by Andrew Getty
Overall, this year has given everyone some pretty good weather. The summer was fantastic—water was warm, bugs were minimal, hiking conditions were perfect, and the evenings generally warm.
Other than a “little” rain, this fall has been pretty good as well. But we all know winter is looming, the colder temperatures will arrive and all those wood stoves and fireplaces will be fired up.
Most people don’t really think of winter until the first snow kind-of hits them in the side of the head.
You know it’s coming, but if you ignore it long enough, maybe it won’t happen.
We all seem to do that in one way or another, but it never works.
• Did you clean the chimney and check the flue?
• Is your firewood dry and easy to get to?
• Is the snow blower ready to go?
• How about that generator, did you start it up, let it run awhile and put a load on it?
• Did you replace that broken snow shovel from last winter?
• Have you had your boiler or furnace cleaned and checked, before it gets below zero?
• Are all the vents in working order?
• Did any squirrels make a nest in that chimney over the summer?
• Have you changed the batteries in the smoke detectors? Even those hard wired ones with battery back-up. Did you actually test the units?
• Any carbon monoxide detectors need batteries? Did you test them, not only by “pushing the button,” but an actual smoke test?
• Those pesky detectors that kept beeping when the battery got weak, then you removed the detector because it was annoying… did you put it back up with a new battery?
• Did you go around the house and check all the windows, especially the ones in the bedrooms? Do they open completely?
• This is not so cold air can get in, but rather you to get out… or even more important a fire fighter to get in, with full gear on, without creating a whole bunch of broken glass leaving dangerously sharp shards of glass sticking out all over?
Think about opening the window hanging onto the sashes and window frame as you are climbing out without while slicing your hands up by broken glass. Fix that window now.
• Is the area under the bedroom windows safe to jump to? Or is there a big pile of old concrete blocks, or boards with nails sticking out, or anything else that would create a hazard if you had to jump out the window?
• Can the fireman get a ladder under the window? Or is there just too much stuff down there?
• Are the windows blocked from the inside, like bunk beds put right in front of the window?
How about too much storage in the bedroom, near or under stairs, as well as outside those bedroom windows, that could create a real hazard if that stuff was on fire.
All these things become critical in an emergency. If fire is on the other side of the bedroom door, and smoke is pouring in, going out the window is the only option. An emergency rescue and escape window will save your life.
Make sure it opens, stays open by itself, and is accessible from the inside and outside at all times.
• Have you put your 911 address numbers in at least four-inch letters on the house, or out at the road? Maybe you should do both. Make it easy to find your house by road names and 911 numbers properly displayed.
And those unvented space heaters… yes, some are legal to use, but they should never be used as the only source of heat, never. There are fumes, even if you can’t see them.
Why do you think manufacturers are required to install oxygen depletion sensors? Think about that.
Call your favorite handyman, caretaker, contractor…or maybe even your husband… look at these things now before the weather turns to real winter.
You’ll be glad you did.