Winter Checklist!
It doesn’t matter if you shun the cold weather or embrace it, winter is upon us. Here are a few tasks to tackle now to make sure your home is prepared for the season.
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Eight ways to cut back on heating bills:
- Check to be sure your furniture is not blocking heating vents. Move the couch away from the vent and your room should warm up faster.
- Rugs not only work to style a room, but they also do a good job of keeping your feet toasty if you have tile or hardwood floors.
- A common cause of heating (and cooling) troubles….change your filters and the problem usually disappears.
- Let the sunshine in! During the sunny days, open the curtains and let some sunlight in. The sun’s rays help to warm you up even on the coldest days.
- Close the curtains at night. This will help to trap the heat inside your home.
- When you’re done baking and turn the oven off, leave the oven door open for a bit. The heat will flow into the kitchen ad help warm up the room. (Of course, don’t ever do this if you have grandchildren or pets around!)
- If possible, leave the shower door open when you shower. This allows all that hot steam to travel through the house. It can help cut down on dry winter air, too.
- If you have ceiling fans, reverse the motion so they are moving clockwise. This will help move warm air downward where it’s needed to keep you warm.
Catching up on your other Winter Necessities
- You did remember to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors last fall, didn’t you? If not, do it now.
- Disconnect your hose from your outside faucet to keep it from freezing and splitting.
- Protect your entryways – all that snow, ice, rain can wreak havoc on your entryway floors. Place mats both inside and outside the door, and maybe put a boot tray inside the door, too.
- Move your snow shovels to an area near the door where they will be within easy reach.
- Inspect your outdoor lighting to make sure all outdoor lights are functioning properly.
- Keep porch and patio furniture safe from the elements by covering your pieces with tarp or move it into a shed.
- Empty flower pots of soil or bring them indoors. The cold can crack them easily over the winter.