Last few yrs I have been getting the clear shower curtain liners for a $1.00 ea. and just thumb tax it up under my curtains. It doesn’t look bad and really has helped keep my heating bills down.
I like to store our Pop-up camping tent in the house in case of power outages. We condense our living space by moving into the LR, DR, KIT & 1/2 BA on the 1st Floor and shutting doors to the BRS on the 2nd Floor. We leave the Bathroom doors open to maintain heat in them for the pipes. Once we condense down everything, we put the tent up in the LR, spread mattresses, rugs or blanket on the floor and move our Bedrooms into the tent. You would be surprised how well Body Heat works, especially if you had something with high fat content for long term warmth generation for dinner. If, you don't have a tent, regress to your childhood and build a tent with blankets, sheets, tables or partially flipped over furniture. Camping out in the house is fun and can lower children's stress levels. Don't forget your sleeping cap or mop hat and socks.
Well guys, thanks to you - while I was watching this video, I paused the video and scheduled a "heat check" of the three furnaces in my house because they have not been checked in several years. I will be checking all my windows and doors for leaks, too. Propane prices are expected to go up by 50% this year, so I'm glad I locked in a cap on the propane cost back in June, so that my cost per gallon will be a max of $2.59 even if prices go sky high. Right now, prices without a contract are $3.29 per gallon. Yikes! I have been widowed for three years and I'm gradually learning to take care of the things that my husband took care of when he was alive. Just inventoried my pantry...now I need to inventory the freezers. Ugh. I can't thank you enough for your very important reminders. Diane
We're starting a 3-part series on Monday all about how to stock your emergency food pantry. You make a great choice to lock in those prices early. We're planning to lower the thermostat here, this winter. 54% is a huge price spike!
@Jimmie Patrum Diane, I admire you so much for taking care of the things your husband used to do. You are one smart lady to have locked in the lower price for your propane, etc.
Hey just a tip co gas stays low to the ground and smoke from fire goes high I would get a co and a smoke detector that are separate because the co need to be mounted only three feet from the ground and the smoke needs to be on the ceiling . My husband and I worked for a security company and we had to get our license and that’s one thing we learned and it’s very important
One year I put a tea candle in a saucepan, a grate over that, and heated soup for my mother and I ... electric out very long time. House never got below 45 degrees although it was around 0 or lower.
They say to get the large bubbles when buying bubble wrap to insulate your windows. You want as little space between the bubbles for best insulation. Be sure to place the bubble wrap with bubbles facing the window side too. I found a really big roll of the large bubbles bubble wrap at a hardware store. All your tips are excellent and I love reading comments from others too.
Such a good point. I should have said to put the bubbles facing the window. I didn't realize I'd missed that point. Thanks so much for adding your helpful comment.
I agree you should have a manual can opener, but if you don't have one (or it broke) you can still open the can. Rub the top side of the can on a cement surface for a minute or two, then turn over to see if the lid will lift off. If it doesn't open, repeat the process. I have done this when we forgot to bring a can opener with us to a picnic once. It works!
In Germany, when you buy an older house, you have to give it a new roof within two years. We did that and we also had our windows renewed. That had such a big effect on how warm it gets!
We have some solar powered garden lights from the dollar store to use when the power goes out. Right now, I'm putting plastic on the windows to help prevent heat loss. Great timing folks.
Nice preparations, Helter Skelter. There are so many ideas Hope and I left out. We may do a follow-up program to include viewer tips like yours. Thank you for your kind comment.
During power failure, I’ve found that putting those cheap solar light stakes in a glass jar then moving it in front of a mirror, it lights up the whole room.
The boxes that require hair dryer like shrink wrap are great. Make sure you get crossing at corners and do middle of window as well. You can use outside on north windows if 50 degrees outside
Yeah and a string of x-mas tree lights that are battery operated are great. They are generally designed to work for months on a set of D batteries or slightly less than that on AA batteries. They add amazing ambiance and will last for the whole storm generally.
As a former Minnesotan, I can totally vouch for 3M window insulation. It really made a huge difference. Also, 3M door weatherstripping. Made the house so tight, you could see the window insulation move when opening and closing the doors.
Great suggestions that we will implement in our rental lake cottage. It's an old cottage & probably has no insulation in the walls or attic. The owner will probably pay for the insulation in the attic, so we're fortunate. Also, I will call our electric co. to see if they do free energy audits, which would be a big help. I'm so glad I found you online! You're providing a great public service...thanks
I keep my heat at 60 except during storms. During storms, I raise it up above 70. (I set an alarm so I will remember to turn the thermometer back down, but it just seems prudent to have the house warm on the nights that the power is most likely to go out.
Pool noodle.measure bottom of doors.cut inch shorter.slice longways.shove under door.wash winter clothes.repair and replace as needed. Have hvac tech out to check system. Make sure everything runs as well as possible.get flashlights,candles,etc.should power go out. Heated blankets Winterize vehicles.
I live off-grid in a caravan. I put cardboard (cut to size) on the windows at night & then close the curtains. I have a gas (propane) heater which I use on the lowest setting. If I'm home early enough to get the heater on, it heats the caravan & stays warm all night after I've turned it off
Keep your car filled up...we used ours in February to warm up and charge phones, etc during the freeze here in texas..make sure however your tail pipe/muffler is clear of ice, debris....
I have installed under cabinet lighting, battery operated. Now, I am talking about under the top cabinets, so you can see in the room. Those little things produce a lot of light! I think I got them at Dollar Tree, 2 in a pack. Again, get plenty of batteries. Thanks for all the good tips. 👍
Emergency supplies 1.water 2.extra food 3.camp stove 4.some sort of heat 5.first aid supplies 6.flashlight/candles. 7.hygiene items.even just baby wipes. 8.some way to amuse yourself
You two are awesome! I had the energy assessment done through the local community action agency years ago. I need to look into it again since we have moved. Back then, they sent an invite for a free dinner, allowed me to bring a friend (buddy system because it sounded too good to be true😉)gave us both huge free packages of do it yourself things...like hot water heater pipe wraps and for behind outlet covers. The dinner was awesome too since I couldn't afford to ever go out. They did all kinds of things at my home for free like...a hot water heater wrap and attic fan cover plus much more. My friend was able to have them help her place too🤗. It saved us money on bills and it was at no charge. I cannot even put into words how I appreciative I was, raising 3 boys by myself. I do know God has been so good. May not be extravagant but we do not need all the extras, just what we need. May the Lord bless you both for sharing the things that have helped you. Many may not have been aware there are places that can help for free.🙏🙂❤️
we just had our electricity out for a day in our town and someone had the neat idea of bringing in our outdoor solar lights (usually lining flower beds) to help with light! It worked great!
make sure you have Gatorade, over the counter medications, soups, crackers, prescription medications anything you might need if you have kids and they get sick. we alway run out right when i kids get a cold or something. we also make sure we have my sons diabetic supplies stocked up.
