If you never lived where it snows and were moving North to where it does snow, what would you have liked to have known? What would you do to prepare?

  • m-p{3}@lemmy.ca
    531·
    19 days ago

    Clothing

    • Make sure to have a good winter coat, neck gaiter, hat, gloves and boots. Staying warm and dry is important.
    • Hand warmers can be handy if you expect to be outside for a while. There are several variants (chemical, reusable, rechargeable)

    Driving

    • Winter tires. It may seems like an extra expense, but it will make your summer/all-season tires lasts longer. In some provinces, they are mandatory for residents (ex: Quebec)
    • Make sure to clear the snow from the car, INCLUDING the roof (aka don’t leave a snowhawk). Keep that snow brush in the trunk.
    • Make sure to keep your windshield washer fuild filled.
    • Have a small snow shovel just in case you get stuck in snow.
    • Keep one of those metallic safety blanket, and those emergency candle in case you get in an emergency.
    • A car battery booster might come in handy. A drained battery isn’t fun.
    • Drice defensively, it’s easier to lose control of the vehicle.

    Homeowner

    • A good shovel to clear out the driveway isn’t a luxury
    • Some sand in a bucket with a lid, to put over ice patches when it gets slippery. You don’t need to put a lot, just enough to not fall.
    • Be sure to keep the temperature above 18°C. If the temp inside the building drops too low, ice can form in water pipes, and you can imagine the mess it can make when a pipe bursts.
      • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
        9·
        19 days ago

        I’d go somewhere in-between to keep things dry.

        Condensation around windows and outer walls make great growing grounds for mold. 15°C is the recommendation here.

        Shit can happen. Boilers break. Leave your faucets dripping and run your circulation pump off of a battery and inverter to save your pipes.

      • m-p{3}@lemmy.ca
        4·
        19 days ago

        18°C is recommended, especially for uninsulated pipes and where the ambient heat may have trouble reaching, as these spots may get colder.

        More importantly, check your home insurance coverage policy, some will set a minimum temperature to maintain to be covered, with some exemptions in case of a power outage and other things outside of your control.

      • Worx@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        13·
        19 days ago

        Look at Dr Money over here, anything above 0°C will keep the pipes from freezing and is technically survivable

    • Balthazar@lemmy.world
      5·
      19 days ago

      Before it gets cold, turn off your outdoor spigots from the inside. If you have ducted air, change the filter every few months. If you have a furnace or boiler, be sure to have a carbon monoxide detector in addition to regular smoke detectors.

    • ballskicker@sh.itjust.works
      4·
      19 days ago
      • I would add keeping a jug of sand or cat litter along with a couple 12"+ 2x4s in the vehicle to help with getting some traction if you or someone else ends up stuck.
      • i dunno about EVs but if you’ve got an ICE vehicle give it a minute or two of just idling and warming up before going anywhere
      • When I start driving on snow I tap the brakes a couple times if nobody’s around just to get a feel for how good my traction is. Am I sliding a little bit? A lot? Not at all? That helps set the tone for what to expect on the roads.
      • Don’t accelerate through turns if you’ve already got momentum, and if the weather’s REALLY suspect I prefer to coast on overpasses as well since those ice over first.
      • Respect the possibility of black ice. If you live in a mountainous area then assume anywhere in the shade is black ice
      • If the house is on a crawlspace make sure any ductwork and copper piping are properly Insulated, keep the crawlspace vents closed during the cold months.
      • Use ice melt sparingly if you have to use it at all (sand is preferable) because it’s caustic to concrete.
      • if you’re somewhere that gets an absolutely stupid amount of snow, follow your neighbors’ lead if you see them shoveling snow off their roofs. I saw a lot of roof collapses in a luxury mountain town where rich people’s second (third? Fourth? Ninth?) homes were left vacant during a pretty nasty snowstorm