5 Ways to Winterize Your Home Before Winter

As the leaves begin falling, so does the temperature outside, reminding us we’re only a few shorts weeks away from winter and increased heating costs. Before you get hit with a higher than normal energy bill, take a few minutes to prepare your home for the cold weather and winterize your home. You could end up saving yourself a significant amount in the long run.

Five easy ways to winterize your home before winter begins.

1. Invest in a programmable thermostat.

When installed and used with the pre-programmed temperature settings for weekend and weekdays, you can save almost $180 each year while staying comfortable.

Do you travel during the holidays? Turn down your thermostat (or use a programmable one) before you leave so that you don’t generate unneeded heat.

2. Avoid cold feet during winter.

If your floors are cold it’s likely because there is a draft coming from cracks. To winterize your floors caulk up any holes or cracks you find around the floor boards.

In addition, add rugs in your bathrooms, bedrooms and any area where there may be tile or hardware floors.

3. Redecorate your living room.

Fall is the perfect time of year to spruce up your living room and it can actually help you save money in the long run. Changing out your light, airy curtains, for heavier drapes can help keep the cold air out.

Also, make sure you keep your curtains open on sunny days throughout fall and winter to take advantage of free solar heat.

4. Reverse your ceiling fan.

Ceiling fans should be switched to winter mode and rotate clockwise. This reversed rotation will push the hot air that rises back down to the floor.

According to Popular Mechanics, doing this alone can reduce heating bills by up 10%.

5. Winterize your windows.

Give your windows a quick checkup. There are five things you can check to make sure your windows are performing the way they should and it only takes a few minutes to do.