Welcome to the official Blog of BuyOwner.com

BuyOwner.com buy sell trade rent

  • Home
  • About BuyOwner.com
  • Popular Posts

Prepare Your Home for Winter

Nov28
2008
1 Comment Written by Alicia

If you live in a location that experiences all four seasons, you should know that preparing for the winter months now will save you energy and irritation later! There are numerous methods to save energy during the winter. These tips will help you save energy and live comfortably without throwing your budget out of whack.

Windows are a major source of unwanted air filtering in from the outdoors. Fortunately, there are multiple options for keeping the cold air outside and the warm air inside!

Make sure to insulate any cracks in or around windows. Use spray foam to insulate around windows or use weather stripping on the inner frame of windows.

Placing plastic film over windows will stop the cool air from creeping inside. Purchase shrink film for windows, measure the right amount that will cover the window and apply adhesive to hold it in place. Simple!

For a more stylish approach, add insulated blinds or curtains that contain padding. The padding will hold the cold air back from the interior. During daylight hours, be sure to allow the sun to shine through the windows and naturally warm the interior!

Place draft dodgers by your doors to keep cool air from coming in from underneath the door. Every little crack counts! Draft dodgers act like rolled up blankets. When you need to open the door, just push it out of the way.

A storm window or door adds another layer between the outdoors and indoors. Two glass panes are better than one, so layer up!

Unless you keep your fireplace closed tightly, it’s like having a window open. When not in use, attach glass doors to keep your heat from escaping into the fireplace. Also, keep the damper closed when not in use. This keeps the cold air from sneaking in.

Even electric outlets that reside on exterior walls allow cool air into the home. Sealers are available for nearly no cost and will cover the unlikeliest source of cold air.

During the winter, the days become shorter. Since lights are left on longer, replace your bulbs with fluorescent bulbs that use less energy and last longer.

When you aren’t in a room, turn the lights off. To help you remember, purchase timers or censors so that lights are only in use when you need them to be.

Insulation is key in keeping your winter energy costs down. Make sure to efficiently insulate your attic, pipes and hot water heater.

A humidifier will add moisture to the air and can cause it to feel more comfortable and warmer.

Electric thermostats allow you to set a timer to the temperature. When you leave for work, the temperature can be lowered. While you sleep, the temperature can be lowered. Anytime that you aren’t in the house, turn down the heat!

Even when you are home, you could probably afford to lower the temperature. The average temperature for a thermostat is 65. If you’re cold in your house, add blankets, slippers and sweaters to your body before turning up the heat. That should be the last resort!

Check the flexible duct area that surrounds your furnace for holes or tears. Cover these holes with something as simple as duct tape to stop heat from escaping. Also, change the filters in your furnace regularly so it works to the best of its ability.

Turning on ceiling fans during the winter can direct warm air downward, especially in homes with high ceilings.

Even the outside of your home can help! By planting trees near your windows, you are adding energy efficiency to your home year-round. Trees shade your home in the summer and then lose their leaves in the winter. This allows the sun to shine through your windows and warm up your interior. If wind is an issue, plant evergreens near your windows for year-round protection.

Related Reading

  • Brighten Up a Drab Day
  • 10 Winter Decorating Tips: Interior
  • Control Your A/C Usage
  • Beat the Winter Blues
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged cold weather, eco-friendly home improvement, energy costs, Home Improvement, seasonal changes, winter, winter homes
SHARE THIS Twitter Facebook Delicious StumbleUpon E-mail
Similar posts
  • Economic Interior Design — When it comes to the costs of improving your home, most ...
  • Embrace Outdoor Living! — If you live in an area of the country with four pronounc...
  • Remodel the Right Way — Want to increase the value of your home? Want to remodel...
  • Green Painting — Experts say that one of the easiest ways to spruce up a ...
  • The Non-Handy Guide to Selling — When you’re trying to sell your home, you want to ...
« Recycling Carpeting
» Zoning Your Property

1 Comment

  1. Jonathan Crouch's Gravatar Jonathan Crouch
    November 28, 2008 at 11:08 am | Permalink

    Hi.

    I’ve read where you can buy a version of room heating thermostats that work the opposite way round. Instead, they trigger the heating to come on when the temperature drops below a certain pre-set temperature.

    I know its a bit wasteful re- heating fuel but if you’re out all day or away for a few days then this little device could save your pipes freezing, leaving you with an expensive repair bill upon your return.

    Its a good idea to check your home insurance covers damage caused by freezing weather. Some policies will also cover temporary accommodation if you suffer the worst. Worth checking before it happens.

    Jonathan.

    P.S – Do you know where your stop tap is to isolate the main water supply to your home?

    P.P.S – Take a moment to check on elderly neighbours – check they’re stop valves work too and check in on them if the weather turns really cold.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About the BuyOwner.com Blog

Welcome to the BuyOwner.com Blog, your source for regularly updated market information!

Founded in 1984, BuyOwner.com® is the leading provider of real estate marketing services. We pioneered the "For Sale by Owner" (FSBO) market, which today represents over 20 percent of all residential real estate transactions.

You can read more about BuyOwner.com here.

Article Archives

Buy Owner Links

  • BuyOwner.com on Facebook
  • BuyOwner.com Testimonials
  • BuyOwner.com Website
  • Twitter: Buy Owner

Blog Roll

Real Estate Top Blogs Real Estate Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory Add to Technorati Favorites Find the best blogs at Blogs.com. Blog Directory Home Improvement Blog Directory

Subscribe

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Tags

31 reasons to sell with buy owner adding value to your home buying a home buying a house buy owner Buy Owner experience curb appeal decorating eco-friendly eco-friendly tips environment florida fsbo Green Living holiday home decorating Home Improvement home improvements home ownership home selling how to sell your home interior decorating interior design kitchen Market News moving real estate real estate market real estate selling real estate tips Regional Info selling selling a home selling a house selling Buy Owner selling by owner selling for sale by owner selling fsbo Selling Tips selling with buy owner selling your home spring staging using buy owner winter

EvoLve theme by Blogatize  •  Powered by WordPress BuyOwner.com Blog
Tips and info for people selling & buying their homes "Buy Owner"