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Derek Dasher

Keep Winter from Killing You at Home & On the Road

by Derek Dasher on December 13

I woke up at 3:13 am this morning, freezing. Cringing as my feet touched the frozen wood floor, I made my way to the kitchen, following a trail of cold air. To my horror, the windows were wide open to cool homemade candy from imported chocolates lining the tables and chairs.

Ok, I’m willing to shiver for my wife’s holiday candy, but I started wondering about the winter and how bitter cold it’s been – and the cold weather is just getting started.  So, before you venture outside to scrape the car or wake up in the middle of the night with a dysfunctional furnace, take a look at these helpful tips.

Winterize Your Home

Install storm windows, insulation in the walls and ceiling, and make sure to put weather stripping around doors to prevent those cold drafts (unless you’re making chocolate). You should also make sure to clean out the gutters and repair roof leaks. Ice can expand and make small problems even bigger once it melts.

Photo credit: http://blog.homerenovationguide.com

Stay Warm

Make sure you have enough heat. Get your heater serviced by a professional so it runs smooth and is properly ventilated to the outside. If you use a wood stove, make sure the chimney is cleaned and you have enough fuel to last. Don’t forget to install and maintain a good smoke alarm too.

Need some cheap ways to stay warm? Well consider these:

  • Let in the light. Open the blinds on the south side of the house during the day and let in the bright, warming rays of the sun and then shut them during the night.
  • Use rugs. Bare floors can create nasty chills, so throw down some rugs, especially if your basement isn’t insulated. Your feet will thank you.
  • Try space heaters. Want the best way to save on electricity? Then try using an oil heater, the radiator type, which may use a lot of power…but it’s a lot less than a furnace. Remove all items that can burn from the immediate area of the heater.
  • Wrap up. One of the best solutions is to wear the right kind of clothes: sweaters, hats, gloves, a comfy scarf and long underwear. My favorite happens to be ankle socks and my warm house slippers to keep my feet toasty.
  • If you have an infant, you may want to wrap them up in blankets…but loose bedding contributes to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). One piece sleep clothes (sleepers) should be considered instead. If a blanket is used, tuck it in around the mattress and only pull it up to your baby’s chest.

Prevent Winter Illness

Winter also brings some health challenges you will want to prevent from becoming serious issues.

  • Make sure you dress warmly when venturing outdoors. Hats, socks, gloves, scarves, turtlenecks, etc.  Failure to do so, especially with small children can result in hypothermia or frostbite.
  • Even though people think that colds and the flu are caused by cold weather, this is not the case. However, there are viruses that are more active in the winter, especially in settings where children can pass them back and forth.

Safe Snow Removal

Be careful if you’re out of shape and do some light warm-up exercises. Also, take frequent breaks to avoid injury. Use rock salt, sand or de-icing mixes to get rid ice from steps and paths around your home. If you have a snow blower, make sure people and animals are at a safe distance, point the blower away from traffic and make sure your path is clear from debris (where did that garden gnome go?). You can also take a few tips from David Lupberger.

Photo credit: http://www.mountvernonnews.com

Winter Driving Safety

Take these precautions to prevent loss of life to yourself…and others:

  • The roads are dangerous enough; don’t risk it further by driving fatigued. Only drive when you’re alert.
  • Don’t warm up your car in your garage unless the garage door is open. You run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and death.
  • Use the right tires on your car and keep them properly inflated.
  • Don’t use your parking break in cold, snowy weather if you can help it, and don’t use cruise control over slippery surfaces.
  • Last of all: Use your seatbelt each and every time you use your vehicle.

This article was written by Derek Dasher from Your Local Security. Derek regularly writes about a variety of home-related topics at In Good Measure.

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Project of the Week: Christmas Tree Buying 101 – Making Sense of All the Options

by Derek Dasher on November 29

Christmas Tree - Flicker.com

Tis’ the season for finding yourself that perfect Christmas tree, but with so many options out there – how do you know which one is right for your home? Should you go with the 5-foot or 8-foot tree? What’s the difference between a spruce and a fir? Is it better to have a fake tree versus a live one? This tree-buying guide will clear up your confusion, helping you select the perfect evergreen.

