9 Tips to Prepare Yourself For Winter

Scott Delzer

November 3, 2014  •  1 Minute Read

Financial Tips

The leaves and the temperature are quickly falling, signifying the change of the season; winter will be soon upon us. With the very drastic change in weather that we will soon be experiencing, it is best to get our lives ready for winter – not only to protect our belongings, but to save a bit of cash on energy bills during the cold months of the year. Here are a few tips to keep you toasty!

Outdoors:

• Make sure to store outdoor furniture accordingly. Don’t let the items you bought get damaged and in need of repair come spring.
• Empty out hoses and store them indoors. Also, turn off water to all outside lines and spigots. This can save you from some frozen pipes!
• Clean out your gutters before the snow hits. When it comes time for the snow to start melting, it will drain correctly through the gutters when no old leaves are clogging them.

Indoors:

• Block the drafts. The areas around windows and doors are where you can lose the warmth. Be sure to seal these up.
• Change your furnace filters regularly. Changing the filter monthly can save you in energy costs since your furnace will not have to try as hard to push the air through a clean filter.
• Turn down your water heater. A normal temperature that many set theirs at is 140 degrees, lowering the temp to 120 degrees can reduce water heating costs by up to 10%.
• Keep an eye on your thermostat. The best advice is to get a programmable thermostat so you can set timers on when you need your house warmer – no need to keep the house toasty while you’re not even home!
• Dress warmly. Layers are your best friend in the winter months. Warmer clothes mean you don’t have to have your thermostat cranked all the way up!
• Insulate pipes! This will help keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, preventing a costly plumbing repair if the pipes burst.

Making it through the winter months does not have to be spendy. Just keep these tips in mind as you prepare in the coming weeks to help you save some of your hard earned cash on your energy bills until we hit spring (and warmer weather) again!