Getting Ready for 2024/25 Winter

Last weekend as well as this weekend I have been getting the house ready for winter. Of course that work will continue as I remember little things that need to be done.

Last weekend I replaced the firebox door gasket to the downstairs pellet stove as well as the ash bin door gasket of the main floor pellet stove

I brought in the house plants from the back porch. Although they were under cover, they do not like temps below 50* and this morning it is 34.

While bringing in the plants, Spot decided to be helpful by holding down one of the water catchers in the kitchen bay window :)

I've mowed leaves 3 times so far, including yesterday, and expect to do so again today. This will be a constant thing for the next couple of weeks.

Yesterday I got the basement pellet stove all ready to do its thing. That consists of removing covering from the exhaust, reattaching the outside air kit (OAK) to the stove (and removing the newspaper used to block it up), vacuuming behind the stove to remove any cat hair (not much down there - the upstairs stove will be a different story), and blowing out dust from the fan motors. I haven't started it up yet, but will soon - probably this coming week.

Last weekend I installed the plastic strips on the perimeter of the back porch to deter snow and wind. It's not perfect, but worked well enough last year - much better than leaving it open.

Things that are on my to-do list:

• Start up the snow blower to ensure it is in running order. But first I need to run out all the old gas in my gas can and fill it with new gas. I'm hoping they have the winter blend gas at the stations by now. Summer blend has more ethanol, which is not good to sit in the engines even using stabilizers.
• Get the main floor pellet stove ready to go, which steps are pretty much the same as the basement stove. But, using the mini split to heat the main floor makes that less urgent and actually desirable to wait before uncapping the exhaust / hooking up the OAK.

I'm sure there are more things to get ready, I just haven't recalled them yet.

Oh, and something that will be down the road, when the humidity in the house gets low enough, is to change the clothes dryer vent to inside instead of outside discharge.

I'll also need to remember to close the front door storm door window. Right now it still gets too warm in the afternoon to close it without potential consequences, but it shouldn't be long now.

I make lists then forget to look at them, or remember things not on the list that need to be done first (or I am more willing to do at the time). I'm just happy that I've made progress - LOL

Comments

[Cop Car]

You have quite a lot to keep ahead of - and do wonderfully at it. Of course, it is easier for you since you have helpers. (Love the photo.)

So far, I have brought the plants in from the front porch and raised the glass in the steel personnel door's storm door in the garage. I still need to dig up an airplane plant to bring inside, bring an aloe plant in from the basement escape well, and mow enough times to use up the gasoline. (Leaves have not yet fallen around here.) Worst case: I dump the excess gasoline into a car - rare treat for either car getting high octane (no alcohol) gasoline snack.

[bogie]

For mowers and blowers I do one of two things: I either completely fill the gas tank and add some Seafoam then run it for a minute or so to mix in the conditioner (or preferably, put Seafoam in while filling the gas jug so it is already mixed). Or, I run the gas out - and that only happens when circumstances are right. I don't empty gas tanks manually.

I don't have the option of no-alcohol gas unless I want to drive about 45 miles or buy little cans of it for big bucks. Neither option is appealing to me. At the pump, I just get the 87. But, I just run small engines - nothing as big as the riding mower has I'm sure.