Cold Weather Resources
Warming Centers
Both DuPage and Will counties maintain lists of facilities that act as warming centers during periods of extreme cold. Please contact the facilities listed below before you utilize them to ensure they are open.
Preparing Yourself and Loved Ones
- If you must go outside, dress in layers.
- Make sure body parts most often affected by frostbite are covered in warm, dry clothing. These include your nose, ears, toes, cheeks, chin, and fingers.
- Wear hats, scarves, and mittens or gloves.
- If you are concerned about a loved one's well-being, contact the Naperville Police Department at (630) 420-6666 to arrange for a non-emergency wellness check.
Preparing Your Pets
- Bring your pets indoors.
- Do not leave your pets alone in a vehicle.
- Make sure your pet has a warm, dry place with plenty of food and water.
- Keep salt away from pets' paws.
- If you see an animal outdoors and in need, become their advocate. Contact Naperville Animal Control at (630) 420-6178 to report an animal in distress.
Preparing Your Home
- Be extremely cautious when using space heaters. Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including paper, clothing, or rugs. Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces and plug them directly into a wall outlet.
- Check your chimneys and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are in working order.
- Do not use ovens or any other gas-powered appliance to help heat your home.
- Make sure furnace vents are clear of snow and ice. High-efficiency furnaces have exhaust vents closer to the first floor level of homes and must be kept clear.
- Make sure your gas meter is clear of snow and ice to keep it in working order.
Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes can burst, causing serious inconvenience to residents. One of the best ways to prevent this is to allow water to drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes, which are those in unheated interior areas (basements, garages) or those that run against exterior walls. Even a little water running through the pipe can prevent them from freezing.
Other tips from the American Red Cross include:
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- Keep your thermostat at the same temperature, day and night.
- If you will be away from your home during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55F.
If your pipes freeze, do not use a blowtorch, a kerosene or propane heater, or any other open-flame device to heat them. Use an electric hair dryer or wrap towels soaked in hot water around the frozen area. If you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber. If your pipes burst, make sure you shut off your water service at the main shut-off valve at your home.
Residents who notice weaker than normal water pressure with no signs of frozen pipes or have no water should contact Naperville's Customer Care Center at (630) 420-6060.
Preparing Your Vehicles
- Ensure you have a full tank of gas in your vehicle. Keep at least a half a tank of gas in your car to prevent fuel lines from freezing.
- Do not warm your vehicle up in an enclosed area, such as your garage, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Check your battery, coolant, and tires.
- Have jumper cables ready.
- Pack a blanket if you must travel during extremely cold weather.
