South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping

I am now sitting in a warm home with fresh ideas brimming in my head. It was a long two days, but it is nice to be back in my home again and to not have icicles hanging from my eyelids. As my furnace sat silently in my basement, dormant and apparently dead, it got my mind thinking about the worst home disasters that can happen during the winter.

With the holidays so close, these events could put a definite cramp in any person’s plans, whether they include a quiet evening at home with the family or a bursting feast for 50 people.

1. Broken furnace: This is perhaps the most dangerous of the disasters, because your home cools very quickly, and it can lead to frostbite or death for people unable to leave and get the furnace fixed. The cost of repairing a furnace isn’t cheap. We’re talking a few hundred dollars an hour for these guys just to come look at it, and then they actually have to fix it. If you’re lucky, then it’s easy and you can have your heat back that afternoon, but if it isn’t, or if you need a new furnace, then you could be without heat for a few days. You are also at the mercy of those heating experts, who are getting call after call for broken furnaces.

2. Frozen pipes: Occasionally, the water pipes in your home can freeze, and if you are lucky, then you will only lose water pressure, but it also lead to burst pipes. If you have a pipe burst and do not realize it right away, then your basement can fill up fast and knock out your hot water heater and your furnace. The worst-case scenario is the pipe bursts, you don’t realize it and the water freezes. You walk into your basement and find a skating rink. If the pipes are just frozen, then you can usually use electrical tape to warm up the pipes, or if it is somewhere inaccessible, then just have an electric current run through it to melt the ice. If the pipe bursts, then that portion of pipes needs to be replaced, or at least patched, and then you have the cleanup efforts. There are many pieces of advice on how to keep your pipes from freezing, but the best advice is always this: Move someplace where it doesn’t freeze.

3. Sewage backup: There is nothing worse than walking down into your basement and smelling the odor of poo. A sewage backup is just plain nasty. Sometimes when it’s cold, even the sewage line can freeze, become clogged or, God forbid, blocked, and it begins backing up in your basement, bathtub, toilet and sink. If the problem lies outside the house, then it’s likely to bubble up in the basement. If it is somewhere between the basement and the sink or toilet, then it will backup in the sink or toilet. Yummy. You can try using a plunger to unclog it manually, but if you can’t, then the Roto Rooter man is getting a call, and he brings out his 200-foot snake to take out the clog. If that doesn’t work, then they will dig up your yard. That will not only cost a pretty penny, especially in winter, but also make your yard look bad until spring gets there.

These are the big ones that I can think of, and I have had all happen to me at one time or another. They can be a major financial setback, but they have to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/cynthiacloskey/3205681690

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When spring and summer are in full swing, you will find me on most evenings outside grilling up some tasty grub. There is just something wonderful about food prepared on the grill, whether it is beef, pork, chicken, fish and even vegetables.

Winter is generally a grilling buzzkill with cold weather, snowfall and arctic winds keeping people away from the grill. The grill gets put away in the garage until spring thaw, but there are die-hards out there who like to grill even during the cold months of winter.

If you want to grill during winter, then there are several points you need to be aware of.

1. Keep the grill out of the weather when not in use. It can be difficult to open the grill with 10 inches of snow on it and the door frozen shut. The grill should be kept indoors, because even if you are able to start a fire, then going from ice cold to super hot is not good for the grill, whether it is charcoal or gas.

2. Examine your gas lines. If you had a gas grill, then cold weather can cause the lines to crack, and gas can leak out or condensation inside the tubes can freeze. This can happen while the grill is being used if the tank is far enough away from the flames.

3. If there’s bad weather, then don’t bother. For safety purposes, grills should never be in an enclosed space, so grilling must be done outside. If the wind is strong or it is very cold, then don’t bother getting the grill out. High winds can cause the grill to topple over and start a fire. Super cold weather can lead to frostbite for the cook and make it difficult to cook the meat. Your safety is more important than a juicy steak.

4. Charcoal should be kept in a warm, dry place. If you are a purist like me, then that gas has never heated any of your grilling meat. Bags of charcoal should be stored inside the home to keep condensation from forming inside the bag. Once the charcoal gets wet, it can be almost impossible to get it to light, especially when the wind is whipping and the snow is blowing.

Grilling in winter can be an adventure, but well worth it for the grilling-obsessed. If it gets too cold, then take heart in knowing that spring is only a few months away.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/brian_gautreau/3070612059

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Here in Illinois, it gets so cold in the winter that even Jack Frost gets frostbite, and when the wind blows, there’s a chill is in the air no matter how good your heat is. This is especially true if you have an older home without modern insulated windows. There are things you can do to your home to help winterize and keep things warn during the cold winter months.

