Moving to Finland | The Coldest Winter in 20 Years!

With temperatures as low as -44°C recorded in Finland this week, and -26°C at my own house, we're experiencing the coldest winter in more than 20 years! Good news for me, a Brit, having moved to Finland from much warmer climes just 4 months ago. So, the question on everyone's frozen lips is... how am I coping?

[MossyBottom]

Thank you everyone for all the enthusiastic comments offering advice. Rest assured, I am now fully aware that no one in Finland ever pours water on a cold car. I will be trying liquid silicone for the door seals - thank you for that excellent tip - as well as continuing to use my block heater on a timer, which had already largely solved the problem.

The period in the video was particularly challenging, because we had a thaw right before a deep freeze, so the partially melted snow froze solid overnight, especially on the car. The dry confetti-like snow which falls in sub-zero temperatures is very easy to manage by comparison, and I now have a very effective ploughing routine for doing so.

As for clothing, the only part of my body which now suffers is my toes. Two pairs of merino wool socks, over-sized snow boots rated to -30° and after 30 minutes of no activity they still often go numb - I do have poor circulation to my feet, which may be the problem. Someone suggested wool and heated insoles, which I will also give a try! When filming it is sometimes necessary to take off one's hat and gloves in order to press buttons and hear audio, but be assured, no Englishmen were harmed in the making of this video.

Expect another one in a week or two! :)

[ajarila]

I can only repeat what so many people have said: wipers up when parked, silicon spray to the door seals, and throw an old carpet to cover the wind shield if you have to leave it outside without cover. If you need to melt something, pour the hot water to a plastic bag or something and use the heat of that bag for melting, never ever just pour water on the car as the water will just freeze.

[klake]

I've always found these cold weathers here (in Finland) something that makes me appreciate more the warmth we get after the cold. It's unique feeling sitting outside in the spring time, sun feels warm again and you can hear the snow melting away.

[hanee]

Tip for the freezing toes: make sure you have some space in your shoes even with several layers of socks. This way you will have some air there that will naturally heat up as you move and keep the toes warm 😊

[just_jouni]

Might be a good idea to take thermal camera pictures from the outside, now that its cold outside. You can then use that for reference figuring out where it leaks heat most. Old houses like these have been upgraded with exterior and roof insulation. You might have time to upgrade either one before next winter.

Good videos! Im also thinkning about moving back to Finland.

[kekeahvio]

Don't use warm water to get into your car. You already mentioned the main reason: the water will freeze solid soon. But the other reason is that you can very easily crack your windshield.

[alexeirahamov]

A garage, an internal heater, a silicon spray on door rubber gaskets and just scraping are the solution! Don't use warm water. It makes the things a lot worse.

[snoufoxxy]

In Finland the general attitude is that there is no wrong kind of weather, only wrong kind of clothing. If you are planning to spend several winters here then a good set of merino wool garments is a great investment! Wool is the best insulator and merino wool is really easy to layer and not that scratchy against the skin. I personally find the winter easier to adjust since you can add layers to your clothing and heating to your house. The awful summer heat (+35°C and above, there's luckily not many of these days in Finland 😅) is worse, since you can't peel your skin off and trying to do anything outside just makes you sweat buckets 😂

[Frenzaih]

Covering your firewood with a tarp completely can be a bit troublesome once the ground starts to warm up. It captures all the moisture rising from the ground and your firewood might get damp and moldy during springtime. You will often see large piles of firewood stored with a tarp/sheet metal on top of the pile, but not on the sides, allowing wind and sun to remove the moisture. Those large plastic sleds are also a good option for moving firewood closer to your home. Best of luck with your new homestead!

[sacredelements]

-39C this morning here on the Canadian prairies. You are so right about how shifting to survival needs really simplifies life and puts a clear focus on the things that matter. I'm glad you're coping with the shock, it will get easier. Blessings to you and your family.

[anulaluna]

I’m Finnish (but moved away already 30 years ago). That’s how I remember the winters being in my childhood. Your videos make me miss my beautiful birth country. I wish you and your family all the very best. Good luck!

[ronjaj.addams-ramstedt]

For optimally dry firewood, cut down the trees in February, when they have as little internal moisture as possible. Store the logs off the ground (with some thinner logs underneath), under a tarpaul roof and with only one or two walls, and cut them into smaller chunks the next spring.

[ronjaj.addams-ramstedt]

Get liquid silicone to spread (thinly) on your car door and frame, especially the rubber part, that helps with opening the doors. Do NOT touch anything else if you get silicone on your hands, it is incredibly slippery - wash well with soap.

Also, open the car doors at least once per day also on the days when you are not going anywhere.

If possible, regularly drive somewhere where there is underground parking, and run errands in the vicinity for at least two hours to get the car to properly thaw. Remember to bring a brush and maybe also some cloth so you can get all the melting snow and ice off.

I am glad that you have a heater now!

[Mayoo]

For staying warm in the winter, we were always taught at school in Finland that a great part of the body heat escapes through your head. So definitely recommend a good winter hat! I personally like merino wool which is very warm but not itchy like some wools. Also a hat that has an upturned rim gives extra protection for ears even in the wind. Good luck for you and your family, the winter struggles in Finland are real! 🥲😁

[Gamer-hk]

+17°C indoors while -22°C outdoors doesn't sound bad at all. Apparently your house is in better condition than it looks like. Fixing the windows will pretty much solve everything for good.

[kognak]

Having an open sided carport or tarp garage eliminates all the pain with car getting iced and snowed. Doesn't need to be fully enclosed like a garage, just something to block the sky. Frosting happens due radiative cooling when sky is clear, it makes surfaces colder than ambient air which causes moisture to condensate. And dew point is often just few degrees away in early/mid winter.

[Tilley-oygx]

You should lubricate the door seals before winter with a silicone-based anti-freeze substance. That helps but does not necessarily fully prevent the freezing of the seals. Pouring more water on a car to add to the freezing mass definitely does not help like you noticed. A lot of people in Finland use an old carpet or blanket they throw on the windscreen to prevent freezing.

[pajuification]

OMG, don't pour warm water on your car. You'll only crack the windows and get it even more icy.
Common mistake foreigners make they have too small boots. Feet should have lots of room for insulating air there. Wool (or any other fiber) doesn't help if it hasn't any air in. :-)

[kalle]

Using silicon spray on the rubber is a great way to keep the doors from freezing. I guess you thought about this but, it's a good idea to keep lots of blankets in the car. A breakdown in a rural area can quickly become a life-threatening situation at these temperatures.

[karenleemallonee]

It's so wonderful having you back on YouTube, with a family now is even sweeter!
Stay safe & warm, my friend!!! ❄️