3 TRICKS TO KEEP YOUR GEAR DRY Even On a Rainy Outdoor Weekend
3. Suit Up Your Sleeping Bag Moisture that collects in the night can lead to a damp sleeping bag, and you want to do everything you can to retain heat in wet weather. Get better sleep by using your rain jacket to further insulate your sleeping bag. Put your jacket around the end of your sleeping bag and zip it up, creating a heat trap that will keep your toes toasty. Insider Tip: Keep wet gear out of your tent whenever possible by storing it in the vestibule rather than the main space.
As you prepare for family road trips, baseball games, and swimming lessons this summer, take a few minutes to prepare your HVAC system for the slew of storms that are sure to hit the Northeast. Before the clouds roll in, follow these four P’s of safety to keep your HVAC system running smoothly. 1. Prepare. The first step to getting your HVAC system ready for any severe weather that may hit involves gathering supplies for power outages, knowing when your unit needs coverage from high winds and debris, and taking extra precautions to protect any components of your system that may be susceptible to damage. But being prepared also means educating yourself about the possible damages your unit could incur and ways you can minimize destruction. 2. Practice electrical safety. In addition to becoming familiar with your HVAC unit, educate your whole family about the importance of electrical safety. Your unit runs efficiently with powerful electricity, but storms threaten this usage and can leave your unit without the safeguards that protect your family on a daily basis. Together, learn how storms affect electricity and how turning off circuit breakers during an outage can prevent dangerous spikes when the power does come back on. Incoming clouds can really rain on a weekend camping trip. Getting wet isn’t just a nuisance; it can be dangerous in cold climates. Outdoor experts, like the instructors at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), know the tricks to keeping dry, even on the wettest days. Here are three tricks these pros swear by. 1. Line Your Pack with a Plastic Bag Garbage bags are an easy and cost-effective way to waterproof your pack. As you’re preparing for your trip, put the garbage bag into your backpack first and place your sleeping bag, clothing, and any other items that must stay dry inside it. Carefully twist and fold the bag inside your pack to close it up, place any items that are okay to get wet on top, and look forward to having dry, warm clothes. 2. Use Your Body Heat to Dry Damp Clothes There’s nothing like getting to camp at the end of a hard hike and taking off your pack to finally relax. But if you got caught in a rainstorm or had to cross a river, you might not feel the same sense of relief. An effective way to dry wet socks and other clothes is to use your own body heat. Once you’ve changed into something dry, place wet socks between your layers of clothing, allowing them to warm and slowly dry. Insider Tip: While weight is a consideration for backpacking, it’s worth it to carry an extra pair of socks designated for sleeping so you’ll always have a dry pair to look forward to when you arrive at camp.
Happy trails, and stay dry out there!
YOU’VE GOT THE POWE
PREPARING YOUR HVAC UNIT FOR SUMMER STORMS
3. Protect your home from surges. One of the most important steps in preparing your home for upcoming storms is to install a surge protector onto your HVAC system. This device will protect the expensive heating and cooling equipment you rely on by detecting when a power spike is occurring. It will then promptly shut your system down to avoid further damage. 4. Professionally inspect. You can take all the necessary precautions, but disasters are unpredictable. After a summer storm, request servicing from a HVAC professional to ensure your system is running smoothly and any necessary repairs are caught early.
When storms hit, there’s nothing more important than making sure your family is safe, and your HVAC unit is a significant part of this safety. Learn more HVAC safety tips online at AireServ.com/Mid-Hudson-Valley, and when a storm does hit, let our experts help you and your family recover. Call 845-256-6158 to learn how we can help.
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