Beech Tree News Network

The calendar has turned to fall, daylight saving time has ended, and much of the country has experienced some cold weather. In no time, we’ll be watching for snow or ice – I could wait a long while for those. So recently, I’ve been doing a little winterizing.

During the warm, pretty days in late October, I did some final outdoor chores in preparation for winter. My yard was mowed (Thank you, Brian.), but I pulled up weeds and lily stems. I also trimmed the rose bushes and cut back the hostas. I uprooted and threw away two small, dead trees and two sickly rose bushes. The flower pots were emptied for storage, and the patio furniture is in the garage. I had to have a little help moving the furniture. The falling leaves will have to be mulched/mowed later.

Many houses could also use a bit of winterizing. An article I read, “How to Winterize Your Home in 5 Easy Steps — And Why You Should” (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/home-advisor/how-to-winterize-your-hom_b_...), provided some simple advice for getting ready for winter: (1) clean the gutters, (2) replace the furnace filter, (3) install a programmable thermostat, (4) check the insulation, and (5) insulate windows and doors. The article seemed to provide logical advice. Additionally, I suggest that HVAC units be checked by a professional. I recently had my heating unit checked, and the repairman noticed that the pipe carrying carbon monoxide away from the house had rusted spots. He showed me the pipe and replaced it. Since then, I’ve also added a carbon monoxide alarm to my home.

Automobiles require winterizing as well. Because I don’t know the specifics in this area, I looked on wikiHow (https://www.wikihow.com/Winterize-Your-Car). On this website, an article provided the reasons regarding the following suggestions:
•    Replace your windshield wipers and wiper fluid.
•    Check the tire pressure on all of the tires.
•    Give the car a good coat of wax before winter weather arrives.
•    Make sure all lights are working.
•    Change the engine oil.
•    Check the belts and hoses.
•    Replace old coolant with antifreeze.
•    If applicable, make sure the 4-wheel drive is working.
•    Check the battery.
•    Check the defrosting and heating units.
•    Make sure the spare tire is ready for use.
•    Keep the fuel tank at least half-full at all times.
•    Put together an emergency kit and keep it in the trunk.
•    Consider getting snow tires.
I’m sure these things are important – my dad would already have had his vehicles checked and ready for winter. I depend on regular maintenance visits for this – and trust it’s happening.

Since winterizing is important to safety, it’s on my annual to-do list. Jamaica Kincaid said, “I’ve never gotten used to winter and never will.” I tend to agree with Kincaid.