Why should you buy all of your hurricane supplies before a storm? Because they’re all in stock right now! When a storm comes close, everything will be flying off the shelves and you might not be able to get what you need.
But you’re saying to yourself “I can’t fill up my gas cans until a hurricane is almost here, right?”
Actually, you can! Certain gas has a six-month shelf life.
Here’s your first house hack: Use ethanol-free gas, not 10% ethanol or E85.
Ethanol-free fuel will last six months without going bad. That means you can fill up your cans and leave them in your garage, and if a storm doesn’t come, you can still use the gas for something else after hurricane season.
Speaking of gas, many people also wait to fill their propane tanks. But propane never goes bad! That’s your second house hack. Also, be aware that some propane tanks are not refillable.
Michael Pezold, owner of Ace Hardware in Sanford, said he is not allowed to refill tanks more than 12 years old. Some tanks can be recertified by a tank refurbisher, but even those have an expiration date. Look for the expiration date stamped on the top of the tank near the handle.
Tanks with significant rust also cannot be refilled.
Several hardware stores across Central Florida, including Ace, sell new propane tanks and have a propane-filling station.
If you have a project you’d like Erik to tackle, send us an email at GettingResultsAtHome@wkmg.com and next week Erik might just show up at your door!