getting ready for winter is a chance to save money
It’s time for me to start getting ready for winter. Fall is officially here, and it’s time to start getting my home ready for the coming winter months. Here are a few things that I do to keep my home warm and save some money during the winter.
Stopping Drafts
My basement had some drafts, so a few years ago I put plastic sheeting over the windows. For around $5 I stopped the drafty air and made the basement much warmer. A more expensive fix would have obviously been to install new basement widows, but that wasn’t in the budget at the time.
I also installed new trim around my garage doors and bought a few draft stoppers for my entry doors. For around $20 I was able to stop almost all the drafts that I had in my home. It is much warmer as a result.
Annual Service
I have been doing annual service on my furnace and coal stove. Even if you don’t want to do the work yourself it might be a good idea to have a professional take a look at your HVAC system. A good cleaning of your blower fan and even just changing your filters will help your furnace run better and help them be more cost efficient.
I have an oil furnace, so I’ll be changing the filter and adding an additive to the oil tanks. Even if you don’t use oil your furnace will no doubt have something as far as routine maintenance associated with it. A little investment now could save you thousands down the road.
Some Other Prep Work
Here are a few other tasks to consider when you are getting ready for winter.
If you own any power equipment or anything that runs on gasoline, then chances are that not all of it will be used during the winter months. If you own a lawnmower or weed trimmer be sure to either drain all the gas out or add a fuel stabilizer to the tank before you store them away. If anything has a battery you should consider disconnecting it and bringing it inside where it will be warm. You’ll save a lot of headaches and money by doing some preventative maintenance.
Fall is a great time to fertilize your yard. It’s also a good time to do some planting. As a bonus, you can often find trees and shrubs heavily discounted at the end of the season. Check Home Depot or Lowes to see what’s left in their gardening department.
Get ahead of the cold weather by gearing up for winter with essential chimney maintenance. Ensure a warm and worry-free season by scheduling your chimney inspection and cleaning today.
Wrapping Up
Getting ready for winter can give you an opportunity to shore up your property, your home, and your belongings. You’ll get more life out of things, save some money, and you’ll be warmer this winter. If you live in a cold winter climate like me, then you’ll benefit from doing some winter prep work.
What are you doing to get ready for winter? Share below.
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Writer and Investor. Based in the Pittsburgh, PA area, Brian holds full-time employment as a Warehouse Manager for an electronics firm. Brian enjoys wealth building, investing, gardening and the great outdoors. Brian holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Robert Morris University.