4 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter

October 15, 2013

This past week I have definitely noticed the "chill" in the air. Now I don't know if anyone has actually turned on their furnace yet, but we all know it's coming. When the weather does turn cold, you can be prepared to keep you heating bills down with just a few easy tasks. Check out these tips to help you maintain a warm cozy AND efficient home!

Caulk Trim and Baseboards - as you walk through your home, you will feel some obvious drafts in your home that you will need to tend to - but if you inspect things a little closer, you will find some small gaps that are inviting the cold air into your home. A simple trick that will expose these drafts is by simply running your damp finger along the edges of your interior windows and trim - the moistened skin will be very sensitive to the draft and indicate the areas that you need to caulk.

Inspect Doors The US Department of Energy claims that as much as 35% of the air leakage in a home comes from small openings in doors, windows and fireplaces. Door sweeps can make a huge difference by closing the gap that is between the bottom of your door and the flooring. Not only is this good for the entry doors but also a good idea for the basement and attic. Here is simple trick to check the seal around the rest of the door. Close a dollar bill in your door and try pulling it out. If the dollar slides out easily, you are losing your insulation and money. You can purchase stick on rubber weather stripping to go around the edges to seal the door and keep the warmth in and the cold out.

Prepare your Windows On of the easiest ways to start saving is to simply make sure all of your doors are locked - by turning the latch, you are forcing the two panels together and removing the 2mm gap that you may not see. If you have older windows, you can apply clear weatherstripping tape along the edges or cover it with window film.

Have Your Furnace Inspected by a professional to ensure efficiency. Dirty filters cause your furnace to work overtime to heat your home which will cause your heating bill to rise. An inspection can help prevent complications in the future.

The Team at Gattermeir Davidson Real Estate is here to help you find your dream home - be sure to talk to us when you venture towards purchasing a Lake of the Ozark Home.