Ready for winter?

[ArlyA]

Our high today is in the 40's. Furnace hasn't kicked on yet. It hit 90 just a few day this summer, maybe 3 times. I have no idea how you can live in that. We have NO ac.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I live in the south, I am always ready for winter when it gets here. Well, I am ready for fall at least.

 

[TheMan419]

Have to get the boiler checked and serviced.
Need to think about hitting the diesel with some Power Service in white bottle.
Got all the hay in that we need for the horses. Got our supply of bedding that should last until January or so.
Need to check all the heating elements for the water troughs to see if they need decalcified or replaced. That will also cause me to check the outlets they get plugged into.
We always have pantry stocked so no issues there.
Will fire up the generator to make sure it is working. However it got several workouts over the summer due to a few power outages so I am pretty confident it is good..... just don't want to invite Mr. Murphy in for a visit.

 

[BravoXray]

I got down to 64° in the house last night so I fired up the furnace. Goingto warm up later in the week though.

 

[jjeff]

Winterize and service boats, and rv. Service all ATVS and Utv's. Put plow and snowblower on atvs. Winterize sprayers, drain water lines in shop. Make about a face chord+ of wood to season for the next winter at my cabin. Run around with a gallon of seafoam to add to mowers and everything else that requires gas. Put trickle chargers on everything. Change filters on furnace. Finally I start and service all our snowmobiles.

 

[Oaktree]

I was shocked last week to read that the *average* heating bill in some state is $466/month. That's horrifying. With fuel oil and natural gas prices riding high, a lot of people are going to be cold this winter. Thanks to my hot iron box, my highest power bill last winter was $125,

Is this averaged over 12 months or just heating season? I bet some who heat with electricity or propane pay more than that during the winter. Can't speak for natural gas, never lived where it was available. Heating oil is high this year for sure, fortunately we use very little since our main heat source is a woodstove.
Our highest electric bill ever was last month's...~$75, this after a more than 100% rate increase that took effect 1st of August. Typically ours would be mid 40s summer, low 50s winter.

I got down to 64° in the house last night so I fired up the furnace. Goingto warm up later in the week though.

We only keep the house 65 or so, let it get down into the upper 50s overnight (during heating season). Cold to some people, but comfortable for us. I find a 72º room to be incredibly stuffy.

 

[Eagle1]

We only keep the house 65 or so, let it get down into the upper 50s overnight (during heating season). Cold to some people, but comfortable for us. I find a 72º room to be incredibly stuffy.

You and me both. Set the AC to 72 and sweat all summer but better than 90's outside. I'm out in shorts this morning walking the dogs - 44 out there just nippy.

 

[Oaktree]

My winter prep list (in no particular order):
Get firewood under cover
Late season garden harvest (potatoes, carrots, other root crops, pick green tomatoes, end-of-season canning etc.), spread compost
Lawn mowers-oil/filter change, run out of gas, move to winter storage
Suspend insurance, put up antique vehicle I only drive in summer
Clean out garage (used as workshop in summer)-make room for tractor & wife's car
Prep snowmobile
Clean woodstove & chimney

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Is this averaged over 12 months or just heating season? I bet some who heat with electricity or propane pay more than that during the winter. Can't speak for natural gas, never lived where it was available. Heating oil is high this year for sure, fortunately we use very little since our main heat source is a woodstove.
Our highest electric bill ever was last month's...~$75, this after a more than 100% rate increase that took effect 1st of August. Typically ours would be mid 40s summer, low 50s winter.

We only keep the house 65 or so, let it get down into the upper 50s overnight (during heating season). Cold to some people, but comfortable for us. I find a 72º room to be incredibly stuffy.

$125 was the highest power bill of the year, and most of our electric bill is heating water. The house is well insulated, so heat with wood or AC in the summer is pretty cheap. Solar through the south windows and windows open in the evening takes care of heating and cooling for about 4-5 months out of the year, so we just turn the heat pump off. Even on a 100 degree day, the AC doesn't kick on until about 3 PM, and of course when we are home the hot iron box takes care of our heating needs. The electric bill also takes care of HVAC in the shop office/bathroom and 1600 watts of LED light in the main shop, plus pumping water.

Insulation. The gift that keeps on giving.

 

[Snobdds]

Close down the cabin; drain the water lines and close the shutters.
Buy ski season passes.
Get the skis and snowboards waxed up.
Put snow tires on the truck and landcruiser.
Blow out the sprinkler system.

Done.

 

[jyoutz]

What's that? Winter doesn't exist down here.

Sure it does. You need to find your sweat shirts.

 

[Jstpssng]

We only keep the house 65 or so, let it get down into the upper 50s overnight (during heating season). Cold to some people, but comfortable for us. I find a 72º room to be incredibly stuffy.

I used to be like that, until I put in a wood stove. Now it's not uncommon to wake up after a few hours to close the windows.

 

[ovrszd]

I

Is this averaged over 12 months or just heating season? I bet some who heat with electricity or propane pay more than that during the winter. Can't speak for natural gas, never lived where it was available. Heating oil is high this year for sure, fortunately we use very little since our main heat source is a woodstove.
Our highest electric bill ever was last month's...~$75, this after a more than 100% rate increase that took effect 1st of August. Typically ours would be mid 40s summer, low 50s winter.

We only keep the house 65 or so, let it get down into the upper 50s overnight (during heating season). Cold to some people, but comfortable for us. I find a 72º room to be incredibly stuffy.

I've slept in some very uncomfortable situations.

Long term, 50s is miserable.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My stove has a firebox big enough that a couple big pieces of hardwood will provide a nice bed of coals in the morning. Unlike other people, I cut and save small rounds from trees. Toss a half a dozen 2" rounds on the coals, open the draft, give it a few whoofs with a bellows, and the iron box is back up to heating temperature in about 20 minutes. By the time the sun comes up the rounds have burned to coals, so I close the draft and let the sun warm the house through the south windows. I can always feed the fire if it's cloudy.

A local tree service just dropped off a truckload of white oak. It was a big tree. I'm going to have to put some serious hours on the chainsaw to turn it into firewood, and may need to buy a rip chain. The pieces are huge. My 30" bar is going to need two cuts to get through it. I know what I'm going to be doing this winter.

 

[Yander]

Going to be a snowy Ohio winter?

La Niña winter now 75% likely. Here’s what that means for Ohio