Tool Time Rural Essentials
Winter-Proofing Your Homestead
Essential Preparation Tips for Rural Living
By Lauren Bongard
Winter can be especially harsh on the tools and equipment that keep our homes and properties in good shape. Whether you’ re a long-time homesteader or new to rural living, the cold can present unexpected challenges.
Here are some tips to get your gear ready and keep it running all winter long.
Stay Ahead of the Chill
Before cold weather arrives, have pros service vehicles, tractors and engine-driven tools. Ask them to replace and refresh fluids, look for wear, replace aging belts and hoses and check common points of failure. Frigid temperatures are tough on motors and moving parts. Avoid breakdowns by starting the season with winter-ready vehicles.
Fuel Prep for the Frost
Engines struggle when fuel thickens or moisture gets into the gas tank. To prevent this, choose the right fuel for the season— winterized gas won’ t gel. You can also add fuel stabilizers to reduce condensation in gas tanks and keep tanks full to reduce water contamination.
Keep the Spark Alive
No one likes getting started on a cold morning, and your machinery is no exception. Starting engines in frigid weather can be tough on moving parts. So, use block heaters, heating blankets or portable heat lamps to pre-warm engines and batteries. Once you’ ve got them started, let vehicles and equipment run at low RPMs for five to 10 minutes before driving or using them at full speed.
If your equipment uses rechargeable batteries, recharge and store them in a heated building to help them maintain power.
Grease Against the Freeze
Cold weather thickens oils and other lubricants. That can cause friction, which strains engines and moving parts. To combat this problem, opt for synthetic motor oils. These flow more freely than conventional oils in subzero temperatures.
Applying cold-resistant grease to machinery weekly keeps moving parts from seizing up.
Don’ t Let Small Engines Become Big Problems
You may not be using small-engine equipment like lawnmowers and chainsaws during the winter, but you can prep them so they’ re ready to go come spring. Use fogging oil on small engines before storing to prevent rust and damage, and drain fuel tanks or add fuel stabilizers to equipment you won’ t use until after the melt.
Shelter From the Storm
If you can, protect vehicles, machinery and tools by storing them in garages or sheds to avoid direct cold exposure. All the better if those buildings are heated. If you’ re storing equipment or vehicles over winter, dehumidifiers and moisture-absorbing products like silica gel packs will keep condensation and rust at bay.
20 AcreageLife January 2025 AcreageLife. com