I have winter phobia.
I hate how winter seems to last so much longer than summer, and I hate how people start talking about winter in August. In August, the last thing I want to hear about is winter.
It seems more appropriate that we should face up to the dreaded reality of the colder months in October. This week, I relit the pilot on my heater, thought about the gas prices, put on a sweatshirt and shivered.
Preparing for winter is one of the worst home maintenance tasks of the year. It is the final submission to mother nature - giving in, facing reality. I hate it but it has to be done. Luckily the cold click of a computer mouse can help us find the information we need to get the job done correctly and efficiently.
doityourself.com/energy/index.htm: DoItYourself.com is one of the best sites for basic home and vehicle maintenance questions. The main thrust of the site is to guide the user into its referral system (sending the user to licensed contractors), but useful tips can be found along the way.
For maximizing the efficiency of the home this winter, the site gives a basic overview on subjects like weatherstripping, window film, efficient thermostats, insulating a water heater and fireplace safety. Included are a list of related building codes, a "how-to" section and materials needed for basic jobs.
The home handyman should have no trouble finding material relevant to his or her situation. In the end saving money will be the reward for the small winter preparation projects.
www.kolias.com/homegarden/winterizehome.htm: A simple list of indoor and outdoor chores for winter preparation may be all that some people need to get ready.
Kolias breaks those chores down into the categories that count: Heating, ventilation, waterproofing decks, cleaning pools and replacing pool antifreeze, etc.
Bring up the site, print the list and get to work.
homerepair.about.com: This is a searchable site with tips from experts in the field of home repair/maintenance. Type in a search phrase like "winterize" or "water pipes" and go to a page prepared with specific information on procedures that could help avoid catastrophe.
Those readers who are 'lucky' enough to have a septic system might try this site to learn how to avoid problems with frost.
The site also details inspection procedures for "snow loading" on an aged roof. Find soft spots and cure the problem before waking up some morning to find the living room full of snow.
Avoid condensation (and resulting windowpane rot) with the proper control of indoor humidity. This site details the hows and whys.
www.lowes.com/lowes/HOWTO/LIBRARY/handyman/winteriz.asp: Lowes home improvement centers has a pretty extensive Internet library on home improvement projects. Logging onto the section on winterizing the home will bring a series of retail product offers. But, despite its commercial aspect, this site does provide many useful tips on getting ready for winter.
Included are the types of tools and materials the home improvement guru will need to complete basic insulation, or weatherstripping jobs. Helpful graphics illustrate problem areas in heat retention or ice buildup. Instructions for getting to the problem areas are also well-worded and easy to follow.
Rather than just telling you where to insulate and how, Lowes points out the features of different types of materials and specifically tells the reader the best applications.
Questions?Ideas? E-mail at jimscripps@Tahoe.com