What Preps are you doing this week

[Reservior]

Got 5 lots of 5 Litre bottles of mineral water from Asda to store in the shed, will probably freeze with the up coming winter, anyone know if this will diminish it's life? Should be good for years anyway.

Probably, yes. For 2 reasons that immediately spring to mind.

The first, you already know but have perhaps overlooked. Water expends when it freezes, so when it defrosts it will escape through the cracks it made when it froze.

You could avoid this by decanting some out of the bottles before you store them in the shed. However, breaking the seal will affect its life. From memory most bottles of mineral water carry some kind of warning, along the lines of "once opened consume within 3 days. You will have to make up your own mind as to wether you believe that or if you can 'rescue' the water.

It may be possible that you can rescue the situation though. 5 litres is quite a body of water to freeze entirely. Depending on where you live etc it may be possible to insulate enough to avoid freezing, put the bottles in side cardboard boxes and insulate with old newspapers?

[JamesMR]

Great info! if only there was a thanks button

There are blankets in there along with thermals I suppose I could wrap them around the water and then place them inside a box, will probably just get a light build up of ice, last year it hit -15 though so who knows. Will try it out

[Reservior]

last year it hit -15 though so who knows. Will try it out

I was going to suggest something along those lines in my reply to you but I hit the submit button a tad early

5, 5 litre bottles of water isn't a huge outlay 5 or 6 £'s? Still a shame to potentially waste it! Is there anyway you can find storage space for of it indoors and then maybe just use the one bottle to experiment with the insulating idea?

Also, if it is safe to do so...... When I was a lad my next door neighbour used to swear that a couple of tea light candles, lit (obviously) was enough to keep the frost away from his 6 x4 greenhouse. I grew up in rural North Yorkshire to give you an idea of the winters. Was never sure if he was pulling my leg...... Might be worth a try?

[LennyJ1]

I just bought some 30L barrels for £7 each. And se other bits and bobs off amazon.

[JamesMR]

Yeah I can store them inside, just the shed is generally where I keep things so they're out the way. Didnt cost a lot so will risk it and try some next March or something lol

[MickyP]

I've always kept some bottles of water in my garage and never had a problem with freezing even in the coldest weather. I store them on a wooden base and wrap old towels around them and they have been fine.

[JamesMR]

ahh thank you

I'm sure they'll be fine with my thermals wrapped around them and some blankets thrown over them.

[Huntsman]

Made copies of about 20 DVDs to go with the portable DVD player and solar charger I keep in the car, if If I get stranded I'm going to want some entertainment! Believe me it's happend before in the middle of nowhere... I had nothing to do for 4 hours

[dazz675]

bought some more decorator masks, extra tins of veg and a fray bentos but the guy at the till , asked me had i a big job on(MASKS) i said no its because ebola*s due in next week thought id be prepared , no.... i didnt really but it shows how you have to be prepared to answer to appear normal when buying prep items

[junmist]

finely brought a deisel car now all I have to do is convert it