Misc Preparing for winter tips

[jazzy]

i truly believe that the solar minimum is accurate and our winters will be changing for the worse for some time. id like to startt a list of things people can do to help prepare--prepare our homes to deal with colder weather.

i live in the mountains of CO, about 8000ft. winters can bite you in the ass. i have an older home with too many windows and not the best insulation. my only heating is a wood stove in the living room. i have thermal curtains on the windows to try to help keep out the cold but it is still damn cold as you can expect.

ive posted about this tip a few times and want to share it in case it can help others. it seems silly. but it works. we used to go thru about 7 cords of firewood each year, by doing this we dropped down to 5-5 1/2 cords.

get you some bubble wrap--the medium bubble size. a big roll on amazon costs around $20.
look at your windows and cut pieces of the bubble wrap to fit the windows. spray water on the windows (inside) and press the bubble wrap piece, bubble side down. it will usually stick on there all winter. if you have a sunny window and the bubble wrap starts to get loose, just spray again and press it back on. or you can always use a bit of masking tape to take it up.
in the spring i take them down, roll then up and store in a garbage bag and stuff in the closet til the next fall when i put them back up. after 8-9yrs im still using the same pieces. i do h ave an extra roll on hand just in case. one roll at $20 took care of all the windows on my first floor

in the winter i like to open the curtains on the south facing wall to let the sun warm the place up and i leave the bubble wrap on cause its clear. ok it looks red-necky but hey, it works and makes a real difference in keeping the home warmer so you use less fuel. that is a big deal if you live on a fixed income.

if the winters are going to get worse, this can be a real help.
and if you live in a cold climate, go for a couple sets of fleece sheets. way better than flannel and cost about the same. i got some last winter and was amazed at what a difference it made. if this colder winter thing is real and i believe it is, your gonna want the fleece sheets. worth every penny. and the bubble wrap for your windows. get a spare roll for down the road.

if you have some ideas and tips for getting thru winter i hope you will share.

and i hope it is ok top post this here. i see so much terrific info about the solar minimum, alerts and warnings, i was just thinking of how us average people can deal with it.

 

[Signwatcher]

I just bought two Buddy heaters and some propane cans for the new place I inherited. The other house has a wood burning stove... having trouble locating wood for it (1 cord on site) though.

 

[Old Gringo]

i truly believe that the solar minimum is accurate and our winters will be changing for the worse for some time. id like to startt a list of things people can do to help prepare--prepare our homes to deal with colder weather.

i live in the mountains of CO, about 8000ft. winters can bite you in the ass. i have an older home with too many windows and not the best insulation. my only heating is a wood stove in the living room. i have thermal curtains on the windows to try to help keep out the cold but it is still damn cold as you can expect.

ive posted about this tip a few times and want to share it in case it can help others. it seems silly. but it works. we used to go thru about 7 cords of firewood each year, by doing this we dropped down to 5-5 1/2 cords.

get you some bubble wrap--the medium bubble size. a big roll on amazon costs around $20.
look at your windows and cut pieces of the bubble wrap to fit the windows. spray water on the windows (inside) and press the bubble wrap piece, bubble side down. it will usually stick on there all winter. if you have a sunny window and the bubble wrap starts to get loose, just spray again and press it back on. or you can always use a bit of masking tape to take it up.
in the spring i take them down, roll then up and store in a garbage bag and stuff in the closet til the next fall when i put them back up. after 8-9yrs im still using the same pieces. i do h ave an extra roll on hand just in case. one roll at $20 took care of all the windows on my first floor

in the winter i like to open the curtains on the south facing wall to let the sun warm the place up and i leave the bubble wrap on cause its clear. ok it looks red-necky but hey, it works and makes a real difference in keeping the home warmer so you use less fuel. that is a big deal if you live on a fixed income.

if the winters are going to get worse, this can be a real help.
and if you live in a cold climate, go for a couple sets of fleece sheets. way better than flannel and cost about the same. i got some last winter and was amazed at what a difference it made. if this colder winter thing is real and i believe it is, your gonna want the fleece sheets. worth every penny. and the bubble wrap for your windows. get a spare roll for down the road.

if you have some ideas and tips for getting thru winter i hope you will share.

and i hope it is ok top post this here. i see so much terrific info about the solar minimum, alerts and warnings, i was just thinking of how us average people can deal with it.

