[Wayner]

Oh yes, the 5 month season is soon apon us up here in Minnesota. As usual, fuel costs are expected to go up, with natural gas going up only 5%. I know Frank has his soldering irons on all the time, along with some tubes giving off heat (like the old yule log). I wonder what some of the other Nothern AC members do to prepare.

I started a new trick last winter. I have Anderson windows and the screens come off (to the inside) for cleaning and maintenance. I buy the 3M window insulator kit and install it to the inside (between screen and window) to creat another thermal pane. The kit has double sided tape that I put around the frame of the screen, then you apply the clear plastic film. With a hair blow dryer set on high, you take out all of the wrinkles in the film. I then put a small tape gasket around the perimeter of the frame. When I put that back into the window framing, I've created another dead air pocket which is a great insulator. It also stops any condensation on the windows.

The cost to do my whole house is about $40. I think I have seen savings. I also have bought outlet plugs that cover unused outlets. Even though my house has 6" walls and 2 feet of insulation in the attic, I think the windows are the biggest source of heat loss.

Wayner

[BRILEY804]

you have a pm.

[sunshinedawg]

Blowing out the sprinkler lines is the biggest thing I have to do. We don't have a lot of windows, so there isn't much winterizing to do. I have a wood stove with free unlimited access to firewood. Winters are cheaper than summers for me!

[nathanm]

Putting up the annual 3M clear plastic on the windows is always a fun project, especially when you can get it tight as a drum and nearly invisible.  My windows are kinda leaky so it's a must.  Also, an unexpected side effect of the acoustic foam in my listening room is great thermal insulation, I hardly ever need to turn on the heater in that room.  (all rooms have separate baseboard heaters)

[JLM]

We had our first snow (in the air) yesterday with wind chills in the teens.

We're in a new EPA 5 star house, so other than bringing in patio furniture, the only thing I have to do is put up the reflectors to know where the driveway is (for us and the snow removal guy).

We heat with propane, so winters cost about $300/month more.

[TheChairGuy]

My old house in Washington DC really was breezy cold in the Winter (100 year old 'farmhouse' it was).

The first line of defense was absorbent curtains on the many windows in the house....or plantation shutters (as decor dictated)

I found remarkable benefit by blowing expanding foam insulation around the outlets (removing covers to access around the junction boxes).  It's quite amazing what cold air can sneak in thru the electrical outlets.  $6 was about the cost of the spray foam can at the local hardware store to do the whole house (2 level, 3 bdrm, 1.5 bath)

The house was toasty warm, with original upright radiators heating things up, afterwards 

This is a funny topic for the AVA circle....but I've visited MN in late Fall and early Spring (brrrrr) before, so I know the connection is 'cold' 

Ciao, John

[Wayner]

I didn't know where to start the topic and I didn't think Frank would mind. He might need  some tips, too!

Wayner 

[BRILEY804]

I sent a PM to Wayner with a video for an idea that he might wanted to look into for treating his house, but never got a reply from him .

[KCI-JohnP]

I sometimes put stabill in the lawn mower as I may not be able to use it for a month or two. I have to bring our turtle inside because he can't take temps much below 35 F. Oh, I also have to put the jet ski's in the garage!!

John

[Dan Kolton]

I tried Stabil in my generator, and it gummed up the carburetor so bad that I couldn't even find the hole in the main jet.  I'll not use it again; I'll take the carb. apart to drain it completely.

[ctviggen]

I tried Stabil in my generator, and it gummed up the carburetor so bad that I couldn't even find the hole in the main jet.  I'll not use it again; I'll take the carb. apart to drain it completely.

I've use Stabil in my lawn mower, weed whacker, other weed wacker, back pack blower, snow blower, and high pressure sprayer and have never had a problem. 

[robinje]

I take in the garden hoses, but Sta-bil in all outdoor power equipment (if I remember to do so), clean the gutters, and take the boat and dock out of the lake.  These things I don't mind doing.  But having to prep my BMW motorcycle for storage is the saddest part of winter onset for me.  I LOVE riding my motorcycle.  But northern MN winters are not really suitable for that!  However, it just makes me appreciate riding even more once spring rolls around.  At least I can listen to my AVA gear more often in the winter!  HAHA...

[avahifi_lj]

Turn off the solder iron, turn down the thermostat, turn off the water and head to Florida for the winter.  That's what I want to do!  Unfortunately, I will be sticking around to watch the four letter "S" word here in the "frozen tundra" of Minnesota.  At least I can warm the room with my U70.

Larry