Action Line: Don't give in to wintry weather
BY PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
12/11/12 at 2:36 AM
As wintry weather hits the Tulsa area, here are a few things to remember to save headaches.
While it may be too late to launch a big insulation/caulking campaign, it's not too late for last-minute, small details.
Protect outdoor faucets and garden hoses: Experts advise draining and storing water hoses to save house plumbing from "up-line freezing." Others concerned about the ongoing "high fire danger" advise draining them but keeping hoses coiled near water faucets for fighting grass fires, and protecting outdoor faucets with insulated covers.
Leaky faucets, of course, must be fixed before installing such covers or continued leakage will soak the brick or siding and cause freeze damage there.
Outdoor faucet insulators come in four varieties. The Cover Store outdoor faucet cover is an insulated bag with a drawstring for $6. True Value's Thermwell outdoor faucet cover is an insulated bowl with a foam-plastic gasket for $3.50.
Ace Faucet Sock contains a double layer of 3M Thinsulate covered with waterproof nylon that guards against wet and cold for $9.50. The Thermwell FC1 Frost King outdoor faucet cover (the classic) protects from freezing wind and chill for $2.20.
Stock up on handy winter supplies: Tracy Allard, a day manager at Westlake Ace hardware on 61st Street in Tulsa, said in addition to $3.49 outdoor faucet covers, her customers are buying auto window ice scrapers and liquid spray-on deicers; chemical heat-producing hand warmers (135 degrees for 7 hours) in a two-pack for $1.29; antifreeze (one gallon of 50-50 mix, $10); electrical "heat tape," automatic, 3-foot to 15-foot ($29 to $48); outside window air-conditioner covers ($10 to $20); lighters and candles; and snap-on shoe spikes for walking safely over the ice, $16.
Another popular item is the "chamber oil lamp," at Ace, the Lamplight Metropolitan Oil Lamp for $19. Its oil is Medallion Lamp Oil (6-pack) for $54 and Lamplight Ultra Pure Parrafin Lamp Oil (12-pack) for $78.
Crank radios, lights: The wind-up (or cranked-on) portable AM-FM radio, 3-LED to 5-LED flashlight or lantern, cell phone charger sells for an average of $23, not including shipping. Other available features in these ($13 to $60) units are FM and Weather Band Radio, solar-powered alternative, an alarm feature, ear phone jack and red and green flashing lights to signal airborne searchers.
Original Print Headline: Be ready for wintry weather
Phil Mulkins 918-699-8888
phil.mulkins@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Ken Draper, health and safety coordinator for the Red Cross, displays a wind-up radio. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World file
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