Your home is your castle, but you need to protect your castle from the harsh winter weather. Don’t throw energy savings out the window or the door! Homeowners should take the time to inspect, fix, install, or clean out any areas that can help you better prepare for the winter ahead!

Below are ten tips to get you started:

1. Get a check-up from an HVAC Dealer: To get your heating system ready for the cold winter nights, a professional or licensed HVAC technician should inspect your central heating system. 

2. Set back Thermostat or Control System: Pre-set the heat according to your lifestyle and comfort level.  A programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs when properly programmed.  If you don’t have a programmable, buy one! You can find them for less than $30 online or at your local home improvement store. If you are comfortable with DIY projects, you may be able to install a programmable thermostat on your own. However, if you need assistance, contact a professional or licensed HVAC technician.

3. Inspect insulation: When there isn’t enough insulation in the walls, crawl spaces, attic or basement, cold drafts can leak into your home. Properly insulating your home can reduce heating and cooling costs, and improves comfort.  Ideally, your insulation should provide complete and uniform coverage. If you notice drafts, even after you’ve closed all of the doors and windows, it’s a good time to inspect your insulation. 

For assistance in evaluating your home’s insulation, call in an HVAC professional to help out!

4. Seal gaps: Every gap, doorway, window seam, air duct or hole in the wall has the potential to leak warm air. The Department of Energy says that the average home air leaks can add up to the equivalent of a two-foot hole!  That’s like leaving a window open 24 hours a day. Weather stripping and caulking may help seal those small areas where warm air can potentially escape. 

5. Clean gutters: When leaves and other debris clog your gutters, the water backs up. When temperatures drop, this water can freeze. The ice buildup can damage the gutters, as well as the roof, which can cause a roof leak. 

6. Ceiling fans: Heat rises! Don’t let the warmth get trapped up near the ceiling. If you have ceiling fans in your home, switch them to a clockwise rotation, so the warm air is pushed down into the living space. 

Need an easy way to remember to adjust your ceiling fan according to the season? Look to the amount of the daylight in a season for a clue. 

Clockwise: The amount of daylight in the winter is short, just like the word "clockwise."
Counter-Clockwise: The amount of daylight in the summer is long, just like the
word "counter-clockwise."

7. Water pipes: It's important to protect your household plumbing water pipes from freezing weather. Insulating easily accessible pipes can be the first line of defense against freezing temperatures. If an extended freeze is predicted, you can open bathroom or kitchen cabinets to expose the piping to the indoor heat. You may also allow faucets to drip very slowly, potentially preventing water in the pipes from freezing.

8. Clean the garage: Stop using your garage as a storage room.  Your car is probably worth a lot more than the partially used paint cans and unpacked boxes that you have stored in your garage! Make space so you can safely store your car inside during snowstorms and subfreezing temperatures. 

9. Fireplace maintenance: Be sure to have your fireplace regularly inspected by a professional. If you don’t use it, make sure it is sealed off from the outdoor elements to prevent cold air from coming into your home.

10.  Outdoor hoses and faucets: To minimize the risk of freeze damage, disconnect garden hoses from the outdoor faucet bibs and drain any water that accumulated inside. Also, seal any cracks around the faucet with expandable foam insulation. Freeze caps or covers, which can be purchased at local home improvement stores, can be attached to your outdoor faucets when a temporary overnight freeze occurs.