@@trudymaenza9672 got mine on ebay. Think mine are the igadgit brand. Solar powered too. Am in the UK. Woke up for a drink and saw your comment. Will need to double check tomorrow and get back to you. 😀
@@trudymaenza9672 they are igadgitz. Hand crank and solar powered. 3 different settings. 1 or 3 led lights or continual flash. Waterproof too. Seem very sturdy. Not very bright, but are great for emergency use. Sold on amazon too. Hope that helps. 🙂
Since a lot of people use candles or camp stoves in the house during a power outage, a fire blanket or fire extinguisher (they have small simple ones which I recommend even if you have a big one)
You guys are so cute!!! Hope and Larry. Of 13 breakers I use only 3, unless I'm heating up dishes, clothes, showers, doggie baths, etc, I turn the HW off. I use double, knee high socks, KNEE HIGH AND DOUBLE SOCKS, and shoesies. Layers of clothes Cottons, Flannel, First layer, tight, i.e., then another layer, Turtle necks and Hoodies, ear muffs, and Scarves. A dog and down comforter and heating pad is all I need. I love Electric blankets!!!!
Great tips. Our "emergency preparedness season" is in the summer as we live on the Gulf Coast. We were very glad to have plenty of extra charging capacity for our cell phones when we were out of power after Tropical Storm Nicholas for 4 days. Those portable chargers are gold and we have about 5 of them. We also keep plenty of water on hand and a stocked pantry.
Yes, those who live on the coast seem to have a really good idea of the importance of preparedness. In the MidWest, really winter is the main time we tend to think about it. Closely followed by storm and tornado season. We have lost power a fair share of times during spring and summer storms.
Thanks for the reminder that we need to clean our gutters. Great advice here, especially about the bubble wrap! Now I am going to have my husband watch this.🙂
Great info, thanks! I have learned that to mostly eliminate kerosene heater odors, light them outdoors and let them warm up a couple minutes before carrying back inside. Also, make sure you have a mobile charge cord for your phone. If your power goes out, your frozen food can be placed in the trunk of your car if it's below freezing outside.
I have used the bubble wrap method for several years. My son has had it on his windows about 3 years with very few times that it had to be put back up. And it doesn't damage windows or paint (good if renting).
@Lois Grohmann, how do you apply the bubble wrap to the windows? Do you overlap it & tape the sides/top/bottom with duct tape to the window's wood frame?? This is in the INSIDE of the window, correct?
@@RetireAbroadInvesting , first precut your bubble wrap to fit just the pane of the window. Make sure your windows are clean. Then using a spray bottle, lightly mist the window. Then just apply the bubble wrap. It will stick and for the most part adhere all winter. If not, just mist again and reapply. I save my bubble wrap from year to year and label it according to the window.
Great Video for this time of year. The weather can turn on a dime. It can be nice one day & the next day here comes the snow. Make sure everything is working properly. We make sure our gas cans are all full in case we need to power up the generator or snow blower. Being prepared can save money & so much stress.
We also fire up our generator once a month to be sure that it is working properly. During a power outage is not the time to discover that there is a problem with your generator.
A few years ago I made an attic tent for my pull down attic door. My neighbor and I went in together to buy the materials, which saved money, then we each made a tent. First, using a foam spray, I sealed the gap between the stair and frame . Then made the tent so it fit snuggly in the opening. Wow!!! What a difference in my heating and cooling bills. Something so small and simple made such a huge difference.
I've done the shrink wrap on the windows, the strip/foam around the windows, kerosene heaters, changing/cleaning air filters monthly. They all work perfectly. My great amount of savings has been to keep my thermostat set at 64 degrees in the day and 59 degrees at night during the winter.
@@UndertheMedian Oh my goodness 50%!!! I was watching this documentary 2 days ago about The Great Depression and food. It was reported that some people were buying food on credit...where they could find it at a 36% interest rate!!
I’m ok w a low of 71 w a humidifier running all winter to keep moisture in the air and 65 at night but any lower than 71 is uncomfortable for me. In evenings we have heavy throws to cover up with while watching TV so the thermostat can be lowered before bed. 10:57
Electric blanket or throw is great to have too. You can plug those into your wall outlet or plug it into a power bank generator or gasoline powered generator during a power outage. And two more suggestions during a power outage...Mr Heater Buddy (made for indoors) that runs on propane canister and get boxes of hand, toe & body warmers. Very cheap to buy...
I have washable furnace filters and what a money saver. Just a little tubcleaners sprayed over both sides wait then rinse off and drain. I'm 😮also prepping for winter meals too. I've already washed the the quilts and sheets sets.
with the dryer, I took a nylon stocking and put it on the opening of the dryer tube inside. that way I stuffed the vent in the winter with old towels. it works great! plus it warms up the room a bit..
We have to check our gutters twice a year in Australia, especially before summer as we often have fire seasons, even though we live in the city we still have to fire proof our house
Dollar store purchases can be wonderful. Like those little stick up battery lights. I use them in dark kitchen cabinets and always have two near my bed. Turning on lights wakes the husband and he cannot get back to sleep, that lack of sleep is dangerous for his job. He travels over several counties. Look around that store for items to make your own emergency kit, bandages, guaze, and don't forget the tape, plusother stuff. This may seem unnecessary but a washing board or two. I have a large one for heavy duty stuff and a small one for delicate things. I was 19 when I left CA with a baby in diapers, real cloth ones. I was left without a car in a country and a blizzard happened. The furniture, ie washer. I sure wished it had a wash board. I washed diapers in the bathtub scrubbing with my thumbs and drying them in front of a fire place over some counter chairs that were left here. Thankfully they left plenty of firewood. When I saw my first washing board a few years later I grabbed it and over the years it has been used. Food stock, beans in bulk. How to store it? Vacuum sealer. My first one was a tiny strip. Very simple with bags you cut to size and not cheap. Now you can get them fairly cheep. You might not like beans but they can save you from starving. A bonus for me is they are a must for a diabetic. Rice and flour are something else to consider. Now in sealing rice but small dollar tree sandwich bags to fill several bags, roll and then put them in the sealer bags. Rice is pointy and will put holes break the seal. If that happens just make another bag cut to size and reseal in the same bags having that extra layer. We clean and sterilize old sealer bags to use as a secondary layer. Windows, the bubble wrap I just heard of recently. We always use rolls of plastic. Husband buys large rolls for his greenhouse. We do not put right against the window but around the entire outside. This is like storm windows with an extra layer. When the sun does shine it warms the air. Blackout curtains can help. You can buy solar lights that are charged bu hanging in the sun. I just charged my favorite ones. You hit on many great points. Did you every really listen to stories from older family, I did all my life. Such wisdom is hard to find now. I am now the old person. The can opener is a must. I cannot use one most times due to arthritis and effects from a stroke but my solar generators will run the electric one. It only takes a little power.
Love old attic fans. We had one when I was young. Another thing for windows is painter's plastic, very cheap, surround the whole window. Ty for sharing this info.
