Preparing Your Car
Since most of us spend a good amount of time in cars, it is necessary to make sure our vehicles are running in tip-top shape for the long winter ahead. For this reason, it is a good idea to have your car winterized by a properly trained mechanic. Make sure you (or your mechanic) do the following:
• Get a tune up if necessary
• Check radiator coolant and sturdiness of hoses and belts
• Change burned-out headlights, tail lights and turn signals
• Check tire tread and wear. Inquire about the necessity of having snow or radial tires
• Make sure brakes are in good condition
• Make sure heater and defroster are working well
• Check the cooling system and antifreeze
• Check the battery and charging system
• Keep spare window washer fluid and make sure wiper blades are in proper working order
• Keep your car’s fuel tank filled (gas stations may not be able to operate if electric power is cut off)
Preparing A Winter Storm Survival Kit for Cars
If you live in an area that can receive snowfall or a place that can experience frigid weather, you should consider carrying a winter storm-survival kit in your car. This kit should include many or all of the following items:
• Blankets/sleeping bags
• Flashlight with extra batteries and bulb
• First Aid kit with pocket knife and necessary medications
• Bottled water
• Knife
• Set of mittens, socks, wool cap, rain gear and extra clothing to keep dry
• A large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitation
• A smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water
• Sack of sand (or cat litter) for generating traction under wheels
• Shovel and tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver)
• Windshield scraper and brush
• Tool kit
• Tow rope
• Booster/jumper cables and tire chains or traction mats
• Water container
• Compass and road maps
• High-calorie, non-perishable food (canned fruits and nuts)
• Non-electric can opener
• Cards, games and puzzles
• Brightly colored large cloth to attract attention
• Change to make phone calls
The icicles stuck on the car preventing it from starting. The never-ending chill to the body as you race from the car to the house or office. The forever snow-covered driveway that needs shoveling. The winter season can definitely cause some unpleasant situations.
But there is hope to make this winter the best ever — or at least one without incident. By following some simple guidelines you can avoid the scenarios that could turn the upcoming months into a season of misery. So read on, good people — you don’t want to be left out in the cold (pun intended).
Preparing Your Home
Since most of your time is spent in your home, this is the most important place to prepare for the winter. Following is a list of the key areas of your house that should be “winterized.”
• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic on the inside
• Stock fireplace with ample supply of wood
• Install and check smoke detectors
• Consider installing a carbon monoxide detector
• Wrap pipes and outdoor faucets in insulation. Check for any cracks and leaks first
• Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing (especially when the temperature drops below 20 degrees)
• Know how to shut off water valves
• Check conditions of your chimney. (If you are uncertain about the condition of a furnace or chimney flue, it’s best to hire a chimney sweep to clear out creosote, the flammable oily residue that accumulates when wood is burned. If left uncleaned, creosote could be re-ignited, which can cause a chimney fire.)
• Look for air cracks around windows, doors, pipes, ducts and other openings. (It is important to seal these leaks with flexible caulk. Seams where siding meets windows and doors should also be caulked.)
• Check the attic to see if insulation needs to be added or replaced. (This is the most significant area of heat loss in many homes, so it is also important to see that it has proper ventilation.)
• The temperature in the home should be at least 65 degrees. (The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature below 65 degrees will not keep the pipes from freezing.)
• Check your home for any potential fire hazards due to overheated stoves, furnaces, fireplaces or portable heaters
Preparing A Winter Storm Survival Kit for Home
Just as important as having a winter storm-survival kit for your car is having one for your home. This kit should include of the following items:
• Battery-operated radio (with extra batteries)
• Flashlight
• Ready-to-eat nonperishable foods
• Bottled water
• Back-up supply of prescription medicine
• Non-electric can opener
• Fire extinguisher (A-B-C type)
Preparing Your Garden and Yard
The garden and yard can also use special seasonal preparation. Here are a few things you can do:
• Remove all vegetation
• Turn the soil over with a shovel
• Add organic amendments
• Add fertilizer to replenish soil (as directed on package)
• Roto-till to mix the elements and aerate the soil
• Rake the soil smooth
• Remove all dead tree branches. (Ice and snow combined with high winds can cause limbs to snap, damaging your home or causing injury. Make sure they do not hang over any electrical wires.)
• Clean the leaves from all gutters and downspouts. Make sure the drainage system works by running water through it.
Now that we have taken care of the precautions, we can’t forget one essential. Snowball fights. We must not forget what fun this season brings. Fun that Southern Californians can’t have without trekking to the slopes. Granted, taking precautions is important in order to avoid getting caught off guard, but that doesn’t mean we have to forego the joy family snowball fights.
To build the spirit and bring laughter into your home it’s a must to get the family out sledding on the neighborhood hills, creating angels by swishing your arms in the snow, and building gigantic snowmen on the front lawn. It’s great family therapy. Then when you’re chilled to the bone, regroup in front of the fireplace to warm up. Hot cocoa and soup always help.
So as you’re trudging around completing the mundane errands of winter, don’t forget the joys of the season. And for those of you in Southern California who don’t need to prepare for winter, I have one word — earthquakes.
