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Cold Weather Precautions

Heat policy

The heating season in Illinois generally extends from September 15th to June 1st during which time rental units must be supplied with heat in order to acheive minimum indoor room temperatures. The minimum temperatures are generally set by local ordinances. CHAD complies with all municipal heating standards. Please refer to the attached municipal heating ordinance chart to determine what the minimum heat standards are, and when during the year the standards are effective.

CHAD considers sufficient heat to range from 68 to 72 degrees, which either meets or exceeds the heat ordinances in the communities that we serve. Therefore, residents should not contact the CHAD maintenance department regarding inadequate or no heat if the thermostat registers the minimum required temperature per the municipal ordinance of the town in which you reside.

Please be advised that CHAD residents will be charged for a "no heat" service call if the CHAD maintenance technician finds the room temperature is at or above the minimum required standard.

Heating requirements

Exceptions may apply for older buildings and heating systems that are operating at full capacity.
These rules apply for apartment buildings only. Townhomes, duplexes and houses control their own heat.

Inadequate heat

To report a problem regarding inadequate heat or a malfunctioning furnace or boiler, please call the following numbers:

During business hours: (8:00 am–4:30 pm Monday–Friday)

By phone: Please contact CHAD's main office at (630) 456-4452 x220. Hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We will try to help you resolve the issue over the phone. If that is not possible, we will submit a maintenance request form to our maintenance staff.

By email: Please email twilliams@chadhousing.org and describe the nature of the problem and the maintenance needed. No charge is made for repairs or maintenance unless such repairs or maintenance are the result of negligence or mistreatment by a tenant or guest of the tenant.

After business hours: (4:30 pm–8:00 am Monday–Friday and all day Sat. & Sun.)

By phone: 630-456-4452; Press 3

Snow removal

Responsibility for snow removal varies depending on your location and the agreement you’ve entered into with the landlord. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of Lease, the responsibility for snow and/or ice removal ("Snow Removal") shall be as follows:

1. Single-family homes. Tenants are responsible for snow removal of all common/private area walkways and driveways.
2. Townhouses/Condominiums. For townhomes and condos that are part of a large complex with an Association, the Association is responsible for snow removal of all parking lots and common walkways. If there is no Association, then the Tenant is responsible for snow removal of all walkways and driveways.
3. Two Flats (Duplexes). For Duplexes that are part of an Association, the Association is reponsible for snow removal for all common areas; the tenant is responsble for snow removal of driveways and private walkways. For Duplexes that are not part of any Association, the tenant is repsonsible for snow removal of all common and private walkways and driveways.
4. Four or more units. CHAD is responsible for snow removal of all parking lots and common area walkways.

Snow will be removed when there is an accumulation of more than two (2) inches of snow on sidewalks and parking lots. Snow removal will start either at the beginning of the day or when the snow stops falling. Residents are to notify maintenance on the routine maintenance work order phone line at 630-456-4452 x200 of any problem areas or ice after snow removal has been completed.

Tenants are advised not to use rock salt on concrete as the chemical reaction is likely to damage the surface of the concrete.

Space heaters

As the temperature drops during the fall and winter season, many people may turn to alternative heat sources, such as portable space heaters, to help warm their homes. CHAD only allows the use of portable electric space heaters with prior written consent. Kerosene heaters are prohibited. However, it is important to be cautious with this option. Many people are unaware that the risk of fire from space heaters is 3 to 4 times higher than from central heating equipment.

Once you are approved to use space heater by CHAD, please follow these simple precautions to keep your place safe and warm.

• When purchasing an electric space heater, look for heaters with automatic shut-off features.
• Only use equipment that has the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Mark, which shows that the product has been safety tested.
• Give Space Heaters Space. Place the heater at least three feet from any combustible material such as furniture, rugs/carpets or draperies.
• While heater cords normally become warm during use, stop using the heater if the cord becomes hot.
• Never use an extension cord with a space heater.
• Do not use electric space heaters in bathrooms or in other areas near sources of water.
• Place the heater on the floor; never place on a counter top or furniture.
• Turn off/unplug the space heater whenever you leave your home.
• Portable electric space heaters should not be used to warm beds, dry clothing, thaw pipes, or cook food.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, invisible toxic gas that results from malfunctioning or improperly maintained fuel-burning appliances, such as furnaces and stoves and idling cars in a garage. Be alert for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning which includes headaches, nausea, fatigue, stomach pain, dizziness or drowsiness. During prolonged or high exposures to Carbon Monoxide, symptoms may worsen and include vomiting, confusion, and collapse in addition to loss of consciousness and muscle weakness. CO poisoning may occur sooner in more vulnerable persons, such as young children, elderly people, and people with heart and lung diseases.

All CHAD properties are equipped with working CO detectors. If the CO detector alarm goes off:

• Make sure it is the CO detector and not the smoke detector
• Check to see if any member of the household in experiencing symptoms of poisoning
• If they are, get them out of the house immediately and seek medical attention. Call 911. Tell the physician that you suspect CO poisoning
• If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the house with fresh air, turn off all sources of CO (furnace, gas stove, gas water heater, gas dryer, vehicle)
• Notify CHAD maintenance staff to inspect fuel-burning appliances to make sure they are operating correctly.

Frozen pipes

Generally, CHAD, as the landlord, is responsible for maintaining pipes in good working order and will be responsible for any necessary repairs. However, during severe cold weather events, it is often necessary to take precautions against freezing pipes, such as leaving water trickling from a faucet or maintaining adequate heat in the housing unit. Tenants who fail to take these precautions may find themselves responsible for damages.

To prevent damage from frozen water to your personal belongings and CHAD property, please follow these tips:

• Always leave your heat thermostat set at, or above, 65 degrees, especially if you will be gone for an extended amount of time.
• Open your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors on cold nights or if you will be gone, to allow warm air to circulate around the water pipes.
• Make sure all windows are securely closed to prevent freezing drafts from entering your apartment. This includes windows in common areas, such as laundry rooms. Notify maintenance of any cold air drafts from outside you may feel.
• Notify maintenance if you don't have hot or cold water at any of your faucets, this is the first sign of pipes freezing.

Natural gas emergency

In the event of a MAJOR GAS LEAK, call NICOR Gas at 1-888-NICOR4U or 1-888-642-6748. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NICOR Gas should be contacted immediately if:

• You smell natural gas (exception: a faint odor near an appliance that goes away after the pilot is lit).
• You hear natural gas leaking (hissing sound).
• Your gas service is suddenly interrupted.