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INDIANAPOLIS — With bitter cold temperatures moving into central Indiana, service crews want to make sure you are safe and prepared, both on the road and at home.
Phil Westrick, from Tyler Automotive, says there are a few steps you can take now, starting with testing your car's battery.
"The cold weather is really hard on the battery," Westrick said. "So that is probably the biggest thing. We want to make sure the car is going to start."
You also want to make sure your car is going to stop. Westrick says that means checking the traction on your tires, either at home or at an auto shop. Additionally, don't forget about your wiper blades and winter washer fluid.
"Wiper blades do a great job of clearing water," Westrick said. "What they don't do a great job at is being snowplows."
Heavy snow on wiper blades can damage the wiper transmission, which Westrick says can be an expensive repair.
"Take the extra two or three minutes," Westrick said. "Clear off all the snow."
When you get home, there are a few more steps to save you time and money. Josh Elliott, with Williams Comfort Air, suggests starting with your furnace and making sure the filter is clean.
"The dirty filter can cause restriction in airflow and cause your furnace to overheat," Elliott said.
Next, lower your home's thermostat by a few degrees to take some pressure off the furnace.
Elliott also suggests letting faucets on exterior walls drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
Lastly, Elliott asks homeowners to keep their garage doors shut.
"Don't leave your garage doors open," Elliott said. "That is a huge opening, and it lets a lot of frigid air into the house, which will wreak havoc on your furnace. It will never keep up. So make sure you keep those closed."
Whether it is your home or your car, both pros say it's best to prepare for the unexpected.
"Have a blanket in the car," Westrick said. "Make sure your cellphone is charged or you have a reserve battery."
Right now, Williams Comfort Air is working around the clock. At Tyler Automotive, crews brought in all of their technicians on Tuesday.
industrial annealing furnace "We've got a full parking lot," Westrick said. "We are here to help as much as possible and can definitely get people taken care of."