Winter house preps

**kyratshooter** · 11-01-2014, 10:35 AM

I have to admit that I have been caught unprepared this year.

Usually we do not get a real cold blast until well into November and I put off all the heavy duty winterizing as long as possible because it makes me feel "cooped up" in the house.

This morning I woke up to feel cold intruding in places I had forgotten cold would come through.

Of course the weather is cold, wet and nasty with a dust of snow on the ground, so I just have to suffer through this particular snap and do full cold preps on the outside when the weather clears. I had even anticipated one more mowing of the lawn and had not winterized the little tractor and tucked it away for the winter.

As for right now I have a day of sealing windows from the inside, hanging the tapestries over the doors and putting the flannel sheets on the beds.

This one caught me off guard.

But,

I am now aware that the wretched polar vortex has not budged and we seem to be in for another cold one this year.

**LowKey** · 11-01-2014, 12:32 PM

I don't mind the cold. Hate the snow.
Just winterized and buttoned down the boat and put the tarp over the woodpile. The lawn tractor is all put away and the snowblower is pulled to the front, all oiled and filled, run for 20 minutes, and ready to go, but I still have to put the winter oil in the genny. Gotta go buy some first... I have another couple weeks of oak leaf fall before de-leafing the gutters but might do it tomorrow if the rain stops, just in case. There isn't too much other winterizing to do. Clear a path for the oil guy to get to the filler spout that I can run a snowblower over is about it.

**Graf** · 11-01-2014, 01:15 PM

Been working on mine for about a month.exterior all gardens cut back,leaves taken care of,mowers prepped for storage,window weatherstrip done,snowblower running 1 waiting on parts,winter coveralls laundered, I'm about as ready as I can be. Even bought a used keroseene installed new wick and stocked up on kerosene, now i have a back up heat source besides my wood fireplace or i can use in garage instead of freezing my butt off. Had the trans fluid changed in my van and new snow tires,winter emergency kit in van as well(heat,food,clothes). Learned along time ago in Michigan winter can sneak up fast and this morning we had about a 1/2" of snow on the ground howling winds and cold.

**hunter63** · 11-01-2014, 01:37 PM

Been working on leaves...mine are down....neighbor still coming....gutters cleaned once....maybe once more.
Garden done.

Need to start snow blowers....had the big one serviced and repaired last fall...didn't use it after surgery....so we will see.

"The Place" somewhat winter-ized complete .......water and refrigerator to freeze proof after deer season...end on this month.
Had new windows put in this summer....so no plastic to put up.

Vehicles service and ready......did gear check and battery replace yesterday.

That's pretty much it.......

**crashdive123** · 11-01-2014, 03:37 PM

Cold snap here as well. I completed winterizing just a few minutes ago........pulled my warm slippers out of the closet.

**Rick** · 11-01-2014, 06:34 PM

We had sleet and an absolute blizzard last night. Snowed like crazy. Fortunately, the ground was too warm for it to stick. First snow on unfrozen ground means a mild winter.

**kyratshooter** · 11-01-2014, 07:59 PM

We had the same system about two hours after it hit you Rick.

It stuck!

It was just a dust and melted by 10am.

**1stimestar** · 11-01-2014, 08:00 PM

I still need to put a new strip of weatherization under the front door. But other then that, I'm good to go.

**natertot** · 11-02-2014, 01:21 AM

I've been slowly working on winterization myself. Got the yard wrapped up for the most part and took care of the spigots and hoses today. Will probably knock out the inside winterization tasks this week. Always something to do!

**Winnie** · 11-02-2014, 04:41 AM

I'm just about done. The house is pretty much as sealed as you can get. No roaring draughts or single glazed windows at this 'place'! I did manage to get some curtains for the doors. The garden is tidied up and the allotment is almost done so I'm good to go. Having said all that.....it was 22C (70F) on Halloween, the hottest on record!

**Batch** · 11-02-2014, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Cold snap here as well. I completed winterizing just a few minutes ago........pulled my warm slippers out of the closet.

I turned off the ceiling fan. Do they make warm flip flops?

**crashdive123** · 11-02-2014, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Batch

I turned off the ceiling fan. Do they make warm flip flops?

Yep - wool socks and flip flops.

We actually dipped into the 30's this morning. Should hit a high of 60 today - 80 by mid week. The humidity is probably (and thankfully) gone for a bit.

**Adventure Wolf** · 11-03-2014, 06:43 PM

Even in the South it's important to prepare for winter. I have 20 gallons of gas for two generators, a bunch of firewood cut, and a stash of canned food in the pantries. All of my winter blankets and winter clothing was put out in the closets about a week ago. I have a few more things to do, but so far so good.

I also went through and made sure everything was cocked well and that there were no holes or anything. It's important to do that every winter.

**1stimestar** · 11-04-2014, 12:27 AM

Oh yea, I also got this done....

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Heating fuel. $957 for 248.8 gallons. I use a bit over 400 gallons a year.