Fall is here. The weather is cooler, the days are shorter and the trees are changing the color of their leaves. Fall is the best time to prepare your home for the cold weather season before the bad weather sets in. Here are 5 money saving ways to winterize your home.
- Change your filters – Filters should be changed every 3 months, especially in the dry desert Prescott environment. If three months is too frequent for you, a good way to remember to change your filters is by the season. Once a filter starts to get clogged, your A/C or heater unit has to work much harder to heat/cool down your house. Filters are relatively inexpensive and can be picked up at your neighborhood hardware store or big box store like Walmart or Target. Remember to note the size of the filter before you purchase as there are many different sizes.
- Service your heater – Have your heater serviced before winter. Not only will this help you save on your monthly utility bill, it also ensures that your heater is in good working order. There is nothing worse than a heater malfunction on a snowy day. Trust me, I have been there.
- Reverse your ceiling fan – Putting your ceiling fan in reverse pushes the air downward into the room. By doing this simple step, the room will stay warmer, which in turn will help lower your heating bill. The way to tell if your fan is in reverse is that the fan blades are spinning counter clockwise.
- Turn down the thermostat – Turning down the thermostat can save you up to 50% on your monthly heating bill. Aim for setting the thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 62 degrees at night for optimum savings.
- Take care of the pipes – When temperatures fall, water freezes. Take care of the pipes and hose connections that lead into the house. The easiest way to do this is to turn off any outside water sources in winter. You can also buy insulated faucet sleeves that cover outside water spigots. These provide a layer of insulation to the water source and can be found at your local hardware store. Also make sure you are aware of where all of the water shutoff valves are.
With just a little money, time and effort, you will have a nice and cozy home for the holidays this winter. At the same time, you will keep your property maintained and in proper repair when and if you ever decide to sell. A well maintained home will bring top $.
