Solving Cold Weather Repairs

Repairing

February 7, 2023

When things break at home, they always choose the worst times. It’s no fun when something breaks just as you’re heading out the door, and it’s not enjoyable repairing something when it’s cold outside. But just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t fix it yourself. Sure, the weather may be less than ideal, but there are plenty of ways to stay warm while you make repairs.

Here are some different ways to stay warm while you make repairs in your garage or shop, or even while you work outside.

Wear layers. Start with lots of layers that you can remove as you and/or your space warms up. Begin with a snug-fitting base layer made of material that’s designed to retain heat and regulate your body temperature.

Top your base layer with a middle layer that will keep you warm, like a fleece pullover. Be sure that whatever you choose still allows you to freely move about.

And if you’re making repairs outside, you’ll want to opt for a windproof jacket or coveralls to cut down on the biting wind chill. Of course, don’t forget to keep your head and ears covered!

Use hand warmers. Pick up some disposable warmers that you can slip in your gloves or pockets for a little extra heat when needed.

These are air-activated and won’t last forever, but they’re nice to have for quick warmth when you’re freezing cold.

Neoprene work gloves will also help your hands stay warm while still allowing for some dexterity as you make repairs.

Put on warm boots. If your feet are cold, the rest of your body will be cold. So be sure to wear lightweight wool socks and insulated boots that are designed for chilly weather.

If you’re making repairs outside, you’ll also need to concern yourself with making sure your feet stay dry as you step around and through puddles and snow. Opt for waterproof boots to keep your feet warm and dry.

And those disposable hand warmers you picked up can also slide in nicely to your boots for extra warmth.

Keep moving. You’ll already be moving around as you make repairs, but if you’re focused on something for a long time, you might stand still for a while.

Be sure to take regular breaks so that you can walk around, do jumping jacks, or jog in place. The quick exercise will warm up your body and keep the heat going while you’re working.

Drink hot beverages and eat warm food. Pick your hot beverage of choice – cocoa, coffee, tea, etc. – and keep it at the ready in a vacuum-sealed and insulated travel mug so you can take a swig when you need to warm up.

Also keep your body’s metabolism working by eating food that has lots of fiber, protein, and starch. Think warm foods like broth or soup. Empty carbs may give you a burst of energy, but it won’t last for long.

Check your workspace. If you’re making repairs inside your garage or workshop, you’ll want to survey the space to make sure it’s insulated as best as possible.

Confirm that all windows and doors seal tightly when closed and add or replace weatherstripping and other insulating materials as needed. You can even insulate your garage door with a garage door insulation kit.

If you’re making repairs outside, see if you can enclose your outdoor workspace by putting up tarps and temporary barriers to cut down on the wind and weather.

The Best Option for Staying Warm While Repairing: A Small Propane Heater

These ideas may help keep your body warm as you work, but the real solution to staying warm when you’re making repairs is to use a portable propane heater.

Dressing for the weather is important, but it only keeps you warm for a limited amount of time, and it doesn’t do anything for the materials and tools you’re working with.

If you need to make repairs year-round (which you will), you’ll want to invest in an outdoor portable heater. A small garage heater easily solves the problem of how to stay warm, without creating a lot of hassle.

Here’s why:

It keeps the temperature consistent. Layers are great, but you may need to add and remove them as you warm up and cool down.

With the right small propane heater, you’ll be able to warm up a space in minutes and enjoy the temperature you like best.

It keeps your materials and tools at the right temperature. If it’s cold outside, your tools may not work as well as they were designed to, and your materials – especially glues and paints – may not bond properly.

It’s best to store your materials and tools inside during the colder months, but if you need to make repairs outside or in your at-home shop, a small propane heater will help you work most effectively.

An outdoor portable heater helps keep your work warm as well as your body. You can use it to heat your garage or workspace to a comfortable temperature so it can continue to be productive all year long.

It keeps you from needing extra layers. One downfall of cold-weather apparel and gear is that it can get in the way. Long sleeves and loose clothing can affect your ability to move about freely, not to mention it can be a safety hazard.

And putting on gloves and extra layers can just plain slow you down. But going without gloves isn’t really an option, either – you can’t do much in terms of repairs if your fingers are freezing!

By using a small propane heater, you’ll be able to wear your normal clothes – at least inside – and still stay comfortable.

Heat Hog Portable Propane Heater – Best Small Garage Heater

The Heat Hog Portable Propane Heater helps keep you warm as you make repairs, whether you’re working outside or in your at-home shop, garage, or woodshop.

Adjustable Heat Angle

Its 30° adjustable heat angle with tilting features lets you direct the heat to where you need it most – not just your feet. If your feet are nice and cozy, just tilt this small propane heater up to warm the rest of your body, too.

Wider Heat Area

This outdoor portable heater has a curved plaque technology that gives you a wider range of heat dispersal, so you don’t have to stand directly in front of it.

Choose from two different sizes (18,000 BTU or 9,000 BTU), depending on the heat output you need. This small garage heater is designed to efficiently heat your space.

So besides keeping yourself warm with this small shop heater, you’ll also be able to keep your materials and tools functioning properly.

And if you have some bystanders watching you make repairs (or, hopefully, helping you out), they’ll also stay warm as you use this by using this outdoor portable heater.

Adjustable Temperature

This small propane heater doesn’t just turn on or off. There’s a heat settings dial that allows you to adjust the temperature to what keeps you most comfortable.

This is especially helpful when cooler temperatures outside affect how much heat needs to be produced inside. Or if you’re making repairs outside, you can really crank the heat up to stay warm as the thermometer drops.

Runs on Propane – No Electricity Needed

This small garage heater is safe and easy to use both indoors and outdoors. It runs on 1-lb. propane cylinders and has piezo ignition, so there’s no electricity required.

If you’re running other tools in your garage or shop, there’s no worry about overloading any electric circuits or finding a spare outlet for your heater, because you don’t need one!

Since there’s no need to connect it to an electrical outlet, you can use this small propane heater outside to make repairs whenever and wherever you need.

Propane cylinders are easy to purchase and refill at most gas stations, hardware stores, and home improvement stores.

A small propane heater is also effective during a power outage. And of course, you can always use it for other excursions like camping, hunting, ice fishing, or tailgating.

Propane Fuel Warming Dock

You’ll find that the warming dock of this small garage heater keeps the propane fuel warm, ensuring you get the most BTUs out of each tank. This saves you the expense, hassle, and time of having to frequently refill your propane tanks.

Safety Features

It’s also important to take safety precautions as you make repairs. The Heat Hog Portable Propane Heater has a safety tip-over switch that automatically shuts it off in case it gets knocked over.

Its rugged safety guard keeps unwanted objects from coming into the small propane heater while still letting the warm air come out.

And this small propane space heater also has a low oxygen safety shut-off to give you peace of mind as you work inside or outside.

Easy to Transport

When you’re ready to move this small garage heater to a different space – outdoors to indoors, one shop to another, or to use it for something different – the heavy-duty handle and lightweight body make it easy to transport.

Easy to Store

If you’re tight on space, this small propane heater is a great fit for your at-home shop or garage. Its compact and portable design allows you to move it out of the way quickly and easily.

Even though the Heat Hog propane heater is small and portable, it’s still able to effectively and efficiently warm up your space as you make repairs inside or outside.

Summary

Cold weather gear is great, but you’ll find that a small garage heater is worth the investment to help you finish the job as you make repairs.

Hopefully, these ideas for staying warm as you make repairs will help you stay comfortable as you complete the necessary projects that keep your home running all year long, even in the colder months.

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