I have a roll of bubble wrap from when I moved recently and have been wondering what to do with.
Now I know
Thanks

 

[jed turtle]

I haven’t done this for a few years but will be re-instituting it.

I used to use panels made of 2” thick foil-faced solid foam (isocyanurate) insulation (R-10) cut to fit the inside frames of windows and doors finger tight, and taped around the edges with 2” wide “gorilla tape” (brand name) with 1” on the outside or inside surface and the other 1” bent over the edge of the foil to prevent cutting fingers or scratching woodwork and to adhere to the inside and/or outside surface facing the window or the living space Ie: it takes to trips around the entire outside edge of the panel to cover both inside and outside edges.

And then another to go around just the outside edge to make sure that no foam is left exposed between the two tapes and to toughen up the entire edges of the panel for pro-longed usage. Or you can use 4” wide zip-tape for a one-pass treatment of the entire process.

I add short pieces of tape at the midpoint that stick out like ears (folded over so there are no sticky faces to touch) so I can pull the panel out of the window frame . The main drawback is that I need to have a place to set the panels aside during the daytime. Otherwise, this has been the most effective insulation for windows and doors at night that I have ever had. One can also add adhesive backed picture scenes to the foil surfaces for looks but that might reduce the effectiveness of the radiation reflection qualities of the panel.

 

[Martinhouse]

Jed Turtle, what you just described for your foam insulation window covers is exactly what I've gotten the materials to do for my north windows! I've cut the pieces of foil-backed foam and bought the tape to cover the edges. I'd even planned like you have for those "ears" of tape to be able to pull the whole thing out of the window, although I'd figured to put the ears at both top and bottom of each side, as I've cut the foam for a pretty tight fit.

I'd even planned to cut a spy hole about 2" in diameter in the piece of foam that goes in the window that looks out at my driveway! This little circle (or square) of foam will have it's own little bitty "ears".

 

[jed turtle]

Jed Turtle, what you just described for your foam insulation window covers is exactly what I've gotten the materials to do for my north windows! I've cut the pieces of foil-backed foam and bought the tape to cover the edges. I'd even planned like you have for those "ears" of tape to be able to pull the whole thing out of the window, although I'd figured to put the ears at both top and bottom of each side, as I've cut the foam for a pretty tight fit.

I'd even planned to cut a spy hole about 2" in diameter in the piece of foam that goes in the window that looks out at my driveway! This little circle (or square) of foam will have it's own little bitty "ears".

I like the spy hole idea, and have been thinking about it also. Also, I should point out that the foam I used, isocyanurate if it catches fire, gives off DEADLY fumes, and firefighters keep at least 15’ away from it in a house fire. Something to keep in mind...

 

[Cardinal]

I like the bubble wrap idea, my house is all electric and whatever helps keep that electric bill down works for me.

 

[parsonswife]

In the olden days everyone had canope bed curtains above and around the bed....traps heat and makes better sleeping. One winter I lost power and put up a 3 man tent on top of my bed.....slept great

 

[Martinhouse]

I've made myself several blankets with two layers of fleece fabric. Since I folded one of them in four and put it under my fitted sheet right where I lie on my mattress, I don't have to use anything else to sleep toasty warm. Three other double fleece blankets, are what covers me, along with a thin blanket under them all that will drape closely around me. I just start with one blanket and add the others as the weather gets colder. In the coldest weather I wear a knitted hat and fingerless gloves, but up til now that's been only a couple times a winter.

I've never been able to retain body heat, and the fleece fabrics have been a huge improvement for me, especially since they aren't heavy like a big pile of quilts and regular blankets can be.

 

[parsonswife]

I also just bought a commercial refrigerator curtain like you see in grocery stores. Tucking it away for emergencies because DH will hate it. But if we need it to help keep heat in one room that doesn't have a door it will be perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/Mophorn-Plastic-Curtain-Thickness-Warehouse/dp/B07M6H7W92/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=refrigerator+curtain&qid=1603380025&sprefix=refrigerator+cur&sr=8-3

I remember going to grandmas house and the stairway upstairs was closed off with a door and upstairs was freezing! As being raised in Calufornia and everyone had open stairways I was shocked.

