Ready for this winter?

[whistlepig]

We got hammered here last winter. Worst winter since the blizzard of '78. A few nights of wind chills of -30. Luckily we did not lose power. Going into last winter I didn't think our setup would survive. We feared our horse waterer would freeze or the lines to the barn freeze. And we had a lot of snow for these parts. All of this worked last winter as we hoped. You really don't know until the winter is over.

 

[dave1949]

I haven't cleaned the chimney yet. I usually do that when the burning season is over but it didn't happen this year. I have an easy chimney to clean so it's no biggie.

Firewood is in and ready.

The 3pt snowblower needs going over, fresh gear oil.

Some places in the driveway could use some fresh topping.

It's true, you never know what is coming. For what it's worth, the long range forecast is similar to last winter. Our winter can be so variable depending on how far north or south the storms go--which could be anywhere from Bangor to Boston. I don't think anyone can predict that long range. If they get it right within three days of the storm they are doing well.

 

[whistlepig]

I need to test run the generator. Fill some gas cans with stabilizer. Replace the heating element on the livestock waterer just in case. Don't want to do that in -30 wind chill. Install the tire chains, ballast box and mount the loader. A change of season on a farm no matter the size takes some effort. It paid off last winter.

 

[deerseeker001]

dont rush it Man, we have 3-4 months yet enjoy the Summer and Fall.

We got hammered here last winter. Worst winter since the blizzard of '78. A few nights of wind chills of -30. Luckily we did not lose power. Going into last winter I didn't think our setup would survive. We feared our horse waterer would freeze or the lines to the barn freeze. And we had a lot of snow for these parts. All of this worked last winter as we hoped. You really don't know until the winter is over.

 

[oosik]

Hey, like deer seeker, don't rush the seasons. I don't want to start thinking about winter til the end of Oct. I'm retired and the last thing I worry about is getting snowed in - so what. I'm always as ready as I'm ever going to be.

 

[jimpen]

Well my pellet stove ran for too many days that it burned up the auger for the pellets. So I have to get that replaced. Other than that, I'm telecommuting so only have go into town like twice a week for alcohol.

 

[square1]

Made and installed a light bar on the tractor yesterday for working on shorter daylight days. Bring it on!

 

[OldMcDonald]

jimpen, You need to make the effort (and find the money of course) to buy more alcohol before you get snowed in. From experience I can tell you that it really is possible to buy more than you drink. Difficult, but possible. I am lucky to have a cellar with space for more than 600 bottles a few barrels and many cases of wine - all the wine making equipment too, but it is cheaper to buy better stuff than I make. The cellar is not full!!

 

[oosik]

I'll take you up on that Mac - I would love to try a bottle of your home made. From what I hear Portugal makes some of the finest. Its been more than 30 years since I have drank much - now, its a seldom seen glass of JD.

Anyhow, Jimpen - do you mean the auger MOTOR fried?? You actually didn't burn the auger, did you?? I've fried the auger motor on my pellet stove once. It was due to the "fines" building up in the auger chute and making it difficult for the auger to turn. I was burning cheaper pellets with a higher amount of sawdust - and I found if I continued with that brand I had to clean out the "system" more often. I haven't used the pellet stove in over ten years - pellets are too expensive ( $275/ton this year) and electricity is very cheap.

I've seen temps as low as -20 F here, once in 32 years. but our salvation is that it doesn't really blow much or that strong in the winter. I've never had to run my little generator due to a power outrage - knock on wood.

 

[RoyJackson]

About the only thing we've done (so far) is buy two cords of firewood.

Last winter was long and tough. As Dave1949 wrote, the prediction is for a repeat of last winter. Later this year, after mowing season, I'll rig the blower to the 4400 and re-install the loader.

 

[peterc38]

I've already got about 8 cords of firewood cut, split & stacked

 

[OldMcDonald]

I'll take you up on that Mac - I would love to try a bottle of your home made.