Thank you for doing this you gave me some ideas I’m not sure if you know a plumber told us there’s many many years ago when it gets 20 and below always leave your kitchen and bathroom water dripping running a little bit not the hot the cold that will keep your pipes from freezing and bursting open plumber said that’s the busiest time for them because most people don’t know that do that
One thing is to make sure your gas tank is at least half full at all times in winter. My flashlights are LED rechargeable, I have them on a recharge schedule. Jackery (and others) make a big rechargeable battery that you can plug portable solar panels into to recharge and have all kinds of connections available to charge phones, etc.
I was just looking at Jackery products. There are so many ways to have back up power today. I might show in an upcoming video how to make your own. These aren't too difficult to make.
Hucks gas stations have them. I'm so thankful for this back-up. Kerosene is $3.99/gal - so a little expensive, but great to have during a power outage.
Thank you so much for the reminder to get furnace checked! Had mine checked yesterday and sure enough -- it wasn't working! It was a simple fix; I'll be thankful when weather turns cold!
Theres some great tips i will definately been using. Thanks for the video today topical as usual. We also have a heavy thermal curtaìn across the front door and draught excluders on porch door. Also where possible have long thermal curtains that 'pool' on the floor to help stop draughts. I also like to check the roof for damage / repairs when checking the gutters.
I'm SO glad y'all's channel showed up in my recommendations the other day, I've been learning a lot from yall. We already have someone hired to check our gutters, chimney and roof, and we got our a/c and heater checked already. But you definitely provided some great products for me to check out, like that heater and that window seal. You 2 are so smart about all this, funny and adorable together. ;) We love hand held can openers here, so we have a few on hand. Gonna go watch your pantry recommendations video now. :)
Are you aware of the trick of reversing one of the batteries in the unit when the lamp is not being used ... thus, if you have three batteries in the unit, put 2 adjacent batteries with the positive connector facing the same way, so there can be no 'line' through the batteries in resting position. It stops the batteries leaking their charge - - when you want to use the unit, just put that 'out of position' battery facing back the right way, and your batteries will not have lost any lifespan. Batteries lifespan will be a whole lot longer, than if you allow a 'circuit' in the resting / off position, as that 'potential circuit' in fact allows the batteries to leak their charge over time, even though the unit itself is not in use.
@@scorpio7938 Yea, my pleasure. A good friend showed me this. I do that with the torch in the car also, so there will always be charge in the batteries when it's needed. God Bless xx
Re: attic - you do NOT need to insulate the entire roofline. Insulation on the floor of the attic (between the joists, which is the ceiling joists of the living space beneath) is where your R-40 goes. That said, stapling reflective material to the underside of the attic rafters adds insulative value but needsto stay open at the place where eve vents circulate air from outside.
Absolutely correct. We probably should have gone into a little more detail on the insulating section of the video. We insulated our first home and had it done professionally in our second home. I found out when the pros did our insulation that there is more to it than just slapping insulation up there.
Here in Germany we change our tires to wintertires this time of the year. And do not forget to drain your rain barell or you will no longer have one...
In some areas of the US, it's common to put on snow tires or chains on your tires. Not so much in the flat Midwest, though. I remember my dad putting on snow tires, but we lived 45 minutes outside of the town in which he worked. So, he spent a lot of time driving up snowy, icy roads to get to and from work. I remember my mother standing at the door and looking out the window hoping to see his headlights coming up the road on many a night when he was late and the weather was bad.
@@UndertheMedian We live in a town, so roads are made clear and even outside town roads will be cleared. But when you have to park somewhere or drive through smaller roads you will need Winter tires. People put long sticks alongsside roads, so you see where your lane goes, even when the snow is hip high. Snow is fun, but requires us to be preoared. Ice now, that is only a bother😉
Makes perfect sense. Do you have a home phone? For years, we have kept a home phone because we still have boys at home. But, I wonder if eventually we won't see the need to keep a home phone anymore.
Reflectix is a great product that can be used to insulate windows. I use it in my west facing window and it keeps my bedroom so much cooler in the summer. Also helps keep heat inside in the winter time. I also use tension rods and 3 yard pieces of remnant fabric secured with safety pins which I put between the window glass and the blinds. Just another way to add that extra layer of insulation that is quick and cheap.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, no matter what your dwelling place is...including RV & vehicles. People use alternate heating sources during winter and mistakes and accidents can happen. Be sure to pick up fire extinguishers rated ABC, because those put out all different kinds of fires. Fire extinguishers expire so check your old ones to make sure they are still good. We keep one on every floor of our house and one in our garage too. Safety first, safety always!! God bless everyone and may you all stay healthy, happy and warm this winter...
I've been doing this for many years alone. I have a stocked pantry, freezer, dog food, water, flashlight's, extra batteries, candles, a Coleman Classic propane camping stove and extra propane, a good cooler just in case I need it, winter clothes, plastic to go over my windows, good heavy blackout drapes for windy days, that I open on sunny days that aren't windy so I can solar heat, I only have one can opener it's not electric, draft guards for my doors, I change my furnace filter before I need to turn on the furnace and a few extras, I don't heat every room in my house, I have a maglight mini flashlight on my keychain, blankets, quilts, clothes to keep me warm, lots of sweaters and, a big, fluffy Chow Chow dog, she doesn't really like to cuddle but she will if I'm cold and she's a great foot warmer.
Bought new smoke detector with carbon dioxide detectors last year. I crocheted out of leftover yarn covers that go behind my curtains and I also use bubble wrap. Had my fireplace serviced last year, got my propane tank last month. Price here in Arkansas was 3.15 per gallon. The delivery driver told me ai got a good deal as the price was up again.
Thank you for the great tips. I remember we lost power in an ice storm back in 2009 and we had nothing 😮 no heat but only a gas water heater so at least we had hot water but ever since that time I am always looking for ways to get prepared. We were without power for 9 days and it got down to 40 degrees in the house 😮🥶🥶
Wow! That's cold. We lost power for 3 days last year and kept the power generator going through it. We had lights, refrigeration, and internet/phone through it all. There are many alternative back-up systems available today.
I have had extended power outages like that, too. I ended up with a gas generator - I don't have natural gas, so I have to get cans of gas. But if you have natural gas, you might just get a natural gas generator if you can afford it. Regular gas generators are the cheapest way to go and they will run a lot of things. I got one from Harbor Freight that will run my whole house but I had to have a plug installed and pull it out when the power goes out. So, I bought a solar power station that is big enough that I can wait until the storm ends before having to go out to my shed. The solar ones generally won't run a whole house unless you get seriously big Bluetti's or a Titan and solar panels (I think Bluetti has the better battery of the two.)
Really enjoy your videos, Today you we’re taking about phones, we have 2 2 way radios, with a 5 to 10 mile range so we can keep in touch if the phones go off
I got two solar phone chargers from 4Patriots and gifted my best bud with one. When you know a big storm is coming, it only makes sense to charge up everything with grid power and then be judicious in how you use your resources. One source of both light and heat at my house is parafin oil lamps. I crack a window a hair, and find that the oil lamps give off no smell at all and are adjustable to a warm glow. I keep them up higher than my dog can reach even when he stands up (biiiiiig dog). I also use my BellFire fireplace, which was designed to provide supplemental heat. I occasionally toss a CreoStick into it to break up creosote build-up.