 

[Milkweed Host]

I have a smaller ranch house built in 1980, with two west facing double hung windows.

I cut to fit sheets of tinted plexiglass to fit between the inside double hung window and
the outside combination window. It has worked out extremely well for keeping the inside windows
warm in the winter with no moisture build up. In the warmer season, it stops the warm afternoon sun
from heating up those west rooms. The plexiglass is easy to install and remove, all from the inside, just
open the window and remove the plexiglass from the bottom.

When I owned a house with hand crank out windows, there was a screen insert on the inside. In the winter
I took the screen inserts out, wrapped a layer of Sarah wrap on them and re-installed. That was awesome at
keeping the house warmer and if the Sarah wrap was installed carefully without wrinkles, they were easy to see
through.

 

[Martinhouse]

Milkweed Host, I've used the super thin clear vinyl that Walmart used to sell in their fabric department, It's great for south windows that need some sort of extra protection in the winter, but where I want the sun to shine in. It was only eighty-nine cents a yard back when I bought it. Not sure if they even sell it any more, but I think it can be ordered from Hobby Lobby. I haven't shopped in my big town, including the Walmart, since early last March. For all I know, the town could have disappeared and I'd never know it. I pay more for groceries at my small town store, but it's worth it to save the much longer trip to the bigger town.

 

[nomifyle]

Yesterday I saw a big roll of bubble wrap in one of our sheds from our ebay selling days. I'm seriously thinking about putting it on a couple of our windows.

In 1975 I spent part of a winter in the Little Rock, ARk area and it gets damn cold there. And another time in the winter of 2001 I was in Goldendale, WA living in a leaky camper and woke up one morning to 24 inches of snow, and I definitely slept with a knit cap and gloves on. Now here in my part of Louisiana it can get very cold, although it doesn't last a long time.

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[Publius]

Buy warm clothes.

 

[parsonswife]

Here is another way to stay warm to sleep

The Bed Tent Plus+

The Bed Tent Plus+

www.privacypop.com

 

[jazzy]

Buy warm clothes.

yeah thats part of it. once i got a couple of fleece lined leggings and fleece sweatshrit tunic, a fleece vest, and some knitted leg warmers it made a huge difference in getting thru winter---plus a couple sets of fleece sheets.

 

[Martinhouse]

A couple of winters ago I made myself several pairs of what I call sweater-knit long john bottoms. I used an old pair of Haines bottoms and laid them out flat to calculate how to knit some with four-ply yarn and #8 needles. This makes a knit that is definitely not thin like socks. It's been lots easier to stay warm in the winter and I wear them all the time. They make great pajama bottoms, too. And they were the perfect thing to make that used up lots of scrap yarn as I decided that no one would object to crazy-colored stripes, since no one would ever see them but me.

Over many years, I've made probably dozens of pairs of bootie-style slippers using doubled strands of yarn and they make super-warm slippers for no more cold feet.

 

[jazzy]

ithink as the weather patterns change for the colder, people need to get more creative on how to deal with it. i grew up in the south and had to learn how to live in the upper parts of CO mountains. its friggen cold up here yall. each year i tried a different thing to get thru the winter cold. i used flannel sheets and pjs for a long time and just never felt warm. last winter i got some fleece items and that made the real difference. if your an old fart like me and get cold easy---fleece is the key. worth every penny.

if we are looking at a solar minimum and things will be getting worse, get what you need while it can still be found and affordable.

 

[Marie]

I'm living in the sandhills with the wind that never stops. It creates dangerous windschills here. We heat with wood. When I was a kid DF put a fan in the wall between the room the stove was in and the bedroom so the heat distributed through out the whole house. We just use one of those tower fans. Hang heavy quilts over hallways where heat isn't needed. We have alot of windows so we use clear plastic bags over our screens just pop them out slide them in the bags and pop them back in. If you can't obtain clear,yard waste bags will do. But you cant see through them so limited on windows you dont care to use.Staw bales can go around the perimeter of your house to insulate your foundation. We layer clothes. It's hard on the washing but saves on being cold when working outside. Wear larger footwear and layer socks also. Pantyhose!! I'm not kidding, wear a pair of those knee high pantyhose under your socks. They breathe but help keep you warm.

