PREP Are you ready for winter???

[Craftypatches]

I know a lot of you have poo-pooed the flower pot heaters, but hear me out. The candles only put out so much heat. This is true. The flower pot takes that heat and radiates it instead of all of it going straight up. I have used them, and I know that they will take the chill off a small room. If there is no better option, it is something.

Added a few more blankets to the pile. I got my wood stove out and started pestering hubby to finally install it. I have been hitting up the green waste dump to collect free firewood. Also trying to get ahead of buying warm clothes for the kids. I topped 1k tea lights, so, started buying boxes of votives. Already have 2 5gal buckets of fire starters prepared, and a shoe box of Bic lighters. I need to take inventory of the boxes of candles I have stashed under my bed. I think I will be okay, though.

I think it is a good idea! Anything is better than nothing! I need to get the sleeping bags out, I hope they are washable! They keep a person warm when nothing else alsoz,

 

[Cardinal]

I want one of these for my basement.

 

[Doc1]

This thread makes me nervous.
I feel not so ready.

We have three trees that came down two years ago all cut up and stacked but none of it is split and I need someone to help me get it done. Hub has a bad back, works every night Sunday/Monday and can’t do it.

Also need to get both chimneys swept.

Dear lady, my thread was not intended to make anyone nervous or scared. I only wanted people to share their winter preps (and maybe motivate some members to make sure they were ready). As I said in the OP, weather prediction is an inexact science. Still, I have seen a lot of predictions for an especially cold winter.

Perhaps you could split some of the wood yourself - depending on your strength - or hire a local kid to do it. Here's another woodcutting and splitting tip. With our smaller limbs and logs, I just cut them to length with a circular saw and split them, while sitting on a railroad tie, with a hatchet. Sometimes I'll tap the top of the hatchet with a small maul. Almost anyone should be able to do that.

There's still time to put in a supply of kerosene and some kero lanterns. There's still time to find some candles and other heating supplies, as well as maybe hit the retail and thrift stores for extra winter clothing and blankets. Pump kerosene is often difficult to find, but most hardware stores carry it (at obscene prices, of course).

Don't be nervous! Be proactive and get things done before the really cold weather sets in.

Best
Doc

 

[PghPanther]

Not much of a winter here at the NC/SC line............just enough to kill of the bugs....occasionally a light snow with it clearing up by the next day's sun.

Heck I don't even own a winter coat...........and often find myself laying out and getting some sun even into November/December sometimes.

I used to live in the North and by golly you do need to prepare because sooner or later you do get hit with either bad ice.......heavy snow or very cold weather.

I wish all you Northern's well and warm fireplaces where applicable through this winter.

 

[Quiet Man]

As a general rule, it burns much hotter. Most stoves designed for coal have "shaker grates". Movable grates to allow the "clinkers" (clumps of ash) to fall into the ash pan.

Different seams have different ash quantities. The btu's can vary.
Some people put maybe a shovel full into paper bags outside then bring bags inside to cut down on dust.
Dropping coal onto a hot woodfire would be my suggestion inside. Start small and experiment.

Expect more sulfurous smoke. Some people find it acceptable. The wimmen folk here would put ME in the stove if I tried burning it inside.
I paid 100 bucks per ton. Picked up at a very small operation.
Find someone local to you that uses it. Too many variables to be more specific.

Thank you Luddite. I expect my wimmen folk would have the same sensibility and option. I appreciate the perspective.

Owner has talked on that. During the 1970s oil crisis, his Dad burned coal in a "Riteway" furnace.
Lessee if I can remember all he said.

Coal is difficult to start. A good wood fire is essential before you put a shovelful of coal in.
Coal will go longer between feedings.
Coal creates MORE ASH. About 20 percent of the volume of coal ends up as ash.
You need to shake down the fire and remove the ash each time you feed.
Coal ash is 90 percent silica, essentially fine sand, and it can be disposed of in your garden. Don't expect the same "neutralizing" effect from it like wood ash.
When a coal fire is "good" - it will build on itself. If the coal fire is "beyond feeding" putting more coal on will put it out.
Coal has a lot of heat for its volume. Perhaps 2x more "compact" than wood - although about the same amount of heat per weight. If you have a storage space where you stack wood, expect you can put 2x as much coal heat into the same volume.

It may depend on your area, but here in Cow Hampshire "stove coal" (anthracite) is almost unobtainium.

One imagines Pennsylvania would be different.

Dobbin

Very thoughful reply Dobbin. Thank you. Hope you like...

 

[cyberiot]

Define........winter.

Where I am (Phoenix metro area), it's the time of year I throw open the windows and doors and release the recycled dog farts I've been breathing all sealed-up triple-digit summer.

 

[urthmom]

This thread makes me nervous.
I feel not so ready.

We have three trees that came down two years ago all cut up and stacked but none of it is split and I need someone to help me get it done. Hub has a bad back, works every night Sunday/Monday and can’t do it.

