Clearing These Two Places of Snow Could Save Your Life

Winter has made its return to Minnesota. We really got hit hard in part of the state, especially in the Twin Cities. Some areas got a foot of snow!

There's going to be plenty of shoveling to do today, but there are two spots in particular that are very important to clear. It could actually save your life, no joke.

ALSO READ: The Deadly Mistake Minnesotans Make While Shoveling

Snow Totals Across Minnesota

The snow totals right now are showing the Twin Cities getting hit the worst with between 6 and 12 inches of snow according to NOAA and the National Weather Service.

Some southern suburbs of the Cities are reporting 12-18 inches, though!

Most of the rest of the state got between 3 and 6 inches of snow. Southern Minnesota really had some issues with the wind, though, with blizzard warnings that go until 3 PM.

The Most Important Things to Clear of Snow

Of course, you're going to get out there are shovel out your driveway if you haven't already. You've got your sidewalk to take care of too if you have one of those in your front yard. But those are the most important things to clear.

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One of them is the fire hydrant closest to your house. Technically, whoever's property it's on is responsible for clearing the fire hydrant. But if you're feeling nice or just want to make sure everyone is going to be safe, feel free to do it yourself.

FOX Weather says you need to clear at least a 3-foot radius around the fire hydrant. The reason this is so important is because if there's a fire, the fire crew can get to the fire hydrant right away rather than spending time digging out the hydrant first.

The second thing that's important to clear is the furnace vent on your house. It's where all of the natural gases come out of your house instead of in.

If the vent is covered, the natural gas has no place to go but inside, which spells bad news for you. It can also cause issues for your furnace, which you don't want in the cold of winter.

They also say it's important to make sure there isn't ice on your gas meter. This can "disrupt heating, potentially causing water pipes inside the home to freeze and burst."

Here are Xcel Energy's tips for clearing your gas meter and furnace vent of snow and ice:

• Gently remove snow or ice with a brush from the natural gas meter, any associated piping and external appliance vents. 
• Carefully shovel around a meter and then remove the snow to create a clear path to the meter for quick access in an emergency. 
• Avoid using a snow blower near a meter. 
• Accumulating snow on the roof can fall and bury meters and clog vent openings. Use precautions to safely clear snow from the roof or hire a professional.