 

[nebb]

Warmest long johns I have are the red one piece Union suit

 

[tanstaafl]

Buy warm clothes.

There are warm clothes and then there are warm clothes ...

 

[Publius]

There are warm clothes and then there are warm clothes ...
View attachment 229491

My wife could use one, just doe't see anyone selling them.

 

[tanstaafl]

My wife could use one, just does see anyone selling them.

I don't think it's a real product, I just think it's funny. I think it may be a staged picture of a very large sweater, with the feet in one arm, the head in the other arm, the hands holding the glass in the neck hole, and the body of the sweater out of sight on the far side. Or not. For some reason the room makes me think Europe, and who knows what the heck kind of novelty clothing is available there.

 

[Martinhouse]

If I wore that pink thing, my feet would be really, really cold!

 

[Flippper]

If you have a tendency to cold feet and/or hands you might want to try taking vitamin B1, low B1 levels cause circulation issues. Furosemide/Lasix will cause low B1 levels and hypothyroidism. Low B1 also causes congestive heart failure.

I made some of those wheat bags, just a little pillow of wheat in cotton fabric, toss in microwave for a minute or two and use it on my lap under a blanket as I'm on line, or use it when I have to get into a cold car, I'll toss a heated pack on the seat and cover it with a coat or blanket so it's warm when I get in to drive. I also have put them in my bed to warm it up. I have also heated them up and put one under the kitty's nap bed and he loves it.

I spoke to a lady who lived in a little trailer in Alaska, she told me she used that bubble wrap to line her closets and kitchen cabinets as well as windows and they helped to insulate that trailer.

Fleece sheets are the only way to go-I only use cotton from about July to September, the rest of the year it's fleece and 3 down comforters, 2 blankets and a comforter. Winter and summer.

I just spent a king's ransom on replacing 2 big picture windows in the house I'm in now (thank the LORD above I am no longer in that trailer house!) but it's made a huge difference in drafts. My mom had replaced almost all windows but those 2. I also had a ceiling fan put in as the only heat I have for now is a fireplace insert and with these steep pitched 14 foot ceilings, all the heat went right up top. Last winter, my first here, I put a fan on the table on it's back and aimed it at the ceiling, which helped.

ALso get one of those door draft pillows you can hang on your doorknob, when you need it, lay it in front of the door.

 

[jazzy]

i forgot aobut the fan idea to bnlow warm air from the wood stove room to other areas. my wood stove is in the LR and there is a hall thru the kitchen to the bedrooms. we have a little fan--its really a little fan from the guts of an old computer. stuck in the upper corner of door frame pointing down to the rest of the rooms. it works amazingly well.

also, dpnt forget a simple thing like an old fashioned hot water bottle, especially if the electric is out in the winter for whatever reason. can make a REAL difference going to bed.

i used to have to have a heating pad in the winter when i went to bed to take the chill off. last winter was the first time i got fleece sheets, down blanket and fleece jammies and socks---never had to use that heating pad that winter to get and stay warm. for someone who tends to run cold, that was a really big deal and i guess why i keep preaching fleece. sorry for being boring about it.

flipper thanks for the idea of putting the bubble wrap in a mobile home in the closets--that is a very good insulating idea.

 

[ClassyCwgl]

I will second the fleece idea. I turned my friends onto fleece sheets and they are still talking about how awesome they are. I also haunt walmart and ross stores for fleece lounge or pajama pants. They are thick ones and you just have to try one on once and you will be omg instant warm legs. I also use the fluffy socks they sell and my feet are finally warm.