Out of curiosity, do you have a gravity fed water filtration system? (Like a Berkey)? We are considering getting one and I'm looking at different brands.
@@UndertheMedian I bought my Big Berkey in 2008. I cannot say enough good things about it! Be sure to buy the black filters for it and little kit for priming it the first time. Compare prices for these things on Berkey and Amazon. We have terrible tap water where we live so we have only drunk water from our Big Berkey since 2008.
We change our filters several,times since we have forced air heat. Also, cover the outside of your air conditioners. Lots of air seeps in and around.through them. You can buy covers through Amazon, or home stores. Or make your own.
I make fabric tubes, fill them with sand or rice and put them on the window sills and the top where the locks are. When I made curtains I bought enough fabric to do these. They help keep the AC in during the summer too. Sand is a bit better than rice, but both work.
My daughter asked me if I’m getting prepared for winter as she heard on the news that this is going to be a bad winter. She’s scared we’re going to have a repeat of the power grid going down again here in Texas. She looked it up and they haven’t even started the winterization process yet. Don’t know what they’re waiting for.
I would say just tell her to get off her hands and get it done but we don't listen. I listen a whole lot more now than I used to but I had to mess I enough to appreciate my mother's wisdom.
Someone , the electric line carriers (ercot) and the Texas Public Utilities higher ups are pocketing a lot of money & don’t care if the grid is brought up to standards !!! Politicians also !!! It is all about what they can pocket and defraud the public … Texas is horrible. Child Protective Services … horrible… Texas is 48th out of 50 states with help for the aged . If you are getting old just get out of Texas. The taxes and utilities are out of sight !!! Crooked politicians from city , county and state level …including judges !!! TEXAS WILL NEVER FIX THE GRID !! NO CHECKS AND BALANCES !!!
Thanks for the video I just found your channel yesterday and we justoved to Kansas from California so not the coldest place but more than we are used to in California. Thanks again
We had a CO problem with a house we bought and CO detectors were very new and an expensive option at that time so we didn't have them. I was clued into the problem because my yeast didn't work when I baked bread. We installed a CO detector and it went off in about 2 weeks. The furnace was beyond repair. We did get some insurance money from a seller's guarantee but it was not totally covered.
For lights, I have solar lights outside. I have night lights that turn on automatically when the power goes out. I have strings of Christmas tree lights with batteries that are designed to last the whole Christmas season, so they can handle a storm and will make everything beautiful. I have a few battery-operated lanterns and rechargeable flashlights. Plus, the flashlight on my cell phone.
Also great idea I heard for emergency lighting was him the emergency solar lights they have a dollar tree, leave outside to bring in at night you got light. JV
For heat, it is a gas-generator. And because generators also need backups, I have a solar power station and electric throws, and a personal-size Vornado that can be run at a lower watt (I think the personal size lowest watt is 325 and it will raise the room temp by 4 or 5 degrees in an hour. Versus the full-size Vornado's lowest watt is 750.) Mr Buddy Heater is good. For me, when the power is out an extended length of time, I want a heater to raise the temp in my basement to keep my pipes from freezing and Mr. Buddy Heater is good for that.
A couple of years ago our furnace got a cracked block and was emitting carbon monoxide. And of course it was in February. But we had a check for it, so we didn’t die
I converted my wood burning furnace to burn wood chips that I get from local landscapers and the county for free. They actually deliver them to my property at no cost just to get rid of them.. The free heat is a real budget saver.
Last few yrs I have been getting the clear shower curtain liners for a $1.00 ea. and just thumb tax it up under my curtains. It doesn’t look bad and really has helped keep my heating bills down.
That’s a great idea. Will be doing.
Excellent idea!
I had thought of that the other day and wondered how it worked well. Thanks!
That's such a great idea!!!!!! Thanks for the tip!!!!!!!!!!
That's truly a great idea!
I like to store our Pop-up camping tent in the house in case of power outages. We condense our living space by moving into the LR, DR, KIT & 1/2 BA on the 1st Floor and shutting doors to the BRS on the 2nd Floor. We leave the Bathroom doors open to maintain heat in them for the pipes. Once we condense down everything, we put the tent up in the LR, spread mattresses, rugs or blanket on the floor and move our Bedrooms into the tent. You would be surprised how well Body Heat works, especially if you had something with high fat content for long term warmth generation for dinner.
If, you don't have a tent, regress to your childhood and build a tent with blankets, sheets, tables or partially flipped over furniture.
Camping out in the house is fun and can lower children's stress levels.
Don't forget your sleeping cap or mop hat and socks.
Well guys, thanks to you - while I was watching this video, I paused the video and scheduled a "heat check" of the three furnaces in my house because they have not been checked in several years. I will be checking all my windows and doors for leaks, too. Propane prices are expected to go up by 50% this year, so I'm glad I locked in a cap on the propane cost back in June, so that my cost per gallon will be a max of $2.59 even if prices go sky high. Right now, prices without a contract are $3.29 per gallon. Yikes! I have been widowed for three years and I'm gradually learning to take care of the things that my husband took care of when he was alive. Just inventoried my pantry...now I need to inventory the freezers. Ugh. I can't thank you enough for your very important reminders. Diane
We're starting a 3-part series on Monday all about how to stock your emergency food pantry. You make a great choice to lock in those prices early. We're planning to lower the thermostat here, this winter. 54% is a huge price spike!
@Jimmie Patrum Diane, I admire you so much for taking care of the things your husband used to do. You are one smart lady to have locked in the lower price for your propane, etc.
You are doing fabulous! You are using the internet and figuring out how to prepare and are doing the prep work. Way to go!
Hey just a tip co gas stays low to the ground and smoke from fire goes high I would get a co and a smoke detector that are separate because the co need to be mounted only three feet from the ground and the smoke needs to be on the ceiling . My husband and I worked for a security company and we had to get our license and that’s one thing we learned and it’s very important
I was looking to see whether anyone commented on that! I don't know why they make the combo type, seems very misleading and dangerous.
One year I put a tea candle in a saucepan, a grate over that, and heated soup for my mother and I ... electric out very long time. House never got below 45 degrees although it was around 0 or lower.
They say to get the large bubbles when buying bubble wrap to insulate your windows. You want as little space between the bubbles for best insulation. Be sure to place the bubble wrap with bubbles facing the window side too. I found a really big roll of the large bubbles bubble wrap at a hardware store. All your tips are excellent and I love reading comments from others too.
Such a good point. I should have said to put the bubbles facing the window. I didn't realize I'd missed that point. Thanks so much for adding your helpful comment.
As a single divorcee, I really appreciate this video! Thanks for sharing
You are SO welcome, Tammy.