STEP 1: Do your homework before you go

Take a walk around your house and decide where you will put the tree. It should optimally go in an area with lots of space around the perimeter (Santa needs adequate room to set his gifts). There should also be plenty of seating for accommodating the whole family when it comes time to open presents. Many people enjoy placing their tree near a window so the beauty of the lights can be seen from outside.

Once the spot has been selected, take measurements of the area. Start by measuring the floor to the ceiling, then measure the depth you’d like the tree to extend to.

Take your height measurement and subtract:

  • 1 foot for treetopper
  • ½ foot for the tree stand
  • If you will be placing the tree on any sort of table or base, make sure to subtract the height of the furniture as well.

The result will be your height limit while shopping.  Remember to take your measuring tape along with you on your hunt. You will want to stay as close to your limit as possible (without going over) in order to make the best use of your space.

Make sure to measure the trees you are considering from the front of the base to the back too. Evaluate how the measurement compares to the ideal depth you decided upon. You don’t want to end up with a tree that takes up half the room. [click to continue…]

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Grateful for Creativity: 7 Easy DIY Thanksgiving Decorations

by Derek Dasher on November 15

Thanksgiving is crammed between Halloween and Christmas and hardly gets the attention it deserves. Décor often switches from cobwebs and pumpkins to garlands and Christmas trees, giving no thought to the holiday that lies in between. In reality, it’s impractical to spend lots of money on decorations that can only be used for a few weeks out of the year.  Luckily there are a variety of things that can be done to reuse some of the decorations you already have (even ones you might not be aware of). There’s an abundance of unique, creative ideas floating around cyberspace, but we’ve saved you the hassle of searching by compiling this list of our top seven.

  1. Festive Candleholders
    Hollow out the center of your small pumpkins or apples (it’s done easiest with a drill). Use them to make candleholders, and embellish the base of the candle with leaves, berries, mini pinecones or whatever else you find lying around. Try grouping a few together and using them as a centerpiece for your big feast.

    Photo source: BHG.com

  2. [click to continue…]

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Get Your Patio Ready for Autumn

by Derek Dasher on October 12

Flicker.com

With the winter season upon us, it is time to enjoy the last few warm days and to prepare for the winter freeze. Now is the time to winterize your patio and make usable for the autumn season. Just because the temperature is dropping doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your patio with friends and family!

A Clean and Green Patio

Have you noticed that the summer season has left the patio a little dirty? It is time to power-wash the base of the patio. If you don’t have a power washer, you can still use the hose with an attachment nozzle. Use it at the highest pressure to remove dirt and debris that may have accumulated onto the patio’s surface during the summer. Remember to wash any patio furniture too and remove the buildup of pollen from the summer. This needs to be done before you pack up your patio items since you do not want to be using a hose outside in late November.

This is also the perfect time to replace your faded summer flowers with some new vibrant colors. Use hardy mums, violas, and pansies. Many people also decorate their patio by placing gourds, pumpkins, and other seasonal items to add color for the changing season.

flicker.com

Rejuvenate the Patio

If you have a concrete patio, patching any cracks in it will prevent them from growing or causing problems in the spring. If you have a wooden patio, or any wooden fences, repainting and resealing them would also be wise.

Add color to the patio with typical fall colors including chocolates, golden yellows, deep reds, oranges, and greens. You can also add patio-lights for additional color accents in the evening. Many models and colors of lights are available and it should be easy to find one to match to your patio design. Colorful lights increase the charm of the evenings, making your late parties last longer.

Importance of Comfort

As is gets later, you may need a patio heater. You can use propane, natural gas, and electric to heat it, but make sure that there is a shut off option for safety. You can also use patio fireplaces to keep warm.

If this isn’t an option for you, keep quilts and blankets nearby. For storing the quilts and blankets outdoors, use furniture that has a hidden storage compartment, just make sure to check for spiders, or other bugs, before using or storing blankets.

All said and done, do not over-stuff your patio. A little bit of space should also be left so you don’t feel cramped. Remember to keep it useful for all members of the family and any time you have company over.

This post was written by Derek Dasher, a regular contributor at YourLocalSecurity.com. He enjoys writing about home improvement, home security, and green topics at In Good Measure.

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