The Most Important Montana Chores To Prepare For Winter

Every state has chores to do before winter, but in Montana - some of those tasks are so important that they could save your life. Preparing yourself, your home, your pets, and your vehicle can add up to a long list.

It's been a long time since we've had a really harsh winter in Montana. There have been snowy winters and a few good cold snaps, but believe us - Montana can be a very difficult place to live in the winter if you're not prepared.

I like to start very early getting all the 'supplies' so I don't have to compete with everyone buying the same stuff at once. Wood for the stove gets delivered in July. The stove and chimney get swept in July too. Don't have a stove? Check (or have your landlord check) your heating system. They fail. Avoid that at all costs.

Even if you don't need them yet, buying really good windshield wipers in the summer (that you'll put on right before messy weather kicks in) is the best chore you can do. 400,000 Montanans end up at the auto parts store at the same time whenever the first real snow hits. Avoid that stress and have them on hand.

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If you don't clean your gutters yourself, call and make your appointment in late summer if they'll do that. Generally, people wait until the leaves are falling and by then it's probably too late. A very heavy, messy snowstorm or two could hit before a company can get to you.

Scheduling your pet's annual appointment in late summer is ideal. Why? Ensuring our pet's health is good while the weather is good, lessens the chance of a late-night, snowy trip to the emergency vet. We can't foresee every problem, but knowing they're healthy going INTO winter can avoid many of them.

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