Also need to get both chimneys swept.

1. Hire somebody with a gas powered wood splitter like Tractor Supply sells
or
2. Buy a Woodwiz(r) Splitter-The safer smarter hand held firewood splitter which can be operated by anyone that can stand up. Costs about $200 these days. Got mine in mid 90's.
Use an old car tire to contain the pieces as split from the cut round. Much safer and easier on the back than a sledge and wedge.

 

[EE80]

Pick up some mercury thermometers for around the house.

 

[etdeb]

My problem will be pipes outside. I live in a monolithic dome so it heats with just the heat off freezers and fridge literally.
We did ok until the Arctic trainwreck of February 2021,when we have pipes busting that had water flowing through them.
I have 2500 gal propane tank plumbed into the dome and 8 - 45 gal tanks but have never turned the heat on since
I built in 2004-2005. I have propane cooktop and 2 on demand propane hot water heaters so the propane last a long time. My daughter lives on the property and she his 500 gal propane with 250 tied to her whole house generator. Between us we use enough to once a year get a delivery of propane split between us.
I have decided this February when the worst of the cold will happen again I will shut off all the water and drain it and "camp" for the 4 to 6 days it may last.
I am lucky I only drive 8 miles to work but I come off a 2 mile private road into a major US highway, but the truck traffic on the highway have plied the snow and ice so high to the sides my car would not clear the "humps". Once the road was closed coming into our town because the ditches were full of jack knifes those humps froze into solid 2 ft mounds and

 

[EE80]

This thread makes me nervous.
I feel not so ready.

We have three trees that came down two years ago all cut up and stacked but none of it is split and I need someone to help me get it done. Hub has a bad back, works every night Sunday/Monday and can’t do it.

Also need to get both chimneys swept.

Psychgirl, are you able to rent a wood splitter in your area? They make ones that you do not have to lift the logs up into the splitter. You just roll them and split at ground level.

 

[Hfcomms]

Up by me you better be ready or you might freeze to death. In some of the more built up areas people heat with natural gas and most others in the more outlying areas depend on propane and most of them need electricity to run the furnace blower and thermostat. A goodly number of people up here are screwed if there is an extended power outage so to be able to heat without electric is imperative.

Lots of camps and most of them have propane wall heaters that run off a pilot light or piezo igniter so they don’t need electric and a fair number have wood stoves or fireplaces.

For me heat is right at the top of the preps. I heat with a freestanding wood stove that doesn’t have a blower. I have an electric space heater that I run when I’m at work and these are my daily heat sources and have a two year supply of seasoned hardwood. As a backup I have a propane wall unit with 4) 100# propane tanks and for contingency purposes a kerosene heater and two kerosene cookers with two 55 gallon drums of kerosene. In addition I have oil lamps which can be used inside and an Aladdin oil lamp and these all throw off heat.

Most of the time it’s like a sauna inside and I’m tickling 90 degrees when it’s 10 degrees outside. I like my heat without having to worry about how to pay the gas bill.

 

[buttie]

We heat 98% with wood and only use about 2 cords per year. We are fortunate to have lots of downed and dry oak and madrone. We've got about 3/4's of the years supply in the woodshed. Being off-grid, we make all of our electricity with the 2% of our heat not from wood, coming from the Listeroid generator.
There are hydronic loops in our main and basement floors and the hot water from the Listeroid is circulated through them when it's running to charge batteries. There's 140 gal of diesel in the tank which should be enough for a couple of years usage and the propane tank is full. We use propane for cooking, hot water and the dryer. I need to get the rest of the wood in and change the oil in the Listeroid and clean the gutters and clean the ditches/culverts. The oak woodpeckers have been busy filling the gutters with acorns. Perhaps I should work on an acorn muffin recipe.

 

[ktrapper]

When it comes down to the last resort... no more wood, no more propane, no electricity

-20 F to -60 F sleeping bags will save lives!
Wiggy's Sporting Goods

Every member of my family has a Wiggys -60
Bag.
I can’t say from experience that they work very well.
Spent quite a few nights out on the line at -40 or so. I have bedded down damp from sweat and be dry and warm the next morning when I woke up.

 

[Tundra Gypsy]

We get winters here; don't expect it to be more than a mild to medium winter. We have propane for kitchen stove. Lots of firewood for wood burning stove in living room. The one good thing about having a small house; it doesn't take much to heat it. Have extra diesel for the tractor; as we have to plow the road out of the place during the winter months. Neighbor has plow on his truck to also help keep the road open.

Got a second generator this summer and have extra fuel in case we lose power for an extended time.

Every year at this time; all the batteries in flashlights, camp lights, radios, get changed out to new ones. That includes the ones in the vehicles and bug out bags. Have kerosene/oil lamps for lighting; been buying candles for years and have a good supply. My motto is to not wait until there is an emergency to prepare; do it now. Glad everyone is thinking ahead and thinking about those 'what if' scenarios. That is what we're all about here on this forum!