I agree you should have a manual can opener, but if you don't have one (or it broke) you can still open the can. Rub the top side of the can on a cement surface for a minute or two, then turn over to see if the lid will lift off. If it doesn't open, repeat the process.
I have done this when we forgot to bring a can opener with us to a picnic once. It works!
In Germany, when you buy an older house, you have to give it a new roof within two years. We did that and we also had our windows renewed. That had such a big effect on how warm it gets!
Those are the first two things we did when we bought our home - the roof and windows. Expensive, but worth it.
We have some solar powered garden lights from the dollar store to use when the power goes out. Right now, I'm putting plastic on the windows to help prevent heat loss. Great timing folks.
Nice preparations, Helter Skelter. There are so many ideas Hope and I left out. We may do a follow-up program to include viewer tips like yours. Thank you for your kind comment.
During power failure, I’ve found that putting those cheap solar light stakes in a glass jar then moving it in front of a mirror, it lights up the whole room.
@@teresaforsyth6185 Great idea!
The boxes that require hair dryer like shrink wrap are great. Make sure you get crossing at corners and do middle of window as well. You can use outside on north windows if 50 degrees outside
Yeah and a string of x-mas tree lights that are battery operated are great. They are generally designed to work for months on a set of D batteries or slightly less than that on AA batteries. They add amazing ambiance and will last for the whole storm generally.
As a former Minnesotan, I can totally vouch for 3M window insulation. It really made a huge difference. Also, 3M door weatherstripping. Made the house so tight, you could see the window insulation move when opening and closing the doors.
I wonder where you are now
@@KC-dr3cg Colorado Front Range
Great suggestions that we will implement in our rental lake cottage. It's an old cottage & probably has no insulation in the walls or attic. The owner will probably pay for the insulation in the attic, so we're fortunate.
Also, I will call our electric co. to see if they do free energy audits, which would be a big help.
I'm so glad I found you online! You're providing a great public service...thanks
I keep my heat at 60 except during storms. During storms, I raise it up above 70. (I set an alarm so I will remember to turn the thermometer back down, but it just seems prudent to have the house warm on the nights that the power is most likely to go out.
Pool noodle.measure bottom of doors.cut inch shorter.slice longways.shove under door.wash winter clothes.repair and replace as needed.
Have hvac tech out to check system.
Make sure everything runs as well as possible.get flashlights,candles,etc.should power go out.
Heated blankets
Winterize vehicles.
I live off-grid in a caravan. I put cardboard (cut to size) on the windows at night & then close the curtains. I have a gas (propane) heater which I use on the lowest setting. If I'm home early enough to get the heater on, it heats the caravan & stays warm all night after I've turned it off
Keep your car filled up...we used ours in February to warm up and charge phones, etc during the freeze here in texas..make sure however your tail pipe/muffler is clear of ice, debris....
Great tips!
We always have at least 1/4 tank… 1/4 is as good as empty if the SHTF and you must evacuate.
I have installed under cabinet lighting, battery operated. Now, I am talking about under the top cabinets, so you can see in the room. Those little things produce a lot of light! I think I got them at Dollar Tree, 2 in a pack. Again, get plenty of batteries. Thanks for all the good tips. 👍
Emergency supplies
1.water
2.extra food
3.camp stove
4.some sort of heat
5.first aid supplies
6.flashlight/candles.
7.hygiene items.even just baby wipes.
8.some way to amuse yourself
You two are awesome! I had the energy assessment done through the local community action agency years ago. I need to look into it again since we have moved. Back then, they sent an invite for a free dinner, allowed me to bring a friend (buddy system because it sounded too good to be true😉)gave us both huge free packages of do it yourself things...like hot water heater pipe wraps and for behind outlet covers. The dinner was awesome too since I couldn't afford to ever go out.
They did all kinds of things at my home for free like...a hot water heater wrap and attic fan cover plus much more. My friend was able to have them help her place too🤗. It saved us money on bills and it was at no charge. I cannot even put into words how I appreciative I was, raising 3 boys by myself. I do know God has been so good. May not be extravagant but we do not need all the extras, just what we need.
May the Lord bless you both for sharing the things that have helped you. Many may not have been aware there are places that can help for free.🙏🙂❤️
we just had our electricity out for a day in our town and someone had the neat idea of bringing in our outdoor solar lights (usually lining flower beds) to help with light! It worked great!
This is such a practical idea. Thanks for sharing.
Gutter guard cover are great not even a pine needle goes through. Bless all
make sure you have Gatorade, over the counter medications, soups, crackers, prescription medications anything you might need if you have kids and they get sick. we alway run out right when i kids get a cold or something. we also make sure we have my sons diabetic supplies stocked up.
Great advice. Wind up torches are great. No batteries, just good old fashioned elbow grease 😉
Wind up torches, never heard of them, may I ask where you can find them?
@@trudymaenza9672 got mine on ebay. Think mine are the igadgit brand.
Solar powered too.
Am in the UK. Woke up for a drink and saw your comment.
Will need to double check tomorrow and get back to you. 😀
@@janetlovesjesus100 Thank You!
@@trudymaenza9672 they are igadgitz. Hand crank and solar powered.
3 different settings. 1 or 3 led lights or continual flash.
Waterproof too.
Seem very sturdy.
Not very bright, but are great for emergency use.
Sold on amazon too.
Hope that helps. 🙂
Since a lot of people use candles or camp stoves in the house during a power outage, a fire blanket or fire extinguisher (they have small simple ones which I recommend even if you have a big one)
You guys are so cute!!! Hope and Larry.
Of 13 breakers I use only 3, unless I'm heating up dishes, clothes, showers, doggie baths, etc, I turn the HW off.
I use double, knee high socks, KNEE HIGH AND DOUBLE SOCKS, and shoesies. Layers of clothes Cottons, Flannel, First layer, tight, i.e., then another layer, Turtle necks and Hoodies, ear muffs, and Scarves.
A dog and down comforter and heating pad is all I need. I love Electric blankets!!!!
Great tips. Our "emergency preparedness season" is in the summer as we live on the Gulf Coast. We were very glad to have plenty of extra charging capacity for our cell phones when we were out of power after Tropical Storm Nicholas for 4 days. Those portable chargers are gold and we have about 5 of them. We also keep plenty of water on hand and a stocked pantry.
Yes, those who live on the coast seem to have a really good idea of the importance of preparedness. In the MidWest, really winter is the main time we tend to think about it. Closely followed by storm and tornado season. We have lost power a fair share of times during spring and summer storms.
Thanks for the reminder that we need to clean our gutters. Great advice here, especially about the bubble wrap! Now I am going to have my husband watch this.🙂
Smart tips, even though it doesn't snow in Australia where I live. I love Larry's prepper tips to be prepared just in case!
Thank you, Ruby.
Great info, thanks! I have learned that to mostly eliminate kerosene heater odors, light them outdoors and let them warm up a couple minutes before carrying back inside. Also, make sure you have a mobile charge cord for your phone. If your power goes out, your frozen food can be placed in the trunk of your car if it's below freezing outside.
