Winterizing Your Home on a Budget

It's starting to get darker earlier, cooler temperatures are in the air and the holiday season is just around the corner. This also means winter is approaching and as a homeowner, it is important to take some steps to winterize your home. Now, with that said, here are some ideas that can help protect your home and your wallet – by not costing you a fortune.

1. Clean out those gutters! Water needs to be able to flow through the gutters freely and leaves and sticks can cause major problems. The best part? The only cost to you will be time and effort.
2. Flush out the water heater. Sediment can build up in the bottom part of a water heater which can cause a unit not to work properly. Take some time to flush water through the drain valve to clear it out.
3. Did you know that changing the direction of your ceiling fan can help? If the ceiling fan is spinning in a clockwise direction, the hot air will be pushed down toward the floor. Take a minute to check those fans!
4. Change your filters. This is a minimum cost and will help with efficiency of a central heating and air system. Make sure you have the right type of filter and change those out before winter hits.
5. Weatherstripping tape can help with addressing any drafts or air leaks which can increase heating costs. This is a cost effective and simple solution.

These are just a few things that can be done to help winterize your home without draining your wallet during the holidays.