The Polar Vortex: Are You Protected?

The Polar Vortex: it sounds almost otherwordly, like a malicious entity from a science fiction movie, or a faraway frigid realm in which one is destined to dwell in perpetuity. For those in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the U.S. who recently experienced an actual polar vortex, however, those imaginative notions don't seem so far fetched. Actually a large-scale cyclone near either the North or South Pole, a polar vortex has the power to create drastically cold temperatures in a region spanning several hundred or even thousands of miles from its point of origin.

Words can't sufficiently convey the kind of cold we're talking about. All the recent images of men with frosty beards, women with frozen eyelashes, and children with frostbitten fingers do a better job of illustrating the effects of temperatures that plunge and stay far beyond zero. Words can, however, convey tips for keeping your body and your home's plumbing system safe from a future Polar Vortex, or as we call them here on earth, a cold snap. Here are a few:

Polar-Vortex Proof Yourself:

• Layer. Imagine you're an onion, and put on almost as many layers, which are more effective at trapping warmth than just one big coat. Needless to say when you go outside, keep all of your skin, hands, face, the exposed bits of wrist between your mittens and your coat sleeves covered up.
• Pay attention to colors and sensations. White, red, or blue-tinted skin can be a sign of incipient frostbite, as can a pins-and-needles feeling. If you notice any of these signs, try to move to a warm, indoor environment ASAP.
• Invest in hand warmers. There are some amazing gel hand warmers available nowadays that are petite enough to fit inside gloves or mittens, affordable, and reusable. Outfit yourself and your loved ones with some, and remember that the elderly and children are particularly vulnerable to frostbite.

Polar Vortex-Proof Your North Carolina House

• Let them leak. When temperatures fall below the freezing point for more than 24 hours, turn your faucets on and allow water to drip from them. Sound crazy? A small trickle of water can actually help prevent your pipes from freezing.
• Wrap 'em up. Insulate your home's pipes by wrapping thick blankets and towels around them, and snuggle your water heater in a blanket that's been approved by its manufacturer for that purpose.
• Open all your doors. Cabinet doors, that is. Doing so will enable the heat inside your house to better circulate and reach interior pipes.
• Thermostat limit: 55! Keep your thermostat set to a minimum of 55 degrees when you leave the house to go to work or take a trip.