You're right. It's the first 5 minutes or so when you can smell the kerosene burning.
Thank you for the reminder about the furnace filters. It is the one thing I forgot about.
We change ours monthly, I set reminders in my phone.
I have used the bubble wrap method for several years. My son has had it on his windows about 3 years with very few times that it had to be put back up. And it doesn't damage windows or paint (good if renting).
You were the one who gave me the bubble wrap tip several years ago, Lois.
@@LisaLopez88 , great advice! thanks for sharing.
@@LisaLopez88 great advices in this video.
@Lois Grohmann, how do you apply the bubble wrap to the windows? Do you overlap it & tape the sides/top/bottom with duct tape to the window's wood frame?? This is in the INSIDE of the window, correct?
@@RetireAbroadInvesting , first precut your bubble wrap to fit just the pane of the window. Make sure your windows are clean. Then using a spray bottle, lightly mist the window. Then just apply the bubble wrap. It will stick and for the most part adhere all winter. If not, just mist again and reapply. I save my bubble wrap from year to year and label it according to the window.
Great Video for this time of year. The weather can turn on a dime. It can be nice one day & the next day here comes the snow. Make sure everything is working properly.
We make sure our gas cans are all full in case we need to power up the generator or snow blower. Being prepared can save money & so much stress.
We also fire up our generator once a month to be sure that it is working properly. During a power outage is not the time to discover that there is a problem with your generator.
I didn't know about weather stripping on doors, and having googled it I think it will solve the problem I have with a draughty door. Thanks so much.
A few years ago I made an attic tent for my pull down attic door. My neighbor and I went in together to buy the materials, which saved money, then we each made a tent. First, using a foam spray, I sealed the gap between the stair and frame . Then made the tent so it fit snuggly in the opening. Wow!!! What a difference in my heating and cooling bills. Something so small and simple made such a huge difference.
I love this tip. Thanks for sharing.
I've done the shrink wrap on the windows, the strip/foam around the windows, kerosene heaters, changing/cleaning air filters monthly. They all work perfectly.
My great amount of savings has been to keep my thermostat set at 64 degrees in the day and 59 degrees at night during the winter.
Natural gas is expected to rise by over 50% in price this winter. So, we will definitely be putting on more clothes and lowering the thermostat.
@@UndertheMedian Oh my goodness 50%!!!
I was watching this documentary 2 days ago about The Great Depression and food. It was reported that some people were buying food on credit...where they could find it at a 36% interest rate!!
I’m ok w a low of 71 w a humidifier running all winter to keep moisture in the air and 65 at night but any lower than 71 is uncomfortable for me.
In evenings we have heavy throws to cover up with while watching TV so the thermostat can be lowered before bed. 10:57
I ihave huge window in my bathroom. I put bubblewrap on it for winter. spritz water on widow and smooth wrap on window. Done, really helps.
Electric blanket or throw is great to have too. You can plug those into your wall outlet or plug it into a power bank generator or gasoline powered generator during a power outage. And two more suggestions during a power outage...Mr Heater Buddy (made for indoors) that runs on propane canister and get boxes of hand, toe & body warmers. Very cheap to buy...
I have washable furnace filters and what a money saver. Just a little tubcleaners sprayed over both sides wait then rinse off and drain. I'm 😮also prepping for winter meals too. I've already washed the the quilts and sheets sets.
with the dryer, I took a nylon stocking and put it on the opening of the dryer tube inside. that way I stuffed the vent in the winter with old towels. it works great! plus it warms up the room a bit..
Make a snake, a roll of cloth, maybe towel, weighted to cover bottom of door wear draft may come in.
Yep. Works great. Crafters make them look really cute.
Your information is ALWAYS PURE GOLD.... Thank you
We have to check our gutters twice a year in Australia, especially before summer as we often have fire seasons, even though we live in the city we still have to fire proof our house
Insulation compacts over time losing R factor. So a fresh application in your attic will help
Dollar store purchases can be wonderful. Like those little stick up battery lights. I use them in dark kitchen cabinets and always have two near my bed. Turning on lights wakes the husband and he cannot get back to sleep, that lack of sleep is dangerous for his job. He travels over several counties. Look around that store for items to make your own emergency kit, bandages, guaze, and don't forget the tape, plusother stuff.
This may seem unnecessary but a washing board or two. I have a large one for heavy duty stuff and a small one for delicate things. I was 19 when I left CA with a baby in diapers, real cloth ones. I was left without a car in a country and a blizzard happened. The furniture, ie washer. I sure wished it had a wash board. I washed diapers in the bathtub scrubbing with my thumbs and drying them in front of a fire place over some counter chairs that were left here. Thankfully they left plenty of firewood. When I saw my first washing board a few years later I grabbed it and over the years it has been used.
Food stock, beans in bulk. How to store it? Vacuum sealer. My first one was a tiny strip. Very simple with bags you cut to size and not cheap. Now you can get them fairly cheep. You might not like beans but they can save you from starving. A bonus for me is they are a must for a diabetic. Rice and flour are something else to consider. Now in sealing rice but small dollar tree sandwich bags to fill several bags, roll and then put them in the sealer bags. Rice is pointy and will put holes break the seal. If that happens just make another bag cut to size and reseal in the same bags having that extra layer. We clean and sterilize old sealer bags to use as a secondary layer.
Windows, the bubble wrap I just heard of recently. We always use rolls of plastic. Husband buys large rolls for his greenhouse. We do not put right against the window but around the entire outside. This is like storm windows with an extra layer. When the sun does shine it warms the air. Blackout curtains can help.
You can buy solar lights that are charged bu hanging in the sun. I just charged my favorite ones.
You hit on many great points. Did you every really listen to stories from older family, I did all my life. Such wisdom is hard to find now. I am now the old person.
The can opener is a must. I cannot use one most times due to arthritis and effects from a stroke but my solar generators will run the electric one. It only takes a little power.
Excellent information. Thank you Larry and Hope.
Our son n wife are buying a home in the county,so glad I’m watching your videos.
We routinely change our air filter once a month! Great tips!
U can buy a reusable one that u vacuum.
We are working on this now here in Maine. Can't wait to see this video.
My grandfather was born and raised in Bangor, Maine. He said they had two seasons. July and winter. 😆
@@RCPrepping LOL!
@@RCPrepping We lived there on an island for 14 years and that is not a joke! We had the wood stove going all summer one year!
Wow this video is filled with so much life knowledge, thank you!
Love old attic fans. We had one when I was young.
Another thing for windows is painter's plastic, very cheap, surround the whole window.
Ty for sharing this info.
Thank you for doing this you gave me some ideas I’m not sure if you know a plumber told us there’s many many years ago when it gets 20 and below always leave your kitchen and bathroom water dripping running a little bit not the hot the cold that will keep your pipes from freezing and bursting open plumber said that’s the busiest time for them because most people don’t know that do that
@Nancy Simmons Did you mean to say to only run COLD water to prevent pipes from freezing?
