Here in Colorado cold weather is just around the corner – at least it should be. Winterizing your home helps prevent damage that leads to major repairs in the future. It also helps reduce heating costs!
Maintaining a home is all about upkeep. Things will happen that require extensive repairs, but by staying on top of smaller issues, you can reduce long term costs.
Prepping for the winter might seem like a huge undertaking, but it’s well-worth the effort. Of course you could hire professional help. But you don’t have to. There are a variety of tasks you can do on your own that will end up saving you money in the long run. Today we’re going to help by showing you six tips for winterizing your home in Colorado.
Take a look:
Tips for Winterizing Your Home
- Adjust Your Ceiling Fans – Ever notice the tiny little switch on the side of your ceiling fan? You may not even realize what it’s for, but it has a very real – and effective – purpose. The switch will change the direction your fan rotates, thereby adjusting the way the fan pushes air around the room. When the fan is running in a clockwise direction, hot air is being pushed up to the ceiling and spread around the room. The best part about this trick? It’s free and takes about 30 seconds.
- Change the Filters in Your Furnace – This one is really easy to forget. After all, the filters are tucked away out of sight. The problem is, a dirty filter has a big impact on energy usage. They restrict airflow and cause the furnace to work harder than it should. You may also want to switching to a permanent filter – they trap a higher rate of debris and can make your home more allergy-friendly. Of course permanent filters are more expensive. This is an easy fix that doesn’t take too long or cost too much money.
- Turn Your Water Heater Down – Another simple task that has remarkable results. Check the temperature setting of your water heat. Most are setting around 140 degrees. Simply stated – that’s hotter than you need. Set your heater at 120 degrees, it’s plenty warm, and you can reduce hot waters costs by as much as 10 percent.
- Get Rid of Drafts – A drafty home is one of the biggest money sinks in winter. It causes your furnace to work harder than it needs to in order to keep you warm. Help the furnace out by taking steps to mitigate drafts. One of the first things you can do is make or buy a draft snake – essentially a rolled up bath towel that you stick on the floor under a drafty door. You can address drafts along windows or in other spots of your house with a caulking gun. It’s cheap, effective, and lasts a long time.
- Adjust Your Thermostat – We are creatures of comfort. That means leaving the heat on to keep us nice and toasty when we’re home. However, why heat the house to a balmy 72 degrees when nobody is there? Heating and cooling can be as much as 70 percent of your energy budget, so you need to save where you can. Take advantage of presets if your unit has it. That way you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn the heat down (or off) before you leave. If you don’t have one, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat. You can find one for as little as $50.
- Use Plastic – How often do you open your windows during the cold winter months? If the answer is somewhere close to “hardly ever,” you should consider layering them with plastic. They sell plastic for windows at most home improvement stores, and the stuff is pretty effective. You simply stick it over your windows, leaving them clear to see out of but bolstering heating efficiency. This treatment works best on large windows and skylights.
The winter can be unforgiving in Colorado. By taking just a few simple steps, you can make it more bearable. If you’re in need of serious work before the bad weather hits, reach out to National Home Improvement for a free quote on a variety of home repairs.
