Winter Tools & Tips

Living and owning real estate in the Lake Tahoe area in winter, where it can snow as much as 6 months out of the year, can present special challenges unlike living in places where it doesn’t snow. As long as you’re prepared and are equipped with some key essentials, winter weather will be beautiful and a lot of fun.

One winter driving tip: always give yourself much more time to get around when the roads are slick, that way you won’t feel rushed and won’t go too fast for conditions.

Here are the tools to own to keep you happy living in snow country:

• Snow blower: or more
• Snow shovel
• All weather windshield wipers for your vehicle: they don’t freeze up with ice and snow

,       Tire chains:  even if you have a 4wd vehicle, chains in the vehicle are required when traveling mountain highways and passes (it  can be an $85 ticket if you get stopped without them)

• or all wheel drive vehicle: nice not to have to put chains on and off  (if the roads are so bad

. that  I have to chain up my 4wd. vehicle, then I stay home)

• Not having a led foot: when driving on snow and ice, keep off the brakes as much as possible and don’t jam on them, use a light touch
• Good, warm pair of snow boots
• Ice/snow scraper for your vehicle:  I like the kind that have a brush on one end
• Heat tape for roofs, especially north facing where house and garage come together Extras for the big, big, wet, windy storms that come every few years:
• Generator
• Lamps, extra wicks, and kerosene
• Candles