Ideas on Winterizing

Here's a good piece on how you can winterize your home, car, and small gas-engine machines -- something that will both save you money and extend the life of your belongings. Here are a few of the tips I found especially interesting:

• Wallhangings. A quilt or decorative rug will insulate interior walls, keep your room cozier, and allow you to turn down the thermostat a few degrees in the winter without a noticeable difference.

• Cheap firewood. If you live near a national forest, you may be entitled to several cords of firewood for a small fee. Check with your regional office of the U.S. Forest Service. Warning: It is illegal to pick up firewood in a government-owned forest without a permit, so don’t skip that part.

• Fuel. Unless you live in the tropics, put a bottle of fuel de-icer in your tank once a month to help keep moisture from freezing in the fuel line. You can discourage moisture from forming in the gas tank in the winter if you keep your fuel tank full.

• Car locks. Dab a little petroleum jelly on your keys and move them in and out of the locks to keep them working smoothly during the winter months. Petroleum jelly doesn’t freeze.

My thoughts:

1. I never really thought about how wall hangings can help insulate a home, but it makes sense now that she brings it up.

2. We don't live near a national forest and don't have a wood-burning fireplace, but if you do this seems like a GREAT way to save money.

3. I use de-icer in my gas during the winter, but wonder if it's really necessary. Anyone have thoughts on this?

4. Another interesting idea. That said, does anyone use keys/locks on a car anymore? I always control my locks electronically.

Comments

[Bill]

I lived in Northern Maine for a while and they did a lot- such as "banking their house- meaning they would wrap the base of their house (around the crawlspace) with plastic and then put bales of straw to insulate.

Now that i am back to a more mild Utah, we just clear out room in the garage to park the cars, and put plastic over the window in our bedroom to keep the drafts out.

[Kevin M]

Re #4 - I do, my keyless entry quit a couple years ago. Never had a freezing problem though, but if I do I'll remember this.

[indi500fan]

De-icer is typically methanol which combines with any water in the tank and prevents freezing. Almost all gasoline sold in the US is now a 10% ethanol blend which does the same thing. So de-icer is redundant if you are using blended fuel.

[Tarah]

I lived in Northern Wisconsin when I was learning how to drive. Never had a problem with the key slot freezing, but I've heard of it. As for using gas de-icer in the tank, you only need to do that if you let the tank get below 1/4 tank, the temp gets below zero, and it sits overnight. Then it gets too much water in the gas for the engine to work, but you want to try it first before you add the Heet because the air might have been too dry for there to be enough condensation in the tank. I'd just keep a bottle of feul de-icer in the trunk, just in case. You're more likely to need jumper cables than fuel de-icer, anyway, because cold weather makes the battery not work as well, so keep the jumper cables next to the Heet.

[Kaitlyn]

How I prepare for winter:

Step 1: Contemplate closing the windows.
Step 2: Reluctantly take out sweatshirt and maybe a sweater. Maybe.
Step 3: Laugh at the poor souls who don't live in SoCal. :D

I am a horrible person who sends pictures of the beach to my family when I hear about a snowstorm where they live.

[Anne]

I do not use a key to open my car door because it's electronic,but I will like to tell everyone when we had rain mixed with snow. I could not open my car door. I used the key, but it did not turn the lock. Thank God, someone from outside had a small can of de-icer. Worked like a champ.

[ParatrooperJJ]

I would use powered graphite instead.