I once moved into an apartment during summer and was enamored with the patio-balcony I had that was right off the living room. My wife and I could go outside and sit on the balcony and watch the sun set every night. It wasn’t so cozy when winter hit.

The giant sliding doors and open field across from us created a draft that no amount of electric heat could have fixed. We had the thermostat up to 90, and it never got above 55.

If you have drafty windows and doors that you don’t use, then you can purchase plastic sheeting to cover them during the winter. The plastic keeps the wind out, but I suggest stapling as well as taping it down. Glue combined with weather causes the tape to not adhere, and soon, your cozy love nest is once again an arctic tundra.

Another option is closing off a part of the home that you don’t use. My sister bought a giant two-story home several years ago and found that it was too big for her family. The cost of heating it during the winter along with the difficulty in heating the second story causes them to live on the bottom floor during the winter. They taped up all the upstairs’ vents, shut all the doors and lived in the downstairs bedrooms. When the weather warmed up, they started living upstairs again.

If you are still cold despite these winterizing techniques, then you can supplement your heat with portable space heaters. This used to be a major fire hazard, but with the latest safety standards, there is little chance of fire unless you do something like leave paper next to it.

If you have older children or no children, then an electric heater is best, because it creates a large amount of heat. But it’s also very hot and can burn small children who may be attracted to the color of the heated coils.

If you have small children, then an oil heater is a safer alternative. These resemble a radiator and are filled with heating oil. The oil is heated, and then the room is heated by the ambient heat. They still get hot, but not nearly as hot as the electric coil variety. However, they do not produce as much heat.

These simple tips can make the winter months bearable until the spring comes calling in several months.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/stuartpilbrow/3087691787

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When I was a Boy Scout, we had a Winter Jamboree every year, where the troop would pack up the camping equipment and spend a weekend roughing it in freezing temperatures. There was a lot of playing in the snow, sliding on ice and that whole camping thing. We even received badges for camping in below-freezing temperatures.

One thing I learned was that camping in the winter is nothing like camping in the spring, summer and fall. It’s a different animal entirely, and if not prepared for correctly, could be dangerous or even deadly. Here are some tips that I have learned over the years for winter camping.

1. Cabin versus a tent: Camping purists may find this offensive, but unless you’re on a mountain 10,000 feet above the ground, camp in a cabin. Winter winds can gust and pull out even the sturdiest of tent pegs, but unless you get a subzero monsoon, a cabin is going to be pretty safe. You can get cabins with only the bare minimums, like no electricity, no fireplace and even with no coverings on the windows. When camped in the winter, the cabins had nothing but four walls.

2. Choose a spot within easy reach of other people or a town: In winter, blowing wind can cause frostbite in seconds, snow can pile up quickly and if you need medical attention, then you want to be near something. You can’t count on your car working, so you want something within walking distance, not more than a couple miles away. Trying to carry someone with a broken leg through 15 inches of snow in whiteout conditions and 30-mile-per-hour winds isn’t easy.

3. Have some kind of portable heat source: If you are camping in a cabin, then a propane-fueled heater (or even electric in cabins that have electricity) is ideal for when cabin temperatures get too low. If you are in a tent, then your options are more limited. Any large heat source is a fire hazard, so pack some chemical heaters to help heat up extremities. These heat up via chemical reaction and are small. The hands and feet are the most susceptible to frost bite, and these small heat sources will stay hot for a few hours.

4. Prepare food ahead of time: Freezing temperatures and strong winds can keep that Coleman portable stove from creating much heat, and wet wood will keep that fire from starting. Make sure to take plenty of food like beef jerky that you can eat directly from the package and that provide some nutritional value. Also, keep in mind that freezing temperatures will turn any water you bring into ice. Keep the water supply in an insulated container and put it back in the container after drinking.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I hate camping in winter. It’s cold and more troublesome than it’s worth, unless you are in a heated cabin with a full stove and generator backup. If you do plan on camping in the winter, then follow these rules and be very careful. Old Man Winter can be cruel and has taken even the most experienced campers by surprise.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/peupleloup/3095316041

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Preparing for Winter Storms and Blizzards

Blizzards are the most dangerous of winter storms. They produce high winds and heavy snow throughout much of the United States from December to March.

They are most common in the northern Great Plains states — South Dakota is sometimes called “the Blizzard State” — but they also occur as far south as Texas and as far east as Maine.

Many blizzard-related deaths involve people who die of hypothermia in their cars, on the street or in wilderness areas. Sadly, most of these deaths could have been avoided with proper preparation. Blizzards also cause countless cases of frostbite, as well as damage to unsupported structures and homes.