I live in Minnesota and I definitely do not do this I don’t even do it when it’s 20° below zero, Newer houses do not need this
thank you for your helpful hints !!! remember extra food and water ,meds, and the flu and cold meds
Just had to have the Boiler fixed here in England! Great timing guys! X
One thing is to make sure your gas tank is at least half full at all times in winter. My flashlights are LED rechargeable, I have them on a recharge schedule. Jackery (and others) make a big rechargeable battery that you can plug portable solar panels into to recharge and have all kinds of connections available to charge phones, etc.
I was just looking at Jackery products. There are so many ways to have back up power today. I might show in an upcoming video how to make your own. These aren't too difficult to make.
You guys are AWESOME
Awe, thank you, Rita!
I've never seen those yellow kerosene refill machines before. Neat!
Hucks gas stations have them. I'm so thankful for this back-up. Kerosene is $3.99/gal - so a little expensive, but great to have during a power outage.
The incense trick is so cool and smart! Definitely will be testing that one out in the coming weeks.
Thank you so much for the reminder to get furnace checked! Had mine checked yesterday and sure enough -- it wasn't working! It was a simple fix; I'll be thankful when weather turns cold!
Thank you!!🙏🏻 You have just reminded me of all that my dad taught me.
Aww... That makes us super happy.
Make sure you have enough hot coffee & tea. Super glue the cats to your feet for added warmth.
😂
Bahaha.
Again? 😂
Theres some great tips i will definately been using. Thanks for the video today topical as usual. We also have a heavy thermal curtaìn across the front door and draught excluders on porch door. Also where possible have long thermal curtains that 'pool' on the floor to help stop draughts. I also like to check the roof for damage / repairs when checking the gutters.
Love y'all's channel ❤.. Thank you for sharing and May God bless all your family..
Thank you, Rosalva. Blessings to you and your family as well.
I'm SO glad y'all's channel showed up in my recommendations the other day, I've been learning a lot from yall. We already have someone hired to check our gutters, chimney and roof, and we got our a/c and heater checked already. But you definitely provided some great products for me to check out, like that heater and that window seal. You 2 are so smart about all this, funny and adorable together. ;) We love hand held can openers here, so we have a few on hand. Gonna go watch your pantry recommendations video now. :)
Neta, we are delighted to have you with us! Welcome to the Under the Median family!
I have battery operated lanterns i always keep fresh batteries in them and i have used them a few times with black outs
That's a really great way to go!
Are you aware of the trick of reversing one of the batteries in the unit when the lamp is not being used ... thus, if you have three batteries in the unit, put 2 adjacent batteries with the positive connector facing the same way, so there can be no 'line' through the batteries in resting position. It stops the batteries leaking their charge - - when you want to use the unit, just put that 'out of position' battery facing back the right way, and your batteries will not have lost any lifespan. Batteries lifespan will be a whole lot longer, than if you allow a 'circuit' in the resting / off position, as that 'potential circuit' in fact allows the batteries to leak their charge over time, even though the unit itself is not in use.
@@gracec3418 thank you so much for your help i definately will do this with my lanterns very smart idea
@@scorpio7938 Yea, my pleasure. A good friend showed me this. I do that with the torch in the car also, so there will always be charge in the batteries when it's needed. God Bless xx
Re: attic - you do NOT need to insulate the entire roofline. Insulation on the floor of the attic (between the joists, which is the ceiling joists of the living space beneath) is where your R-40 goes. That said, stapling reflective material to the underside of the attic rafters adds insulative value but needsto stay open at the place where eve vents circulate air from outside.
Absolutely correct. We probably should have gone into a little more detail on the insulating section of the video. We insulated our first home and had it done professionally in our second home. I found out when the pros did our insulation that there is more to it than just slapping insulation up there.
@@UndertheMedian I
Here in Germany we change our tires to wintertires this time of the year. And do not forget to drain your rain barell or you will no longer have one...
In some areas of the US, it's common to put on snow tires or chains on your tires. Not so much in the flat Midwest, though. I remember my dad putting on snow tires, but we lived 45 minutes outside of the town in which he worked. So, he spent a lot of time driving up snowy, icy roads to get to and from work. I remember my mother standing at the door and looking out the window hoping to see his headlights coming up the road on many a night when he was late and the weather was bad.
@@UndertheMedian We live in a town, so roads are made clear and even outside town roads will be cleared. But when you have to park somewhere or drive through smaller roads you will need Winter tires. People put long sticks alongsside roads, so you see where your lane goes, even when the snow is hip high. Snow is fun, but requires us to be preoared. Ice now, that is only a bother😉
My hubby & I both have extra phone charging batteries. Mine is a dual one. We homeschool so our 7 year old is always with one of us.
Why?
Makes perfect sense. Do you have a home phone? For years, we have kept a home phone because we still have boys at home. But, I wonder if eventually we won't see the need to keep a home phone anymore.
Thank you for the reminder about the gutters
Reflectix is a great product that can be used to insulate windows. I use it in my west facing window and it keeps my bedroom so much cooler in the summer. Also helps keep heat inside in the winter time. I also use tension rods and 3 yard pieces of remnant fabric secured with safety pins which I put between the window glass and the blinds. Just another way to add that extra layer of insulation that is quick and cheap.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, no matter what your dwelling place is...including RV & vehicles. People use alternate heating sources during winter and mistakes and accidents can happen. Be sure to pick up fire extinguishers rated ABC, because those put out all different kinds of fires. Fire extinguishers expire so check your old ones to make sure they are still good. We keep one on every floor of our house and one in our garage too. Safety first, safety always!! God bless everyone and may you all stay healthy, happy and warm this winter...
I've been doing this for many years alone. I have a stocked pantry, freezer, dog food, water, flashlight's, extra batteries, candles, a Coleman Classic propane camping stove and extra propane, a good cooler just in case I need it, winter clothes, plastic to go over my windows, good heavy blackout drapes for windy days, that I open on sunny days that aren't windy so I can solar heat, I only have one can opener it's not electric, draft guards for my doors, I change my furnace filter before I need to turn on the furnace and a few extras, I don't heat every room in my house, I have a maglight mini flashlight on my keychain, blankets, quilts, clothes to keep me warm, lots of sweaters and, a big, fluffy Chow Chow dog, she doesn't really like to cuddle but she will if I'm cold and she's a great foot warmer.
We have one of those ceiling fans too. Thank you for sharing the cover to put over it. Didn't know these existed. Will be sure to get one!
Bought new smoke detector with carbon dioxide detectors last year. I crocheted out of leftover yarn covers that go behind my curtains and I also use bubble wrap. Had my fireplace serviced last year, got my propane tank last month. Price here in Arkansas was 3.15 per gallon. The delivery driver told me ai got a good deal as the price was up again.
