Hibernation Help: Must Have items for Winter
If you are not one who enjoys the freezing temps, darkness and quiet of winter, just make a trip to Longenecker’s because we can help you ride out Old Man Winter.
Enjoy cozy time inside with a hot drink. Longenecker’s has cocoa mugs, insulated cups, and various coffee makers and tea pots. There’s something extra satisfying about a warm meal on a cold day. It’s great to come home and find a nice meal in a new crock pot waiting for you. Winter is also a great time to bake and we have all kinds of bake ware along with cookbooks. Add a layer of warmth with warm fuzzy socks inside and outside. We carry a huge line of pretty, trendy designs. If you need an inside project to bide the time indoors, we have puzzles, educational toys, and many art and craft supplies.
We also carry a variety of portable space heaters and window insulating kits to protect you from drafts. Insulating your windows can increase R Value by 90%. Draft dodgers are great to insert at the bottom of doors to prevent drafts. We carry fireplace logs too if you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace. You’ll notice the air is especially dry in the winter, so you may want to purchase one of our humidifiers. Adding moisture to the air you breathe with the help of a humidifier can relieve health issues such as cold and allergy symptoms, dry sinuses, nosebleeds, dry skin, dehydration, cracked lips, and more.
Eventually, albeit reluctantly, we must venture out into the cold, so warm outerwear is a must. Keep your fingers and toes toasty. Longenecker’s has warm hats, gloves, footwear and mittens for the family and capes and sweaters for ladies. We also carry hand warmers and foot warmers.
Prevent slips and falls or struggling through inches of snow, by using ice melt on your sidewalks and steps. Ice melt or de-icer lowers the freezing point of water, preventing the buildup of ice or breaking up pre-formed ice into liquid slush. There are several different types of ice melt, so read the bags. Calcium chloride ice melt is the most effective ice melt in lower temperatures when compared to other ice-melt compounds, it’s fast acting and is effective on concrete. Magnesium Chloride is slower acting, less corrosive than calcium chloride or sodium chloride, so more environmentally friendly toward plant life and safer for pets. Not only is magnesium chloride less toxic, but its pellets are rounded so won’t irritate pets’ paws. Sodium Acetate Ice Melt is one of the most environmentally friendly options because it does not contain any chlorides and is biodegradable. It is the most expensive option, but you don’t have to reapply it as often. Sodium chloride, also referred to as rock salt, is one of the most widely used ice melts. It is the least expensive ice melt. Rock salt is endothermic (draws heat from its surroundings), making it less effective in really cold temperatures. If applied appropriately it can be safe for the environment, but too much accumulation will kill plants.
Now if we get a significant accumulation of snow, don’t risk your back. Come to Longenecker’s Hardware for a Snow Blower. Our in-stock snow blowers are top-ranked brands Toro and Honda and we have a variety of sizes for every need. Single-stage snow blowers typically have a clearing width somewhere between 18 and 21 inches and tend to have an intake height of no more than 13 inches. They are lighter and easier to handle than two-stage snow blowers. A two-stage blower is heavier and sturdier and is typically 24 to 26 inches wide and is best for handling up to 18”-21” inches of snow on an area.The distinct difference is that these blowers throw snow twice. First, a metal auger scoops up the snow and ice. Then, a high-speed impeller throws it out through the discharge chute to keep the snow moving and prevent clogging the intake bucket. The auger on a two-stage snow blower doesn’t touch the ground, so they can be used on gravel and concrete. Now if you are one who prefers to get the exercise, we have every kind of snow shovel you could want, even ergonomic handles to prevent back pain. And don’t forget to get a snow scraper for the windshields!