 

[jazzy]

i was talking with my polish neighbors--older couple whgo survived the communists, escaped and came to the US and became citizen. their elder mother lived under the nazis. many stories of very hard times and how they survived. you know what they liked in the cold winter?

hot water bottles
you can take to bed or to use to give you some warmth any time of the day

also used bricks heated up and wrapped in towels to take to bed

they are not expensive on amazon, might be good to get a couple. i like the idea of a cover---can buy one but easy to make a warm fuzzy cover from an old sweater or towel or something

the worst cold i ever went thru was 25 degrees Below zero. i had the wood stove on full blast 24/7. had to turn on the oven and blast that. the dogs refused to go out and pee, had to force them out for 5 min and they ran back inside super fast. had blankets and layers of clothes, a knit cap and i never got warm.

this was my pre-fleece days, lol.

im getting some hot water bottles.

i like heating pads but i think its smart to get some low tech items like hot water bottles. if your in the middle of a blizzard, the elect goes out--that beloved heating pad aint gonna be worth much.

 

[tanstaafl]

also used bricks heated up and wrapped in towels to take to bed

Be careful that the bricks or stones aren't too hot. I completely destroyed the towel that wrapped it and burned the heck out of a quilt that way. By the way there is such a thing as being too well insulated, since you still need fresh air in the winter. Sealing every possible crack and draft can lead to stale air, which can be less than healthy for you over the course of months stuck indoors (especially if you have respiratory issues).

 

[jazzy]

Be careful that the bricks or stones aren't too hot. I completely destroyed the towel that wrapped it and burned the heck out of a quilt that way. By the way there is such a thing as being too well insulated, since you still need fresh air in the winter. Sealing every possible crack and draft can lead to stale air, which can be less than healthy for you over the course of months stuck indoors (especially if you have respiratory issues).

lol, ive never tried the warm brick idea for the reasons you explained, im staying with hot water bottles.

 

[Walrus Whisperer]

Is there a major or minor differance between the big bubbles or the little bubbles?. I've been doing this for the past few years and have a mix of both.

 

[nomifyle]

DH is very cold natured. He bundles up in the bed and then sweats like crazy, off and on all night. He would prefer the temperature on 80 in the winter. He would prefer to sleep in his underware with not cover. No way for me because I can't breathe when its that warm in the house. I've never used a hot water bottle, but I just ordered one for DH, with a cover. Hopefully it will help him.

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[jazzy]

Is there a major or minor differance between the big bubbles or the little bubbles?. I've been doing this for the past few years and have a mix of both.

im not real sure, was just told to use the medium bubble size asit was best. id say use whatever you got on hand. maybe experiment? get a sheet of medium bubble and put on a window and compare that insultion effect to other windows where you use either the large or medium. see if you can tell any kind of difference.

 

[summerthyme]

im not real sure, was just told to use the medium bubble size asit was best. id say use whatever you got on hand. maybe experiment? get a sheet of medium bubble and put on a window and compare that insultion effect to other windows where you use either the large or medium. see if you can tell any kind of difference.

I've never tried any of it, but when it cools down here, I'll apply different sized bubble wrap to a couple adjacent windows and use my laser thermometer to see if there is any difference.

Summerthyme

 

[jazzy]

thats a good idea!

 

[jazzy]

another thing that might be odd but i use every day.
stainless steel insulated bottle for coffee or tea.


a GOOD hot water thermos type bottle could be very handy

i have a 32oz stainless bottle for my morning coffee,kinda gives me 4 cups. but when i heat the water for my 32 oz thermos, i also fill a smaller 24oz one for some hot tea or coffee later in the afternoon.

i have a propane stove to heat up my hot water, i fill my coffee thermos and save the rest in another thermos for hot tea or coffee later. that way im not using more propane or having to heat things up. on my thermos i have a neoprene cover for insulation to keep it hot longer--worth it. the thermos stay hot for at least 12 hours easy, no kidding.

i have tried a couple brands and have my favorites. but having a way to have a hot beverage quickly in cold weather is a real comfort.
coleman is a good as is thermos or stanley or contigo. insulated stainless steel is what you want with a no leak lid. you can use oit for soups too. things like this could be a good tool. ive had many times when i filled my 2nd thermos with hot water in the am, gone about the day running errands or stuff and come home mid afternoon and i had perfect hot water for a cup of tea has been a real help.

my coleman 24oz insulated stainless bottle has kept water hot for 12 hours perfectly. not piping steaming hot but hot enough to make a nice cup of tea.