Thank you for the great tips. I remember we lost power in an ice storm back in 2009 and we had nothing 😮 no heat but only a gas water heater so at least we had hot water but ever since that time I am always looking for ways to get prepared. We were without power for 9 days and it got down to 40 degrees in the house 😮🥶🥶
Wow! That's cold. We lost power for 3 days last year and kept the power generator going through it. We had lights, refrigeration, and internet/phone through it all. There are many alternative back-up systems available today.
I have had extended power outages like that, too. I ended up with a gas generator - I don't have natural gas, so I have to get cans of gas. But if you have natural gas, you might just get a natural gas generator if you can afford it. Regular gas generators are the cheapest way to go and they will run a lot of things. I got one from Harbor Freight that will run my whole house but I had to have a plug installed and pull it out when the power goes out. So, I bought a solar power station that is big enough that I can wait until the storm ends before having to go out to my shed. The solar ones generally won't run a whole house unless you get seriously big Bluetti's or a Titan and solar panels (I think Bluetti has the better battery of the two.)
If you can't afford a generator a Mr Buddy might be a good concept for you.
You must be in western Kentucky.
I always change my batteries in my fire/carbon alarms when it's time to change the clocks with time changes.
Really enjoy your videos, Today you we’re taking about phones, we have 2 2 way radios, with a 5 to 10 mile range so we can keep in touch if the phones go off
I have used the bubble wrap on my front room so easy.
Thanks for this....very timely in my area:)
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching.
I got two solar phone chargers from 4Patriots and gifted my best bud with one. When you know a big storm is coming, it only makes sense to charge up everything with grid power and then be judicious in how you use your resources. One source of both light and heat at my house is parafin oil lamps. I crack a window a hair, and find that the oil lamps give off no smell at all and are adjustable to a warm glow. I keep them up higher than my dog can reach even when he stands up (biiiiiig dog). I also use my BellFire fireplace, which was designed to provide supplemental heat. I occasionally toss a CreoStick into it to break up creosote build-up.
Out of curiosity, do you have a gravity fed water filtration system? (Like a Berkey)? We are considering getting one and I'm looking at different brands.
@@UndertheMedian Yes - I have the one called a Big Berkey. Excellent product.
@@UndertheMedian I bought my Big Berkey in 2008. I cannot say enough good things about it! Be sure to buy the black filters for it and little kit for priming it the first time. Compare prices for these things on Berkey and Amazon. We have terrible tap water where we live so we have only drunk water from our Big Berkey since 2008.
We change our filters several,times since we have forced air heat. Also, cover the outside of your air conditioners. Lots of air seeps in and around.through them. You can buy covers through Amazon, or home stores. Or make your own.
Take the AC units in if you can. This makes a huge difference.
I have foam covers for my outdoor faucets. I also put foam in my basement windows in the Winter. And foam over my pipes.
I make fabric tubes, fill them with sand or rice and put them on the window sills and the top where the locks are. When I made curtains I bought enough fabric to do these. They help keep the AC in during the summer too. Sand is a bit better than rice, but both work.
My daughter asked me if I’m getting prepared for winter as she heard on the news that this is going to be a bad winter. She’s scared we’re going to have a repeat of the power grid going down again here in Texas. She looked it up and they haven’t even started the winterization process yet. Don’t know what they’re waiting for.
All we can do is pray and prepare for it. We can almost count on losing power during the winter at least once due to storms.
I would say just tell her to get off her hands and get it done but we don't listen. I listen a whole lot more now than I used to but I had to mess I enough to appreciate my mother's wisdom.
I'm stunned that they haven't started the work to protect our power grid. Austin is looney
@@sonyachoate4629 - I just don't understand why they wouldn't get on top of it after that horrible outage last year.
Someone , the electric line carriers (ercot) and the Texas Public Utilities higher ups are pocketing a lot of money & don’t care if the grid is brought up to standards !!!
Politicians also !!! It is all about what they can pocket and defraud the public …
Texas is horrible. Child Protective Services … horrible… Texas is 48th out of 50 states with help for the aged . If you are getting old just get out of Texas. The taxes and utilities are out of sight !!! Crooked politicians from city , county and state level …including judges !!!
TEXAS WILL NEVER FIX THE GRID !!
NO CHECKS AND BALANCES !!!
Thanks for the video I just found your channel yesterday and we justoved to Kansas from California so not the coldest place but more than we are used to in California. Thanks again
Love your channel, sensible information.
Thank you, Nancy!
We had a CO problem with a house we bought and CO detectors were very new and an expensive option at that time so we didn't have them. I was clued into the problem because my yeast didn't work when I baked bread. We installed a CO detector and it went off in about 2 weeks. The furnace was beyond repair. We did get some insurance money from a seller's guarantee but it was not totally covered.
For lights, I have solar lights outside. I have night lights that turn on automatically when the power goes out. I have strings of Christmas tree lights with batteries that are designed to last the whole Christmas season, so they can handle a storm and will make everything beautiful. I have a few battery-operated lanterns and rechargeable flashlights. Plus, the flashlight on my cell phone.
FYI; Sam's Club, October 27th 2021 Marie Callender 8 ct, Chicken Pot Pies going on sell for $4.30 off, I might buy a couple boxes.
Also great idea I heard for emergency lighting was him the emergency solar lights they have a dollar tree, leave outside to bring in at night you got light. JV
The incense trick is something I've never tried - but will be this year! Thanks for that tip.
For heat, it is a gas-generator. And because generators also need backups, I have a solar power station and electric throws, and a personal-size Vornado that can be run at a lower watt (I think the personal size lowest watt is 325 and it will raise the room temp by 4 or 5 degrees in an hour. Versus the full-size Vornado's lowest watt is 750.) Mr Buddy Heater is good. For me, when the power is out an extended length of time, I want a heater to raise the temp in my basement to keep my pipes from freezing and Mr. Buddy Heater is good for that.
Great tips thank you so much! Gotta get working, I took notes 📝
Make a rack for your fireplace to dry out your wood to have a better and efficient burn
Thanks. Great advice. Larry had a wood-burning fireplace as a child, but I've never had one.
Lived in a house with a ceiling vent and did not know that it could be covered. A BiG Thank you! I’ll take care of this this year!
We didn't either until we had the energy audit. It's really saving us money now.
Be careful not to cover roof vents in the attic. Your attic needs to breathe. It's the central house fan that needs to be covered in the winter.
A couple of years ago our furnace got a cracked block and was emitting carbon monoxide. And of course it was in February. But we had a check for it, so we didn’t die
I converted my wood burning furnace to burn wood chips that I get from local landscapers and the county for free. They actually deliver them to my property at no cost just to get rid of them.. The free heat is a real budget saver.
That is AWESOME!
Dan, I read your comment to Larry and he said, "That is genius at work!"
@@UndertheMedian Thank you but no genius here. I got the idea from a guy on TH-cam.
Thanks for the reminders! I need to clean out my gutters!
Thank you! This was really helpfull.
We have a cordless home phone that will not work during a power outage, so we have an old style rotary phone on standby for such cases.
Really, really, really, really, really important/great video. You guys have done it againnnn'