Solo Mother

Winter safety for everyone

by christina on December 3rd, 2007

The wind is whipping around outside so hard I’m afraid of the windows in my son’s room. In the interest of paranoia, I might move him into my room for the night. The panes of glass are old, and rattling like crazy in their none-too-insulated sills.

I went to take a shower in the mostly finished bathroom, and discovered what still needed to be finished: caulk. The wind is whipping around in that bathroom like a mini tornado and It’s COLD, even with a space heater.

Do you use space heaters? Do you know how to use them properly?

Every year you read a tragic story or three about families who tried to get warm and burned down their houses instead. I don’t want to hear another story like that this winter, especially not about my beloved single mothers, ok? So here are some household tips to keep you warmer, in no particular order:

• Get caulk. There are a variety of caulks, and you can get a temporary caulk designed to seal your windows for the winter that will then peel away relatively easily in the spring without damaging the window or the paint. Go flirt with the cute hardware store guy and get him to smarten you up on the value of caulk. Then…
• Put up plastic sheeting over your windows this winter. It’s easy to install if you own a hairdryer. And the only difficult part of installing it if you don’t own a hairdryer is the part where you have to go borrow one from your neighbor. You shrink wrap your drafty windows and keep some of that cold air outside where it belongs.
• Open your front and back doors. Do you have weather stripping? Is it brittle? Does it touch the door when you close it? If your weather stripping is worn out, chances are you’ve got a nasty draft coming in around your door. Back to the hardware store with you. Ask the cute hardware guy (or gal) for more help. Ask for a cup of coffee. Ask how to install the weather stripping.
• Can you sew? Then make draft dodgers. The kind you put at the bottom of your doors, not the kind that move to Canada.
• Keep your thermostat low, to save money, and invest in good duvets and warm jammies and sweaters. Wear slippers or socks around the house. I’m the only one allowed to be nuts enough to go barefoot in 30 degree weather.
• If you own your house, make sure you have adequate insulation, especially in attics and crawl spaces. If you rent, you might want to talk about the landlord about getting this done. I’m begging mine to put some insulation in the crawl space under our house, or we’re going to have to eat dinner in our bedrooms this winter. BRRRR.
• Do not run space heaters in unoccupied rooms. Do not use old space heaters. Inspect your wires carefully, and discard any heating devices, actually ANY electrical devices with frayed cords should be repaired or tossed. Do not run space heaters overnight.
• When placing space heaters, be sure the device is four feet away from any sort of flammable surface or material, like window curtains, carpets, what have you. Gate the heaters off in homes with small children.
• Did I mention, don’t leave space heaters on when you are out of the room or sleeping? Seriously. Put everyone in the big bed if it’s crackling cold out. Don’t take the chance.
• Unplug as many appliances as you can, especially when you go out of town. Heaven forbid there should be a short somewhere while you’re off at your mother’s house.
• If you have a fireplace or woodburning stove, be sure you understand how these things work. Have your chimney and flues inspected yearly, and never leave a fire burning after you go to bed. Learn how to properly bank a fire.

Be warm and safe this winter. You know. Practical. Prudent.

As much as I’d love to see one of these Fabulous bracelets beneath my tree this year, I think Santa and I agree that a nice, warm pair of slippers would be a much more practical gift. Do you think these slippers make me look sexy?

Sigh. Maybe next year.

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POSTED IN: PSA, home repair, housing