Believe me, whilst you might love to try it, a try is as much as you would want. I have never had anybody's even half decent home-made wine here, and I have made some pretty good stuff elsewhere in the past myself. Portugal (the only source of Port) does make some of the finest wines in the world - and very cheap too. Everyday wines in 5 litre casks is about $US1-40 to 1-50 a bottle. No upper limit I suppose, but $3 would get you pretty good wines and at $10 to 15 you are in the top of the market for most producers. Always those, like olive oil producers, who will ask outrageous prices of course. Port is more expenisve, Ruby starting at about $6 and the sky literally is the limit for sound old vintages.

 

[Fluid]

I have to get more wood cut and stacked, all the water heaters are checked and work, just bought a bigger snowblower 48", have two 38" blowers, got one more cut of hay to get in and I'm all set for winter. I have more hay then places to put it.

 

[HEC]

At 72 yrs. old I have had to make a few changes , we went to a coal boiler 3 yrs. ago after burning wood all my life . What a game changer as it is so easy to take care of , fill it once every day or two , dump a few ashes and that's about it .I just got 5 ton of rice coal delivered yesterday and that will more then do for the winter for all my heat and hot water . I don't have worry about creosote or cleaning my chimney anymore either .I set the thermostat on 72 and it stays that way all winter long .

I bought a B2650 with a cab and front snow blower for all the snow we get up here in northern Maine . I have always had an open station tractor to do that job but just can't do it that way any longer . It usually takes me a couple hours to dig out from a storm as we have a long driveway .

Like others have mentioned enjoy this good weather for as long as we can .
Have a great day everyone

 

[oosik]

HEC, it would be my guess that "rice coal" means finely ground up coal?? I went from firewood to pellets to electric heat - mainly because electric is so cheap around here, fire wood drags in so many bugs and is now too much work for me( 72 years, also) and pellets have become so darn expensive($275 per ton) this year. Electric is just my speed - just twist a knob and its all done, ha,ha.

I still use a rear blade on my open station tractor to clear the snow on my mile long driveway. Its just me & Eddie Bauer on these winter projects.

 

[RoyJackson]

Its just me & Eddie Bauer on these winter projects.

Since you're in Washington state, I'm surprised Filson doesn't go along for the ride!

 

[oosik]

Roy,
I think Filson, last time I checked, was a bit fancy for me. Heck, my neighbor wears Carhart all winter and chuckles at my Eddie Bauer down. When I'm all decked out, down jacket,hood and down pants I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy,
I think Filson, last time I checked, was a bit fancy for me.

Great stuff (discounting the newer, non-US crap)...but it's ain't cheap. Reckon most of mine will be around when I'm dead and gone.

 

[HEC]

HEC, it would be my guess that "rice coal" means finely ground up coal?? I went from firewood to pellets to electric heat - mainly because electric is so cheap around here, fire wood drags in so many bugs and is now too much work for me( 72 years, also) and pellets have become so darn expensive($275 per ton) this year. Electric is just my speed - just twist a knob and its all done, ha,ha.

I still use a rear blade on my open station tractor to clear the snow on my mile long driveway. Its just me & Eddie Bauer on these winter projects.

Yes rice coal is just a little smaller than a wood pellet and is fed much like wood pellets and has a hopper like the pellet stove . Wood pellets here right now are $199 per ton, rice coal is $ 290 a ton in my area but you get much more heat from coal then wood pellets so that part makes the two pretty even as far as cost goes .If I remember right you get 60 per cent more heat from coal then wood pellets . The coal is just dumped in a coal bin so I never have to touch it untill it's time to put it in the hopper . The coal we use today is antracite which is hard coal not the soft dusty stuff our parents use to use .

 

[HEC]

Roy,
I think Filson, last time I checked, was a bit fancy for me. Heck, my neighbor wears Carhart all winter and chuckles at my Eddie Bauer down. When I'm all decked out, down jacket,hood and down pants I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

Up here it is LL Bean and I know what you mean about all bundled up . I had a back injury so it was very hard for me to turn and look backwards . I have a 7 ft. blower on the back of the M5700 but I had to stand up all the time using it which isn't all that safe on a snowy deck etc. .