Getting Ready for Winter

Yazar: admin October 14, 2008

1. Close windows, doors, and vents tight.
> In warm weather we all open these for air conditioning and
sometimes
> forget to close them so take a tour around your place and shut
tightly
> any openings that will allow cold air into your house.
>
> 2. Look for leaks and seal them.
> While touring the house look for air leaks and gaps around door,
> windows, etc. Expanding foam, caulk, and weatherstripping is cheap
and
> will save big bucks in heat loss.
>
> 3. Get or make draft blockers.
> Most doors leak air around the base. you can bunch up old towels or
> make a draft blocker to keep that cold air out.
>
> 4. Insulate your windows.
> Windows lose alot of heat and you can keep this heat in with a
simple
> insulating blanket. you can use old quilts or make a window quilt
out
> of batting and material cut to your window size. Attach to top of
> window and roll it up on sunny days to allow sunlight in and down
on
> cold nights to keep heat in. Try to seal it tight round window
frame
> at night.
>
> 5. Create dead air.
> Covering your windows with clear plastic blocks wind penetration
and
> creates a dead air space that acts as insulation keeping cold out
and
> heat in. Ready made plastic sheets are available at most stores or
cut
> and staple from a big roll. I use cardboard strips and staple thru
> these around edges to keep wind from ripping loose the plastic.
>
> 6. Close off rooms you don’t need.
> Most homes have rooms rarely used so close these off and close the
> heat vents in these rooms for winter. Seal around the door bottom
to
> keep heat from leaking in. Conserve space that has to be heated
and if
> things are real tight move people into a shared room for sleeping
as
> many bodies in a small room will heat it without much extra heat
needed.
>
> 7. Break out the quilts, sweaters, and long johns.
> extra layers on your bed and clothing will keep you toasty without
> heating a whole room. Get kids and elderly thermal underwear.
>
> 8. Check your faucets.
> Outside faucets may need to be turned off at the source and
insulated.
> Drain and store hoses and blow out your sprinkler system. Indoor
> faucets may need to be left running a small stream to prevent
> freezing. RV tanks should be winterized with appropriate potable
> antifreeze.
>
> 9. Get your vehicle ready.
> Antifreeze should be fresh, windshield wipers new, tires in good
> shape, batteries in good shape, oil changed and possibly use a
> different winter weight, and heater in good order. Do you need tire
> chains ? When did you have your car tuned up last ? Have an ice
> scraper, first aid kit, food, water, tow strap, and blanket in the
car
> if you get stranded or slide off the road. Cell phone if you have
one.
>
> 10. Put away summer tools.
> Gather up your summer tools and fix or replace broken ones. Coat
metal
> edges with wd40 for rust prevention. Empty the mower gas and store
> everything in a dry place. Tarps work if you don’t have a shed.
>
> 11. Get out the winter tools.
> wheres your snow shovel and winter boots ? Get some de-icer for the
> walks. Sart the snow blower and check fluids. OR hire a kid to
shovel
> your walks and save you back and neck!
>
> 12. Rain barrels, water troughs, and ice.
> Any container left with water will freeze and probably burst so
store
> your water where its warm and empty outside containers. Clean your
> gutters and remove anything that will cause a dangerous ice dam
from
> your roof.
>
> 13. Check your heaters.
> Dirty air filters waste heat and money. Propane hoses get weak,
> fittings get loose, and thermostats break. If you need a serious
> repair get professional help and do it before the heater is needed.
>
> 14. Get wood stoves ready.
> Inspect them for rust, leaks, and cracks. Clean your flues and
> chimneys or have someone do it. Chimney fires kill people and
destroy
> many homes each winter. Consider investing in an ecofan for your
> woodstove. If you haven’t got your wood yet check at the lumber
mills
> for slabs which are cheap and good source of wood.
>
> 15. Get propane and heating oil now.
> Propane and heating oil will go higher in winter so get it now
while
> prices are lower. Check propane stoves for leaks and old hoses and
get
> a cm detector, gas detector and extra fire extinguisher.
>
> 16. Check detector batteries.
> Detector batteries should be new for winter and test each unit. I
> recommend fire, smoke, cm, and gas detectors for all homes and get
an
> extra fire extinguisher. Have a family fire plan and teach your
kids.
>
> 17. Kerosene, gas, and carbon monoxide kill.
> Do not store or refill kerosene appliances in the house. Do not use
> these to start a fire. Don’t start your car in the garage and let
it
> run or carbon monoxide will enter the home. Do not use barbecues of
> any kind to heat a home or confined space.
>
> 18. Insulate attics.
> If you have the money add another layer of insulation to your attic
> above the ceiling as this is where alot of heat is lost. Also seal
the
> attic opening for winter to keep heat loss down.
>
> 19. Most states offer winter heat programs for the elderly,
disabled,
> and low income. Don’t let your pride keep you from using these
> programs if you need them. Staying safe and healthy is smart.
>
> 20. Take care of yourself.
> If you get sick you won’t be able to work or care for your family
and
> homestead. Get your flu shot, get a physical, take a multi-vitamin
and
> extra vitamin C. Eat healthy and exercise. Stay socially active but
> avoid large groups and people that are obviously sick. Don’t shake
> hands and wash your hands often- people will understand. Flu kills
> thousands every winter.
>
> 21. If you have solar power.
> Check you panels and connections and make sure they can withstand
high
> winds and heavy snow loads. Leaving snow around panels will act as
a
> reflector and might increase panel output. Be careful getting on
roofs
> to scrape panels. I use a pole and scraper from the ground. Replace
> bad batteries, refill water in low batteries, and put an insulating
> blanket around batteries to keep them warm.
>