 

[Thinwater]

I am fully prepared for winter. I have a case of AC Filters ready to go. I hope to have a few days cool enough to be able to open the windows by December. I was in WY stuck in a snowstorm last week and can't wait to get back to Florida this weekend. I did have most of Yellowstone to myself so the cold was worth it.

 

[Shooter]

Crayons will muck up the wicks in candles, too much stuff in them that doesn’t belong in candles...

really? I been using crayons to color a very long time, my mom used to use them, never had any trouble.

 

[psychgirl]

Doc and all, yeah, I’m thinking about asking our neighbors if they know a good handy man because I think they do, actually.

Renting this and that I only have so much money to spread around and the chimneys are almost 200$ each, to sweep.
I know you aren’t trying to scare people, I just get nervous when I’m so far behind.
I’ve been using our extra $$ for food.

 

[Doc1]

I am fully prepared for winter. I have a case of AC Filters ready to go. I hope to have a few days cool enough to be able to open the windows by December. I was in WY stuck in a snowstorm last week and can't wait to get back to Florida this weekend. I did have most of Yellowstone to myself so the cold was worth it.

LOL! You and me both, brother. It's still so hot here in southern MS that I just had to come inside to cool off in the AC, though at least our nights are cooling off. I've been working on that big wood unloading and splitting project I referred to in another post.

My 64 year-old butt is willing, but the body's telling me to get inside 'til it cools off this afternoon. I just ain't 20 or 25 years-old anymore!

Best
(old) Doc

 

[Dennis Olson]

Austin area: temps in the upper 80’s to low 90’s for highs, upper 60’s for lows, for at least the next 7-10 days.

This is the time of year I like least down here. Temps should be cooling off so you can enjoy being outside, but that’s not happening. We don’t cool off until mid-November. Occasionally earlier, but not reliably so.

 

[SmithJ]

LOL! You and me both, brother. It's still so hot here in southern MS that I just had to come inside to cool off in the AC, though at least our nights are cooling off. I've been working on that big wood unloading and splitting project I referred to in another post.

My 64 year-old butt is willing, but the body's telling me to get inside 'til it cools off this afternoon. I just ain't 20 or 25 years-old anymore!

Best
(old) Doc

Hard to think about winter while sweating, isnt it

 

[Blacknarwhal]

Winter prep is a mite weird out here. The ark is nearly complete--insulation went in yesterday as did the septic--so I'll be putting in wallboards this weekend. Move-in day is nearly at hand and hopefully I can still catch the housing bubble to sell the old place off.

However, I have discovered that my mini split heaters are currently onboard one of Dopey Joe's boats parked in the Pacific. So I'll need an alternate arrangement. I'm looking into propane and other electric heaters to fill in the gap.

 

[Blacknarwhal]

Austin area: temps in the upper 80’s to low 90’s for highs, upper 60’s for lows, for at least the next 7-10 days.

This is the time of year I like least down here. Temps should be cooling off so you can enjoy being outside, but that’s not happening. We don’t cool off until mid-November. Occasionally earlier, but not reliably so.

That's like August up here. The sun goes down earlier, but it's still hot from all that extra solar radiation. I hate that time of year too; all of the hot, none of the light.

 

[TKO]

Define........winter.

In the midwest we haven't have a good winter in what? 20 years? Global warming you know. LOL!

 

[Infoscout]

I have Jim Beam, Makers, and Buffalo Trace…bring on the cold!

 

[Sherrynboo]

I just had two loads of firewood delivered yesterday, may need one more, depends on what kind of winter we get this time around. I also have two huge downed oaks at the back of the property that I could get cut up and split if I had to. I am set up where I could survive without power but it would definitely be inconvenient. I have two wells, one with a hand pump.

 

[TerriHaute]

We're ready. Chimney is swept, propane tank is full, snow blower has been serviced and tested. We were gifted with a lot of free wood last year, enough for two years of heating and it's all cut, split, stacked, and seasoned. Indiana winters are typically mild with not many below-zero days and only a few snow storms. Most years, we don't get a real snowstorm until after the holidays. We heat primarily with wood. Our regular furnace runs on propane, but we use maybe 2/3 of a 500 gallon tank over one heating season - the thermostat for that is set on 68 if we are home and 60 if we are away overnight. It is rare for our electricity to go off, the longest I can remember is about 6 hours. However, if it does happen, we have a generator that we use for boondocking the camper that we can use run a few lights, the well pump and pressure tank, the blower on the fireplace insert, and maybe the microwave. It would probably be cold enough that anything in the freezer could be packed in tubs and set outside in the barn to stay frozen.

The last blizzard that hit Indiana where I live was in 1978. I say every year that we are due for a blizzard, but it's been over 40 years and it hasn't happened yet.