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Winter car readiness
(coloradodot.info) suggests keeping the following items in your vehicle for safer wintertime travel:
• Flares/reflectors to signal for help and warn other motorists
• Sturdy scraper/snow brush/snow shovel to clear snow
• Battery or crank-powered radio to listen to emergency broadcasts
• Flashlight with extra batteries or crank-powered flashlight
• Survival blanket or sleeping bag
• Chemical hand warmers
• Extra set of clothes, including coat, hat, mittens, boots, etc.
• Gallon jug of water and nonperishable food
• First-aid kit and essential medications
• Tire chains and tow strap
• Non-clumping kitty litter/sand for traction
• Jumper cables
• Extra cloth or paper towels for cleanup if necessary
• Deck of cards or board game for entertainment
Money
Cold-weather savings
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Driveways, sidewalks and patios: For under $10, little cracks in concrete surfaces can be sealed quickly and easily with ready-to-use concrete sealant before they grow into big ones during the winter with the constant freezing and thawing of trapped moisture.
Gas grills: After grilling for the season, turn off and disconnect the propane tank, to prevent cracking of the flexible tubing. Also, clean grates and any other parts that are caked with grease, and remember to clean out ashes on the bottom of the grill because they’ll trap moisture and may rust during the winter.
Lawnmowers/gas-powered garden equipment: Lawnmowers and other gas-powered garden equipment should be thoroughly cleaned, and air and fuel filters should be changed, along with the oil. The gas tank should be kept filled with gasoline that has been treated with a stabilizer, to keep gas fresh and to prevent condensation and deposits from developing in the engine.
Motor vehicles: Make sure you’re using the right oil for winter conditions because oil thickens in cold weather, making it less effective. Also make sure you have the right mix of antifreeze in your radiator. Check and replace rubber parts, as needed, since winter ice, snow, and salt will wear them out.
As the temperature drops, so does air pressure in tires, so check tire pressure more often. Most important, remember to compare prices when shopping for snow tires. You may save by buying tires online and having them shipped and installed locally.
DIY weatherproofing: Every 10-ounce tube of window caulking (costing about $3 each) can lower your heating bill by about $3 per month. In addition to caulking, weather stripping around windows and doors, “shrink and seal” plastic window kits and spray foam insulation for filling larger gaps and cracks are all quick, easy and inexpensive fixes.
Compiled by Elana Ashanti Jefferson
