Carbon monoxide gas has been dubbed the "silent killer" due to the fact it’s an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas with symptoms that can easily be mistaken for the flu or other common illnesses. It’s virtually undetectable unless you have a carbon monoxide detector…a cheap device considering it could save your life and the lives of your family.
Since this weekend is the opening of the gun deer season here in Wisconsin, I just want to send out a reminder that cabins and deer shacks can be very susceptible to carbon monoxide build up since they are typically not maintained to the same standards as your primary residence. So make sure you have at least one detector in the cabin, or more, depending on the size of the building.
Here is a great site from the Wisconsin Department of Health that explains what you need to know about this silent killer.
I write this blog each year in hopes that it’ll help at least a few people (I typically need the most help as my driveway is 1/4 mile long).
How can a snow fence help?
A properly placed snow fence can make all the difference between being snowed in (some folks may like this idea) and, smooth sailing down the driveway.
As I mentioned, my driveway is ¼ mile long, so a snow fence is a fairly time-consuming project for us. This year, corn was planted along our driveway so we asked the farmer if they could leave a couple rows while harvesting. That’ll be our snowfence this year – we’ll see how that works come January.
How they work:
As the snow and wind blow through the fence, the fence basically empties the air of snow before it reaches your driveway (or whatever feature you’re trying to keep the snow away from). Drifts that would normally fall on the roadway now form at the location of the snow fence.
To be effective, snow fences must be properly designed and located with respect to the roadway in need of protection. Not all roadways will benefit from a snow fence. A fence placed in the wrong location may not do an adequate job of protecting the road, and may even cause snow to accumulate on the roadway.
Height
Any standard size fence will help stop drifting snow. However, the taller the fence – the more snow will be trapped. One row of eight-foot fence is recommended for maximum efficiency. Multiple rows of shorter fence can also be used. One eight-foot fence can trap as much snow as five rows of four-foot fence. Height should be sufficient to store blowing snow during an average to above average snowfall year.
Length
Snow fence length determines the maximum amount of area that can be protected from blowing and drifting snow. Snow storage at the ends of a barrier is significantly less than near the center. It is recommended that the ends of the fence extend approximately 30 degrees beyond the desired protection limits to allow for wind variability. Fences should be set back from the edge of the roadway a distance of 35 times the height of the fence. For instance, if the snow fence is eight feet tall, it should be placed 280 feet back from the edge of the roadway. (8′ high x 35 = 280-foot set back)
Placement
The fence should be placed as parallel to the road and perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction as possible.
Helpful hints
• Fences should contain 40 to 50 percent open space to be most effective. • Horizontal gaps are the preferred design. • A gap of six to eight inches is needed between the ground and the fence to reduce the tendency of fences to become buried in drifts, which reduces storage capacity.
