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·
    5 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·
        5 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·
        5 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·
        5 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·
      5 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·
      5 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