Winter Storm Watches and Warnings
If you live in a snow-prone area, pay close attention to weather forecasts and listen for watches and warnings like these:

WINTER STORM WATCH: Severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow or ice, are possible within the next day or two. Prepare now!

WINTER STORM WARNING: Severe winter conditions have begun or are about to begin in your area. Seek shelter!

BLIZZARD WARNING : Snow and strong winds will combine to produce a blinding snow (near zero visibility), deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chill. Seek refuge immediately!

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: Winter weather conditions are expected and may be hazardous, especially for motorists.

FROST/FREEZE WARNING : Below freezing temperatures are expected and may cause significant damage to plants, crops, or fruit trees. In areas unaccustomed to freezing temperatures, people who have homes without heat need to take added precautions.

You can check the current weather forecast for your area.

Plan Ahead for Winter Storms

Play it safe by preparing ahead for winter storms and blizzards. Be sure to winterize your manufactured home by following all the tips in our winterizing section.

Remember, these storms can cause loss of electricity, heat, and telephone service and can trap you in your home for a few days. It’s important to have ample supplies on hand in your home:

• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Battery-powered NOAA weather radio and portable radio to receive emergency information. These may be your only links to the outside.
• Extra food and bottled water. High energy food, such as dried fruit or candy, and canned food requiring no cooking or refrigeration is best.
• Manual can opener.
• Extra medicine and baby items.
• First-aid supplies.
• Heating fuel. Fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a severe winter storm.
• Back-up heating source, such as a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.
• Fire extinguisher and smoke detector.
• Brush up on your fire safety knowledge by visiting our fire safety section.

Be sure to carry a survival kit in your car that contains:

• Cell phone
• Blankets/sleeping bags
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Knife
• High calorie, non-perishable food
• A can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water
• Sand or cat litter
• Shovel
• Windshield scraper
• Tool kit
• Tow rope
• Jumper cables
• Water container
• Compass
• Road maps
• Extra winter clothes and boots

Also, keep your vehicle’s gas tank full in case you get stranded and to keep the fuel line from freezing.

How to Dress for Winter Weather:

• Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing.
• Remove a layer or two if necessary to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.
• Make sure outer garments are tightly woven and water-repellent.
• Wear mittens — they are warmer than gloves.
• Wear a hat.
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs from extremely cold air.
• Wear sturdy, waterproof boots in snow or flooding conditions.

If You’re Away From Home When the Storm Hits:

If you’re outside:

• Find a shelter out of the wind. Try to stay dry and cover all exposed parts of your body.
• If you can’t find shelter, prepare a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for protection from the wind. Build a fire for heat and to attract attention. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
• Don’t eat snow – it will lower your body temperature. Melt the snow first.

If you’re in a car or truck:

• Pull off the road and turn on your hazard lights.
• Stay inside your vehicle. It’s easy to become disoriented in the wind and snow. Do not set out on foot unless you see a building close by where you know you can take shelter.
• Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat.
• Open the window a crack to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow.
• Exercise frequently to keep blood circulating and to keep warm, but don’t overexert.
• Huddle with other passengers and use your coat as a blanket.
• In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers, floor mats, newspapers or extra clothing for covering–anything to provide additional insulation and warmth.

Make yourself visible to rescuers:

• Turn on your dome light at night, but only when running the engine. You don’t want to wear down your battery.
• Tie a distress flag (preferably red) to your antenna or window.
• Raise the hood to indicate trouble after snow stops falling.

Once the blizzard is over, you may need to leave your vehicle and proceed on foot. Follow the road if possible. If you need to walk across open country, use distant points as landmarks to help maintain your sense of direction.

If you’re in your home or a building:

• Stay inside.
• If you must travel, do so during daylight. Don’t travel alone. Stay on main roads, and tell others about your route and schedule.
• Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your house cooler than normal. Temporarily shut off heat to less-used rooms.
• When using alternative heat from a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater, use fire safeguards and properly ventilate.
• If using kerosene heaters, maintain ventilation to avoid buildup of toxic fumes. Keep heaters at least three feet from flammable objects. Refuel kerosene heaters outside.

If there’s no heat:

• Close off unneeded rooms.
• Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
• Cover windows at night.
• Stay nourished:
  • Eat food to provide your body with energy so it can produce its own heat.
  • Keep your body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.

After the Blizzard has Passed:

• Look for any damage that may have occurred to your home and make sure water pipes are functioning. Check out the freezing pipes information on this site for help. If there are no other problems, wait for streets and roads to be plowed before you drive anywhere.
• Check on neighbors to see if they need help.
• Pace yourself and rest frequently when shoveling snow — don’t overexert. Shoveling causes many heart attacks, especially in very cold temperatures.

With a little planning and know-how, you can make this winter a safe and warm one for you and your family.

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