Winter is coming. And we’re not talking about a new season of that show with the dragons. We’re talking about wind chills, frosted windshields, early sunsets, snow, and plenty of hot chocolate. We won’t complain about the hot chocolate, but we could do without some of the other stuff.

Regardless of your feelings about winter, now is the perfect time to ensure your home is ready for the colder days ahead. And while cleaning gutters, disconnecting hoses and moving outdoor furniture inside are great places to start, there are plenty of other ways to prep your house. We’ve found some ways to better help your home stay efficient while keeping the cold where it belongs, outside. 

Start Small

Winterizing your home doesn’t have to be a major chore. Little things like putting a new weather strip or draft guard on your doors is a simple yet effective step to getting ready for winter. From there you can close vents in rooms you don’t use often and make sure the fireplace flue is shut, if you have one and aren’t using it. Another easy thing that will help increase your home’s efficiency is installing a water heater blanket. Which is exactly what it sounds like. An insulated wrap for your water heater. Also, don’t forget to switch the direction your ceiling fans turn. 

Don’t Forget The Exterior

Cleaning the gutters and disconnecting your sprinklers are always top of mind when it comes to winterization. But there are a few other things you can do outside to help your home this winter. Check the exterior of your windows and re-caulk any that need it. It’s inexpensive and easy to do. This will go a long way to keep the cold out. Do the same for your doors jams. Have a grill? Roll it inside or at least store the propane tank inside. Sure, it won’t help keep your home warm but it will help make sure your grill is ready to go at the first signs of summer.

Upgrade

Now is the perfect time to make some upgrades to increase your home’s efficiency and value. For starters, have a professional come out for a quick health check on your HVAC system. This check is usually inexpensive and is a better option than to dealing with a busted heater on a frigid night. Upgrade to a smart thermostat. These thermostats are user-friendly and do a ton of work in the background to ensure your home’s HVAC is running at max efficiency without leaving you in the cold. Most smart thermostats know if you are home or away and will adjust the temperature accordingly. And if re-caulking those windows hasn’t quite done the trick, look into replacing them. Now, some of these are big investments but sometimes they’re completely necessary and will go a long way to keep the cold outside while increasing the value of your home. That’s a win-win in our book.

Whether you’re ready or not for winter, we hope these tips make it easy to get your home ready for the chilly time of year. And don’t forget to stock up on the hot chocolate to help get you through.