Winter Prep Check List

[NorthernRaider]

Yup its September alreay folks

WINTER PREP CHECK LIST (2013 version)

Prevention is better than cure keep your house and vehicle etc properly maintained at all times.

House / retreat
Wood cut and dried?
Coal / Oil stocks ordered?
Gas bottles changed and refilled
Gutters cleaned
Fencing and posts checked
Check security lights
Window seals checked
Boiler (furnace) serviced
Bleed Radiators
Doors /windows draught proofed
Drains free flowing
Locks oiled
Spare candles / flashlights / Chemical Light Sticks etc,
Emergency heating kit checked
Snow shovel
Spare fuses/ circuit breakers
Boarding up shuttering for broken windows set aside ( with fittings)
Weather warning radio
Sweep Chimney if you have wood / coal stove
Clean solar panels, check wiring, and check battery bank / specific gravity/ fluid levels.
Check and maintain external aerials TV / CB / Cell / Ham
Check & replace bottled gas regulator and hose if over 3 years old
Clean out freezers if heavily iced up

Livestock / pets sorted out
Animal feedstock got in.
Greenhouses cleaned
Tools cleaned, oiled and put away
Sheds / Garages/ Stores checked for weatherproofing and security

Personal
Extra food stocks got in case of snow / ice storm / whiteout
Rotate food stocks if necessary
Prescription medicines got in
Winter clothing got out of storage and cleaned aired
Boots weatherproofed and cleaned
Paths cleaned
New script specs obtained if necessary

Preps
Cans / foods rotated
Caches checked, updated etc
Bug out routes reccied
BOB’s checked and updated if necessary
Contact plans / pick up plans for family members stranded by weather.



Vehicles

Latest Council winter road gritting map obtained and commute/ BO routes planned

Check CB / Ham radio installation
Top up / change antifreeze
Tighten /adjust drive belts
Tyre condition /pressures
Jet wash underside, valet / polish bodywork
Check hoses for cracks, splits and tightness of hose clips
Lube locks
Change wiper blades ( normally bi-annually)
Replace HL bulbs if over 5 years old (they have lost 20% of their brightness)
Check M & S tyres condition if still in store
Check your tyre chains
Fit thinner oil if you live in very northern climes.
Check battery condition and leads
Check demister / de-icer systems
Degrease windscreen inside and out
Radio tuned to weather and traffic station
Update Satnav data / Get new road map
Sleeping bag/ survival blanket
Chemical light sticks / flashlights/spare batteries
Candle/ matches
Snow dye
Survival kit
Shovel
Snow mats
Shortwave radio / batteries
Hot drink making kit
Vehicle spares,
bulbs & fuses,
belts,
plugs,
leads,
oil,
coolant,
hose clips,
hose repair kit,
exhaust repair kit,
cable ties & duct tape
snow chains
wheel brace
spanners / sockets and screwdrivers
sockets
tyre levers & tyre pump

[Sunna]

iv sorted all my wood,already dryed and a fair bit left over from last winter.
also check out the yellow boxs at the end of some streets full of salt/grit mix get yourself a few buckets full for your paths around your car and if your like me living at the bottom of a hill , when the snow compacts a fair few in my street found the hill hard work .

good luck

[BeardyMan]

(1 September 2013, 13:33)Sunna Wrote: also check out the yellow boxs at the end of some streets full of salt/grit mix get yourself a few buckets full for your paths around your car and if your like me living at the bottom of a hill , when the snow compacts a fair few in my street found the hill hard work .

Ooooo, another list!!

The grit in those yellow boxes isn't very good for compacted snow. Best stuff I've found is cement powder. The old 4x4 club swore by it. Rub it round your tyres, then make tracks of powder to drive on. Then drive out - no messing around.

Wear gloves when applying though, or you really will look like the grey man

[Highlander]

I always have a two week holiday in September for getting the final bits and pieces done for winter,... roll on the 14th,.. it will be filled with wood cutting and other work,..and I am sure I can fit some camping too

[Straight Shooter]

I am about 95% there already , do not know why exactly spect lack of work helps though but a good reminder NR