An Alberta Clipper sweeping through the Northern Plains, a Nor'easter sliding up the east coast, or a Gulf of Mexico low pressure area that puts the Deep South under ice are the types of storms that keep power companies busy.

Weather conditions under these winter storms -- ice, heavy snowfall or high winds -- can snap power lines and take away the heat in your home.

Warming Wisdom

Here are a few words for the wise when your home's heat dies:

• Light your fireplace; make sure you keep the flue open for ventilation.
  
   

• Keep cabinet doors open under sinks so that warmer air can flow around pipes.
  
   

• Hang a towel on the wall behind the sink.
  
   

• Close drapes and cover openings under doors with towels and/or blankets.
  
   

• Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers. Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
  
   

• Turn on faucets so that water drips constantly, especially when temperatures sink below 20°F with a strong wind howling outside.
  
   

• Close off rooms that don't contain pipes.
  
   

• Using a gas stove or kerosene space heater for heat is not recommended, but if you must, crack windows on each side of the room to prevent build-up of carbon monoxide. Once your heater is operating, always keep the thermostat above 55.

Troubleshooting Broken-Down Heaters

When your heat goes off, it could be because of a general, regional outage or it could mean that something is wrong with your heating system. Chances are, you'll know about a power outage but if you suspect the problem lies in your system, there are some trouble-shooting procedures to follow that might get your furnace up and running again.

Steam Heating System

• Turn off the unit.
  
   

• Check the water level in the boiler; add water slowly if low.
  
   

• Call a service person if you need to add water to the boiler often. There might be a leak.

Forced (Warm) Air Heating System

• Check the circuit breaker for the heating unit and reset if it's switched off.
  
   

• Keep ventilation areas clear of furniture and any other items that might be blocking it.
  
   

• Clean the grills and change the air filter once a month. Newer metal filters last a year and can be hosed down with warm water to clean.

Hot Water Systems

• Check to see that all temperature and pressure gauges are set to normal.
  
   

• Clear system of excess air.

Gas Furnace

Check to see if the pilot light is on. If not, do the following:

• Open the panel and set the control knob to pilot.
  
   

• Using a flashlight, find the pilot fixture and light it with a match.
  
   

• Turn the control to on.
  
   

• Set the thermostat on high to see if system is functional.
  
   

• Repeat this procedure, as necessary, by first turning the control off and starting again.

Ice Inside Your Pipes

If your heat's out and theres no water pressure when you turn on faucet, you probably have ice clogging one of your pipes. When water freezes it expands about four percent, and may cause your pipes to crack. If there's a leak, water will flood your house and basement soon after your heat gets turned on.

Try this quick fix:

• Turn on faucet nearest to the pipe with the suspected ice block.
  
   

• Follow the pipe to where it meets an outside wall.
  
   

• Find the part of the pipe that is exposed to cold air.
  
   

• Use a hairdryer to melt the ice. Move it up and down and about a foot above where you suspect the ice is clogging the pipe.
  
   

• Call a plumber to inspect the pipes.