Snowbird Tips For Canadian Travellers

Tushar Mathur — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:47:29 +0000

Hockey season is about ready to start. The birds have begun their long migration south. That means its time for you to pack the car and head south too. Florida awaits you.

Before you leave, there are a few things that need looking after. Most concern preparing your home for the winter while you are gone. The list of 31 suggestions below covers most situations. You may want to add a few of your own.

1. Shut off your cold water supply valve and drain your faucets until no liquid comes out. You will be assured that your pipes will not freeze and burst inside the house.

2. Open all outside drains to eliminate any water that could d freeze and damage your outdoor pipes.

3. Un-plug all appliances, TVs, computers, refrigerators ranges and even small appliances like micro waves and toasters.

4. Leave refrigerator propped open with a box of baking soda inside to eliminate mold.build up..

5. Drain Toilets. If you use an anti freeze, use only non toxic eco friendly products.

6. Set furnace thermostat at 10 degrees C.

7. Leave a light on a timer in the main room for 4-5 hors every evening.

8. Have drives and walks shoveled while you are away.

9. Install motion sensor outdoor lighting.

10. Put metal or wood pieces in sliding patio door tracks to prevent access.

11. Shut drapes and put carpets along the bottom of doors to prevent cold air.

12. Give your house key to a friend or relative in case of emergency or for an occasional inspection.

13. Tell closest neighbors how to reach you in case of emergency.

14. Discontinue newspaper deliveries and cable TV

15. If you are leaving a second car home, carry only property loss insurance and save $$$$.

16. Send your houseplants off to family, or have someone come-by periodically to water them.

17. Shut off basement lights, and check all others.

18. Turn down water heater to vacation mode.

19. Shut off pilot light in the fireplace and gas range, and close the damper securely.

20. Put a new filter in the furnace.

21. Disconnect youranswering service, so people don’t expect a call back, unless you monitor calls from Florida.

22. Ask a neighbor to park a car in your drive, so your home looks occupied.

23. Take your phone and address book for reference.

24. Leave your phone and address for neighbors.

25. Pack a separate overnight bag for your motel stays along the way.

26. Don’t over pack.

27. Turn off water conditioners

28. Don’t forget the dog and his dog food, bed, and bowls.

29. Make sure your medications are packed and easy to get to.

30. Get prescription refills before you leave.

31. Take care of medical issues with your family physician and dentist.

There is a lot to remember. Most are things you would normally handle without this list. However, the odds are that there are a couple of items you might just forget. Have a safe trip. See you in the spring.

It is important to remember to have car insurance whenever you are traveling as it is mandatory in Canada for the driver to have it. If you are looking for the cheapest insurance rates, you should go online to Kanetix to do a quotes comparison.

Winter Driving

Tushar Mathur — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:25:34 +0000

Winter driving needs some extra attention, special skills, and lots of patience.
When ice or snow is covering the ground, the first thing to remember when going somewhere is to have plenty of emergency items with you. Blankets, coat, flashlight, flashers and standard items such as a spare tire and jack are items needed in case of car trouble. Bottled water and snack items are also a good idea to have in the trunk or glove box in case of long waiting hours for help.

When it comes to driving on ice, the rule of thumb is the slower, the better. Be in no hurry. Allow extra time to arrive to your destination. Also, be prepared for the slow driving conditions. It is best not to try to pass the slow moving traffic. They are driving at their comfort level, and are driving that speed for a reason. If you have a vehicle that features 4-wheel drive, do not be too comfortable with that feature. This feature might help with traction, but it will not help you stop any faster, or any safer.

Always drive with your headlights on, especially if ice or snow is currently falling. Make it a practice not to use cruise control on this type of road condition. Semi-trucks have an even harder time slowing down, so do not cut in front of them.

Intersections, off-ramps, bridges and shady spots have more potential to have black ice spots. Black ice is very difficult, sometimes impossible to see, and can cause your car to spin out of control in the blink of an eye.

One important way to decrease the chance of losing control of your car is to avoid sudden stops, hard braking, or quick acceleration of the car. Another way is to also slow down upon approaching areas listed above that harbor black ice. Also, allow plenty of extra time to slow down for a turn, or to even come to a stop at an intersection.

Watching ahead and behind of your vehicle is always a good idea. Making sure you know what other drivers on the road are doing can ensure you safely respond to them. Watching the brake lights of the second car in line ahead of you will give you extra time to know and respond to their stopping.

Following these tips, and using common sense in the winter months, will help increase your chances of arriving safe and sound.

Travel - Eat - Sleep » Second Car

Snowbird Tips For Canadian Travellers

Winter Driving