What fresh hell is this?

--------------------------------
We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. - Australian Aboriginal proverb

Bazootiehead-in-training

19 January 2022, 07:33 PM

Steve Miller

Crazy weather.

Today was 42 and sunny, the ice melted and the snow got mushy. The roads dried off and I was able to run errands without incident. A lot of the snow melted and I cleared off Sharon’s car.

PJs suggestion of using a regular flat shovel is a definite winner and I shoveled the porch and walk. Maybe those big shovels are for younger guys. Or shorter ones.

I’m glad I got it out of the way because the low tonight is something like 16 and the low Saturday is supposed to be “1”.

Who knew that was a thing?

I expect everything to be frozen solid for a while. I did lift the windshield wipers.

20 January 2022, 10:50 AM

Steve Miller

Wipers up? Maybe not.

20 January 2022, 11:07 AM

CHAS

Whatever you cover your windshield with will freeze to the car.
I park facing the sunrise or close to the garage door under the balcony which reduces the
amount of snow that gets to the windshield.
I carry a spray bottle of defroster fluid.
The truck has never been in the garage. It is not worth the squeeze when there is another vehicle in there.
With a remote start you must remember to turn the heater buttons on the evening before.
The other option places my windshield in Tucson. That reduces one problem, but there are tradeoffs.

20 January 2022, 11:11 AM

Steve Miller

quote:
Originally posted by CHAS:
The other option places my windshield in Tucson. That reduces one problem, but there are tradeoffs.

20 January 2022, 11:13 AM

wtg

Not sure about blanket or cardboard; if they get wet they could really freeze on the glass. Part of the problem is that after you drive for a while, the windshield gets warm because you have the heat on in the car. After you park, and the snow falls on the windshield, it melts a little and then as more snow falls and the temps are cold, the water on the windshield freezes.

Mr wtg would pick the blades up on his car parked in the lot at work whenever it was going to snow. In almost 40 years, he never had a problem with blades catching the wind. The guy quoted in the article is a mechanic so he sees a lot more cars, so I'm sure it happens.

We've tried a couple brands of the winter blades and didn't like them at all. Mr wtg did the bulk of longer distance commuting during our working days and said he didn't think they cleaned as well (he's manic about any small streaks that get left behind) and also said the blade would tend to lift up off the windshield and rattle at high speeds.

The tires are important. We don't put a lot of miles on our cars so our tires need to be replaced more because of the years we put on them rather than the miles. We had some tires that were 7 or 8 years old, and I think they got old and dry and that affected their grip. We put new tires on and noticed a huge improvement on wet and/or snowy pavement.

20 January 2022, 12:42 PM

Steve Miller

20 January 2022, 03:57 PM

rontuner

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Miller:
Wipers up? Maybe not.

Yeah, my dad that always worked on our cars was a stickler for preserving spring strength and taking care of keeping the windows clear!

No mamby-pamby scraping allowed; every window was clear before being allowed to drive!

The bar-type wiper blades do better in snow and ice - they don't freeze up as easily in my experience.

I have seen custom tarps that secure by closing the doors on them. They should be easier to remove and shake off?

(spoiled now with heated indoor parking in the city now!)

20 January 2022, 05:37 PM

Steve Miller

I saw a trick where you put a plastic bag over your mirrors. Clever!

Meanwhile, I bought a snow blower. Guess we’re staying.

20 January 2022, 05:49 PM

wtg

Heated outside mirrors FTW.

Which snow blower did you go with?

20 January 2022, 06:16 PM

rontuner

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Miller:
I saw a trick where you put a plastic bag over your mirrors. Clever!

Meanwhile, I bought a snow blower. Guess we’re staying.

That's a classic preventative measure... You shouldn't get much snow the rest of the season now!

20 January 2022, 06:29 PM

Steve Miller

quote:
Originally posted by wtg:
Heated outside mirrors FTW.

Which snow blower did you go with?

Airens S18

20 January 2022, 07:00 PM

Piano*Dad

quote:
Originally posted by rontuner:
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Miller:
I saw a trick where you put a plastic bag over your mirrors. Clever!

Meanwhile, I bought a snow blower. Guess we’re staying.

That's a classic preventative measure... You shouldn't get much snow the rest of the season now!

When I was a kid my neighbor used to joke that we should never water our yard while she was using the clothesline. That combination was sure to bring a hurricane!

23 January 2022, 09:54 AM

Steve Miller

23 January 2022, 10:04 AM

wtg

So Steve...It's been a few months since you moved in.
I'm sure that dealing with the breakthrough COVID cases certainly hasn't been any fun, but otherwise.....

What has been your reaction to your new house? New city? New climate?