Get ready because the cold is coming

Bay area residents, gather your blankets. There's a freeze forecast for Thursday morning. Although it's only one night (and we're not expected to have the same problems that stemmed from 11 consecutive freezing nights in January), there are still preparations to be made.

For those worried about electric bills, there are several things you can do to keep your house from leaking heat - and money - during a cold snap:

•To find where air is leaking, light a stick of incense and hold it along the edges of windows and doorways. Any flow of air will affect the stream of smoke.

•Caulk any gaps where air is escaping; if old caulking is cracked or chipping, scrape it away and apply new caulk.

•Weather stripping along the bottoms of doors will stop the air flow.

•If you have a fireplace, warm air is probably escaping from it. Very few fireplace flues offer an airtight seal. A simple solution: an inflatable fireplace plug or chimney balloon - and you can install one in less than five minutes. A quick-release valve means the plug deflates in seconds when you're ready to use the fireplace again. They cost about $60.

•Attic entryways are rarely insulated, providing the perfect escape route for hot air. Insulating attic entryways is usually an easy do-it-yourself project - or you can purchase an insulated cover that fits your need.

•That plastic film that covers windows works. Kits come with plastic sheets and two-sided tape; all you have to supply is a little effort and the heat from a hair dryer to shrink the plastic and make the seal.

•Run appliances that generate heat, such as a washer or dishwasher, during the cooler evening hours. And always run full loads.

•Open curtains during the day, and let the sun help warm a room; close them at night to retain heat.

•Turn the thermostat on your hot-water tank down to 120 degrees.

•Change the filters in your forced-air furnace.

•Reverse the rotation on ceiling fans for an updraft that allows hot air to circulate without creating a breeze.

Even if you can't get to these money-saving moves before Thursday, there are precautions you can take.

•Cover sensitive plants to trap the ground's heat.

•Bring pets inside.

•If you live near strawberry farms, turn off wells that do not have an automatic shut-off device.

•Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from any combustible material.

•Do not leave any heater or fireplace untended.

A staff and wire report