Winter is just on the horizon. The warm sunny weather is setting and the air is getting colder. Soon there will be snow and a cold breeze all around us. Lakes will freeze and the air conditioning will be turned up again. Climate change over the years has not only made summers hotter but winters harsher as well.
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While most of us who are native to this type of weather won’t be worried at all, the rest of us might. People who are not used to colder weather have a hard time adjusting to it. Thus they need to learn the basic guide to preparing themselves for winters.
Preparation
Winter will be different depending on where you live. Michigan will be covered in snow while some might experience just cold breezes. Therefore you must prepare to account for where you are. However, there are some general tips and suggestions that work for any type of place in the winter. In this article, we have listed some of the best advice we could find for preparing for winter.
1: Get A Warm Coat
If you live in a cold area, chances are you already have one. But if you don’t, you need to get one as soon as possible. A warm jacket can make a world of difference in making your winter more comfortable. They block any cold air and provide excellent insulation. You can find a lot of wholesale jackets from china online as well if you don’t want to go out shopping.
2: Winter Boots
For those of you who have moved to a snowy region. These are a must. Normal shoes are great and all but they aren’t waterproof. This is a big issue since the snow will make your shoes wet. Wet shoes lead to wet feet which is not good unless you want to get sick. Therefore winter boots are a great choice. They keep your feet warm and insulated. You can also find fashionable boots that will make you look good along the way as well.
3: Insulated Gloves
This one is easy to understand. Winter will make your hands cold. If your extremities feel cold, so will the rest of your body. Thus it is necessary to make sure your fingers and hands remain dry and heated. Synthetic gloves are insulated and thus stop water and cold from reaching your hands. They can be found at any supermarket and are extremely cheap making them a great investment for the winters.
4: Keep Rock Salt Stored
Winters can often make the road icy and slippery. Your garage pathway or the sidewalk may suffer the same fate. Thus using rock salt is necessary. It allows for better traction and friction. Hence making you less likely to fall and slide.
5: Winter/ All Season Tires
Usual tires aren’t built for low traction roads. They will slip easily on the first sight of ice. Thus it is very important to change to winter or all-season tires if you own a car. This can help you in preventing yourself from getting into an accident and potentially save your lives.
6: Clean Your Gutters
Most of you are probably confused about this. What do cleaning gutters have to do with winters? It’s simple. Clogged gutters prevent water from flowing down the drain. This isn’t a big problem in summers because there’s not a lot of water. However, in winters clogged gutters leave no room for melted snow or rainwater. This water eventually corrodes your pipes and leaks into your house creating a lot of mess. Thus, to avoid this major inconvenience it is recommended to check your gutters for any sort of blockage and clean them out.
7: Heating System
If your home has central conditioning, make sure to check if it’s heating properly. Similarly, if you use portable heaters, you should take them out, properly clean them and test them as well. This small preparatory step makes sure that your equipment is functioning and ready to heat your home before the start of the winter season.
8: Emergency Kit
Winters can often lead to heavy snow falling in some areas. This can lead to blockage of roads and even homes as well. So it’s best to make sure you have all your emergency supplies packed and ready in a bag. An essential backpack containing items such as packed food, radio, flashlight, and others will keep you ready for any scenario.
9: Humidifier
The harsh, cold, and dry weather can do a number on your skin. It can make your skin dry which can lead to other skin conditions. A humidifier makes sure there is an adequate amount of moisture in the air surrounding you to keep your skin moisturized.
Conclusion
Just like there are many ways to get cold, there are many ways to avoid getting cold. Winters are harsh and require more preparation than summers. You should make sure to follow the safety guidelines provided by the government and keep an eye on weather predictions. If you manage to do that and follow these tips given above, you’ll be all set for staying cozy in winters.
