Save Money While Preparing Your Home for Winter

Winter means cold air and larger electric bills. As the temperature begins to fall, it is time for you to take steps to improve your home safety and energy efficiency. Almost half of the money spent on energy bills goes towards heating and cooling, and if your home is not energy-efficient, then you could be throwing money out of the window. Weather forecasts can always provide you with several days’ notice about periods of extreme cold and this will help you to check and prepare your home for winter.

Go In For Wall Mounted Space Heaters

If you use a fireplace or wood stove for space heating, check your chimney or flue every year. Install a smoke detector near the area to be heated and test them every month and replace batteries twice a year. Nothing is cozier than a fire in the fireplace, but traditional wood burning fireplaces tend to lose more energy than they produce. Install a wall mounted space heater like Envi Heater that can save your heating bill and warm the room efficiently, and they are also relatively inexpensive to operate.

Thermostat

Save energy by installing a setback thermostat that helps to keep your home cooler when you are asleep or away.

Wash Your Windows And Make Them Airtight

Washing the windows lets you have sparkling views, unobstructed light and an opportunity to check for cracks and damaged caulking. Save energy by caulking around window frames and applying weather stripping between the sash and window frame. You can also choose to install storm windows to reduce air leakage year-round.

Add Insulation

Insulation helps keep cold air out and warm air in during winter, especially in your attic, garage and basement.

Insulate the water lines that run along the exterior walls so that your water supply will be less likely to freeze.

Insulate the ducts and water heater.

Insulate the doors and plug points with weather stripping.

Clean The Gutters

Remove debris and clean the gutter with water, so that frozen debris will not damage the drainage system.

Prepare Emergency Supplies

Check your emergency supplies whenever a period of extreme cold is predicted. Make sure to have an adequate supply of batteries, flashlights, candles, matches, bottled water, non-perishable food, and cash.

It is wise to prepare your home for the oncoming cold weather as unprepared homes can turn into frigid money pits.