Prepare for Winter...In the Summer
July is almost over, which means winter is coming. Wait, what? But…don’t we still have August left? And what happened to September and October? Alright, you caught me. Those months are still on the calendar, and we can get really nice weather those months (fall weather is amazing, after all). But the truth is, winter is coming, and while it may still be a few months off, it is wise to start preparing for it now. Prepare for Winter...before everyone takes all the thingsAs is the case with most severe weather, we sometimes wait until the storm is looming ominously before us before we run to the store and grab some necessities. While this works sometimes, other times it can leave us without the essentials we need. This is one reason why it is best to be prepared well in advance. And, some things are just easier to prepare for while the weather is still nice. If you wait until it’s cold and snowy, some things may be harder to accomplish (not to mention that’s when everyone else starts getting ready, too, so prices may go up and contractor availability may be hard to Replace). Without further ado, here are some ways to prepare for winter…in the summer. Winterize Your Home Winterizing your homePrepare for Winter...Bundle Up Your Home is one of the best things you can do to prepare for winter in the summer. Make sure you have sufficient insulation in your home, and most especially in the attic. Hot air rises (at least that’s what my science teachers always said), so if your attic is poorly insulated, that hot air will escape through there. Caulking the drafty areas around windows and doors will also keep that warm, inside air from escaping (and thus saving you all kinds of money). Weather stripping is another good idea for the gaps in doors and windows, too. Other things you can do to prepare for winter is cleaning out your furnace, replace air filters, and have that chimney cleaned out. Prepare Your Car Prepare for WInter...Car PrepThe first really cold or snowy day of winter usually has me searching for my ice scraper. It’s usually hidden somewhere that I can’t remember since I haven’t had to use it all spring, summer, or fall. Before the cold temperatures come, gather together the essentials that you’ll need in one location, so when the frost does come you can easily Replace it again. Summertime is also a good time to stock up on needed supplies and tools for your car, and even a car emergency kit (more on that in a second). Consider replenishing and updating your first aid or emergency kit. Get a shovel for your trunk (the 4-in-1 Mini Folding Shovel even fits in your glove compartment). Build Your Emergency Kit Emergency kits are lifesavers. There are certain things you should have in your winter emergency kits, including items that provide warmth, alternate power, and of course, water and food. Build a 72-hour kit before the storm comes, because once it does, you may not be able to get out. Let me illustrate that with an almost-personal example. Prepare for Winter before the stormA number of years ago before we were married, my wife was trapped in her home with her family during a huge ice storm. They couldn’t leave for days because of the slick roads. The power was down and heat was at a premium. Fortunately, they already had what they needed. If they had waited…I can’t imagine how unpleasant that experience would have been. Instead, when she talks about it, she talks as if it were all some grand adventure. Which I’m sure it was, since they were prepared. For your vehicle, consider keeping sand (for traction), a shovel, extra blankets, hats, gloves, and other warm clothing, and some emergency food and water rations. Bright colored flags or signs will also help people see you should you get stuck or stranded in a blizzard. For your home, the same things should be kept, as well as rock salt for melting ice on walkways. You will most likely be able to have more supplies on hand, since your home is a bit bigger than your car’s trunk, so use it! Plan ahead, and when the storms come, you’ll be ready and you’ll also be able to think of it as a grand adventure rather than a stressful, how-will-we-manage type experience. While there are plenty of other things you can do to prepare for winter, it really depends upon you, your home and vehicle, and your individual needs. The important thing for you to remember is to prepare for winter. Sure, it’s still super hot outside, but that’s the point of preparing. If you put it off, you may have an unpleasant first storm. If not…well, the snowmen are waiting to be built! How do you prepare for winter in the summer?
Prepare for winterSummerWinterWinter is comingWinterize home

4 comments

Julie Filips

Julie Filips

I don’t have a big family but for us, Winter means cold and fun like sledding or skiing, so I always think of dense food like Trail mix, and Water! Think about what you already have around the house that can be used for warmth—Blankets, Sleeping bags; do you have a fire place with fuel or a space heater?

Greg Hall

Greg Hall

I prepare during the summer by purchasing the coming winter’s heating Kerosene during the summer, when it is the cheapest.

Top up the diesel generator’s 55 gal fuel drum.

Top up the 55 gal clear Kerosene drum for emergency lighting, heating and cooking.

Have a selection of freeze-dried food and MRE’s for 2 weeks.

Ensure the Generator battery is good.

Jump box is good.

Ensure the Batteries for the Inverter are in good shape.

Cycle the inverter to make sure it switches over correctly.

Test the backup water pump and 80 gal fresh water tank.

Ensure the hand crank radio and flashlights charge and operate correctly.

Top up all Kerosene lamps.

Ensure all Perfection Kerosene heaters are ready for service.

Takes about 2 hrs, with practice.

Lights out, and no power is NOT the time to start prepping!

nadeen

nadeen

Make sure you have an emergency reflective heat blanket for everyone in the family including pets. These blankets are great price got them for 2for 3 dollars and then outside heavy blankets (quilts ect) you put the reflective inside pets beds and around humans then put heavy blanks on outside this keeps the body heat in. food supply for at least one week for everyone and water as well. I purchased pet coats and got them used to wearing them hard at first sometime. For humans warm leggings for under pants or skirts, socks shirts warm hats ect. All this is easy and can be done on a budget. Remember when storing food check dates regularly and eat what is coming close to expiring then restock. I do have some long time storage food, but some food like ( lunch bars canned soup ect) has a good shelf life and is a regular staple especially with kids no cooking required. Hope this helps if you do have a fireplace or extra heat source it will be good to make sure all is in order and you have fuel for it.

Angelina fernandez

Angelina fernandez

I have a big family 7 boys 1 girl and a husband with a dog and two cats what can I get to protect all of us

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