can be taken in response to the exceptionally cold weather this week.

Among the more apparent: Allowing extra time for travel can facilitate slower, more cautious driving; pulling over into a safe area — typically, off a roadway — is advised if driving feels unsafe; opening window coverings when the sun is out heats the home, while closing coverings after the sun sets provides insulation; and utility companies advise staying away from and reporting downed power lines, which are sometimes felled by accumulated ice.

“Don’t ever assume (a downed line) is off,” said Christy Twyman, customer relations and communications manager at Bowling Green Municipal Utilities.

Among the less apparent, but still fairly known: Letting faucets drip water prevents them from freezing; getting cars washed after snow is widely advised, given that agencies keep roads clear in large part via salt and brine, which are corrosive.

And, Bowling Green Public Works advises against pushing snow onto the streets.

“Folks will go out in a heavy snow and do their driveway and their sidewalk, and they push all of that out into the street,” BGPW Director Andy Souza said. “Well, when our plow comes by, it’s going to push it right back — so push it onto your lawn. Don’t push it into the street and cause problems for everybody else.”

Souza had other advice for local travel.

“If you see our trucks out, it’s probably not a good idea to tailgate them, because they’re literally spitting out chunks of salt that are about the size of marbles,” he said. “You don’t want your car pelted with rock salt coming out of the back of a spreader.”

Souza also advised that people who have a driveway avoid parking their cars on the streets to help provide space for the snow plows.

“That would help us, because these plows are big, and so, if your street’s pretty narrow, and everybody parks on both sides of the road, if we can’t get a plow up it, we’re not going to plow it,” he said.

Souza added that the plows, along with first responders, use flashing lights, and he asked that drivers who see them — especially during inclement weather — give them more room, as they’re trying to do work.

Twyman, from BGMU, had additional insights on utilities.

For insulation as temperatures drop, BGMU urges that customers caulk and seal air leaks surrounding windows and doors. Closing off vents and doors to unused rooms helps concentrate warmth where it’s most needed, she added. 

Disconnecting garden hoses from outdoor spigots better enables water to eventually drip out, whereas leaving them connected means if that if there’s water within, it’ll freeze and cause expansion and potential damage, she said.

Opening indoor cabinets allows the warm indoor air to circulate in cabinet and warm the pipes, which is especially beneficial if the other side of the cabinet is a wall exposed to the outdoors, she said.

Reversing ceiling fans so that they rotate clockwise at a low speed will push warm air down, she added.

While natural gas meters are weather-proof, protecting them can improve how smoothly they work, according to Atmos Energy. In a release, the utilities giant advised clearing ice and snow from natural gas meters by using a broomstick or brush, and avoiding kicking or chipping snow and ice away with a hard object. Those with concerns about their meter can call Atmos Energy’s emergency line at (866) 322-8667.

Atmos Energy also advised ensuring external vents for natural gas equipment such as dryers are clear, as blocked vents can cause a dangerous carbon monoxide buildup. The company adds that questions about proper venting can be directed to a licensed plumber or qualified contractor.