Tag Archives: Winter

Fall is a Great Time to Prepare for Winter

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When I woke up this morning it was really cold outside.  It came on all of a sudden, as it tends to do in Pennsylvania.  So as we move toward the winter months (which seem to last from November through April in Pennsylvania), it’s a great time to think about things you can do to be prepared for winter.

First, it’s a good idea to check your home for places that cold may seep in.  If you have drafty windows or doors, you may want to add plastic over the windows, insulated drapes, and perhaps tuck a towel (or some other fancier draft stopper) under the door.  If you have cold walls, hanging a tapestry or quilt can add a layer of insulation.  If your floors are cold, area rugs can help.  And if you have houseplants, you should move them away from the windows a bit so they don’t get too cold.

It’s also a great idea to make sure you are ready when the snowflakes start flying.  I have seen several inches of unexpected snow in central Pennsylvania as early as mid-October.  If you have steps or a sidewalk that could get icy, now is the right time to procure a bag of salt or other ice melter.  If you have a car, make sure to throw in that ice scraper and snow brush now.  And if you don’t have a snow shovel, you may want to get one in case you have to dig out your car.

It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes a winter storm can be bad enough that we lose power.  Are you prepared for the loss of power?  Know where you have a flashlight or battery powered lantern.  Have warm clothing and blankets on hand in case your apartment gets too cold for the norm.  Have some shelf-stable food and plenty of water available in case you can’t get out for a few days.

As the foliage is just turning its glorious colors, it seems weird to be thinking about winter.  But preparing for winter in advance is much easier than heading into it without forethought.

Before the Snow Flies…

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It got cold last week.  I had to scrape ice off my windshield before driving to work.  The heat in my house is running all the time now.  And any way you slice it, winter is expensive in the northeast part of the country.  So I like to take some time to think about things I can do now, before the snow flies, to make things more affordable.

This weekend I took the first step by putting air in the tires of my cars.  You likely remember from high school science classes that gasses expand in the heat and contract in the cold.  The air in your car’s tires is a gas, so when the temperature drops, the air pressure in your tires also drops.  If you are driving around on under-inflated tires, you not only will get fewer miles to the gallon, you also can end up with uneven wear on your tires.  Uneven wear will require you to need to replace your tires sooner.  So stop by your local Sheetz, where the digital air pumps are free, and air up those tires.  Air is free.  Tires are not!

Now is also the time to focus on warming up life inside the house.  The easy way to do that is by cranking up the heat.  But the smarter way to do it is with insulation.  Do you have windows that leak a lot of cold air?  Cover them with plastic.  Do you have a wall that is particularly cold?  Hang a blanket on it.  Add flannel sheets and an extra blanket to your bed so you can turn down the heat at night.  Bundle up with sweaters and hoodies so you can keep the heat lower when you are awake.  Keep some cozy blankets on the couch for bundling up while you read or watch TV.

I actually get excited about the start of winter.  I love the crisp air and the look of a fresh blanket of snow.  I enjoy having a cup of hot coffee with a warm cat on my lap.  I like wearing a lot of layers of clothing.  I love soups and stews and casseroles—the low cost meals that fill my winter.  Many people dread the winter.  But I think it’s my favorite season.

Are you ready for winter?  If not, now is the time to start preparing for it.

 

Wallet Versus Winter

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Winter is here.  Full-blown freezing cold and snow.  And while you may not realize it, there are some things you can do to help keep your seasonal costs down.

If you are paying for your own heat, turning the thermostat down a few degrees can save you a LOT of money.  But it may lead to you feeling cold in your home.  There are a few easy things you can do to combat this, however.  If you feel cold air coming in around your windows, it’s easy to cover the windows with plastic.  You can pick up inexpensive kits at any hardware or big box store that give you what you need to put double-sided tape around the windows, cover it with plastic, and use a hair dryer to stretch it tight.  It’s amazing the difference this will make in how much cold air sneaks in!  And if you’re still feeling chilly, the quick and easy answer is to add more clothing.  Long underwear goes a long way this time of year.  Turtlenecks and scarves can keep you toasty.  Wool socks are awesome on the feet (and there’s no shame in doubling up on these when it’s really cold out!).  And for the ladies, fleece tights are a game changer if you like to wear skirts.  I’ve often been heard saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather—only bad clothing.”  I stand by that statement.

So you are now warm in your home…but you still have to leave the house.  There are things you should know about how to care for your automobile when the temperature has dropped beyond belief.  Those stories you’ve heard about how you shouldn’t let your gas tank get below ¼ of a tank?  That’s really true when it’s cold.  Condensation in the gas tank can freeze and cause you some real grief if your tank is too empty.  It’s definitely cheaper to keep your tank closer to full than to repair the car.  And while you are taking care of the gas, it’s best to make sure you keep your washer fluid topped off, too.  Winter roads can be sloppy and salty and you want to make sure you have some anti-freeze washer fluid available if you need to clear the windshield.  Driving around looking through a salt-smeared view isn’t safe for you or the drivers around you.  And finally, it’s a good idea to check your tire pressure.  Air expands with heat.  Likewise it contracts with cold.  If the last time you checked your pressure was at the start of fall semester, it’s likely that they are a lot less full now than they were then.  And you could be causing undue wear on your tires because of it.  Your local Sheetz has an awesome digital air pump available for free.  Better to pump them up than to need new shoes for the car sooner than you’d like.

I could go on and on (winter being my favorite season), but I think you get the idea.  Be aware that life is a bit different in the winter and will demand different things of you.  But if you are prepared, you can safely and warmly enjoy our winter wonderland!