a good stainless insulated bottle is a good tool

 

[jazzy]

saving fuel

its been cold regular now, first thing in the am the wood stove is lit to warm up. we put the kettle on that to heat water for coffee and use a coffee press or instant. we have a propane stove but if the wood stove is going why waste propane to heat water?

thats why i like having a couple good strong insulated thermos for hot water. mid day the wood stove has died down and id need to use propane to heat up some more water. i can see a time in winter as things get colder we have to be concerned about our fuel.

i dont know aobut you all but ive been poor, stone cold poor when id take the kids to the park regularly in the fall/winter to collect sticks and such laying on the ground for the fire place and make a game out of it when i was running real low on wood and had no money. planning the use of and conserving fuel in hard times is something worth thinking on.

know what else works good too in conserving fuel? one of those stainless thermal 'cookers'. its a non electric crock pot. i got one a couple years ago and LOVE it, totally worth it. start a soup or stew in the am, throw everything in there chopped up, get it boiling for 15-20 min, put the put inside the thermal container and let it go til dinner. perfectly cooked. ive done chicken breasts and small roasts, really can do about anything,and a great fuel saver. it doesnt have to sit on a stove top all day using fuel.

this is the one i have but there are many others.

Amazon.com: Tayama TXM-50CF Energy-Saving Thermal Cooker, 5 L, Black: Kitchen & Dining

Online Shopping for Kitchen Small Appliances from a great selection of Coffee Machines, Blenders, Juicers, Ovens, Specialty Appliances, & more at everyday low prices

www.amazon.com

i also like using a solar cooker--mostly summer but ive used it on cold days too. you can buy one or make one, ive seen the instructions on the net for free. a little learning curve but it also helps cook and save fuel. in the summer it keeps the kitchen from heating up and is great for heating up leftovers.

i just cant shake the feeling we will all be somewhat broke and struggling the next several years or so on different levels. the GSM raises a whole lot of questions on smart ways to deal with the changes.

another thing--probably silly but could make a neat christmas present

in the evenings i sit in my chair and listend to a book or movie and try to get warm. ive tried different lap blanket of differetn materials over time , all do-able but nothing did the job for me. well, i found this one and it is Awesome. it is pretty, light weight, soft and very cozy. it is Awesome---did i say that already? if you run cold or have someone who does, i bet this would help. i want to get another..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073FCP4BL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

another things and its little so dont laugh. my sister who lived in chicago area for years told me about this---get you a few pairs of leg warmers---they make a huge difference in legs and feet feeling warm. i was suprised. they are not expensive, a 2 pack runs around $13 they really made a differecne last winter in staying warm. totally worth it.

Loritta 2 Pairs Women Knit Leg Warmers Winter Warm Long Boot Socks,D(Black+Dark Grey) at Amazon Women’s Clothing store

Buy Loritta 2 Pairs Women Knit Leg Warmers Winter Warm Long Boot Socks,D(Black+Dark Grey) and other Leg Warmers at Amazon.com. Our wide selection is elegible for free shipping and free returns.

www.amazon.com

since the weather turned here its just been on my mind what has worked and what could use some more adjustments. it was cold today so i pulled out the leg warmers---man do they make a difference..

 

[Michiana MaJo]

Old Gringo, thanks for the suggestion of using Bubble Wrap on windows to conserve heat....I will definitely try that! So glad I checked this thread, today...my first time.

I also like the idea of a thermal cooker, but they can be rather pricey....as a very senior single, am wondering if the would be worth the cost....I can afford one, but wonder how much use it would get....I do all my cooking.

 

[Michiana MaJo]

Another question.....I’d appreciate suggestions on some kind of sox to keep my feet warm, at nite....I use some fairly thick ones, but I could use warmer ones.....I want sox of some kind, not a hot water bottle....I have to sleep in my recliner. (I wake up in the middle of the nite, can’t go back to sleep, so read for a couple of hours...decided it wasn’t worthwhile going back to bed, anymore.)

The recliner has plenty of room for me and my male Chihuahua ( in case anyone is wondering where the other one sleeps, she loves the freedom of having the whole house to herself, at nite....my little guy sticks to me like glue!)