Last week Colorado had some pretty cold temperatures, so cold that we were in the negatives for about a week and I didn’t want to leave the house. I don’t think it has ever been that cold in the 3 years that we’ve been here and everything on the news seemed to be about staying warm and tips for battling cold weather. Since this was my first time experiencing weather that cold (it was down to -10) I wasn’t fully prepared on how to handle the weather. Everything I kept seeing on the news was related to the cold weather and it got me thinking about tips for battling cold weather.
1. Make sure your fridge and cabinets are stocked with essentials. Our local Walmart actually ran out of milk from people preparing for the cold front. You won’t want to go out unless absolutely necessary and it’s always good to be prepared in case the power goes out.
2. Make sure your pipes don’t freeze. This video shows some great tips on How to prevent pipes from freezing.
3. Bring pets indoors.
4. Keep an emergency bag on hand – A flashlight, blankets, high energy snack bars, water, gloves & hat. Check that you have jump cables, tools & a full spare tire in your car.
5. Be prepared for winter weather and dress appropriately in multiple, loose layers of clothing with the top layer being wind proof and water repellant. The layers help trap air and keep you warm.
6. Limit the amount of time you are outdoors. Frostbite can occur within minutes on a day that is less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit with winds of 20 mph.
7. Keep doors, windows and vents closed when not in use and repair broken windows, doors and cracks in the walls to prevent cold air from entering.
8. Wear mittens instead of gloves as they offer better protection.
9. Remove wet clothes a.s.a.p.
10. Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and make sure the batteries are working. Carbon monoxide can result from snow-covered external vents, snow blowers, and running a car in a garage attached to a house. Make sure major home appliances, such as clothes dryer and furnace, vent air and gases outside, before running your car, make sure your tailpipe is clear of snow or debris, don’t run your car in a garage attached to a house, and start your snow blower in a well ventilated area.
What are some tips you have for battling the colder weather?
Julie Wood
Friday 9th of December 2016
It is cold now where I live and making sure to keep pets inside is important. I had a neighbor that was cruel to her pet and we had to call the dog pound on her. She would let the poor dog out in the cold. It is so important to make sure and wear a lot of layers to keep warm.
Nicole D
Monday 8th of December 2014
I live in Michigan and it has been cold here, so we have already taken several measures to battle the cold already. The first thing we did was seal off the windows and drafts from doors, where cold are seeps through. Huge difference it makes.
Maralea
Wednesday 29th of October 2014
It has been getting colder here and I'm not real sure that I am ready for this winter weather. These are some really great tips!
Sandra VanHoey
Friday 18th of July 2014
Great tips and one's I will put to use this year now that I am back in Michigan. We are in process of insulating the home now which is very old and had basically no insulation at all in the old walls.
Jessica
Sunday 22nd of December 2013
We live in a drafty old house in Wisconsin and have found that putting plastic on the windows and draft guards in the doorways works pretty well at keeping the cold out.