Days are shorter, temps have dropped--yup--winter is here. For some of us, this is the best time of year: many folks love nothing more than spending time outdoors enjoying winter activities, then coming inside to hunker down with a hot drink and a good movie or book. But to truly enjoy the winter season, we need to make sure that our homes are up to scratch. That is, we need to ensure that we've taken the steps to create the perfect cozy living environment by doing all we can to prepare our homes for harsh winter weather.
Taking Care of Your Home This Winter
Home Repairs
Start out by looking into whether your home needs any work or repairs carried out on it, inside and out. All too often, our homes will have minor fixes that we either don't see or we just choose to ignore rather than addressing them immediately. Unfortunately, ignoring a small repair now can wind up costing you later. For example, a small crack or hole in the roof may be easy to ignore during the summer months, but when it starts to rain or snow, the damage can worsen, and you may be faced with roofing, plumbing AND electrical issues. Whatever repairs you do need carried out, make sure to contact the relevant professionals to get them resolved as soon as possible. Now is a good time to check your boiler, too. Finding necessary boiler parts sooner rather than later can prevent a future catastrophe.
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Double Glazed Windows
Glass is well known for being a poor insulator. However, all of our homes have glass windows and doors, yet not all of them are properly insulated. In fact, older, poorly insulated windows and doors can account for 25% - 30% of your heating or cooling bill! With the costs of home heating oil and natural gas on the rise, your old, drafty windows are going to wind up costing you a small fortune.
If you’re in a newer build, chances are your windows are already energy-efficient. But if you live in an older property, consider replacing your home's windows with double glazed windows. Double (or even triple) glazing can save you $200 - $250 per year in energy bills--over the course of, say, 20 years, that adds up to a whopping $5,000 in your pocket, rather than the utility company's. For more information, contact your energy provider--many will provide an energy audit free of charge.
Glass is well known for being a poor insulator. However, all of our homes have glass windows and doors, yet not all of them are properly insulated. In fact, older, poorly insulated windows and doors can account for 25% - 30% of your heating or cooling bill! With the costs of home heating oil and natural gas on the rise, your old, drafty windows are going to wind up costing you a small fortune.
If you’re in a newer build, chances are your windows are already energy-efficient. But if you live in an older property, consider replacing your home's windows with double glazed windows. Double (or even triple) glazing can save you $200 - $250 per year in energy bills--over the course of, say, 20 years, that adds up to a whopping $5,000 in your pocket, rather than the utility company's. For more information, contact your energy provider--many will provide an energy audit free of charge.
Do you know of anyone who is elderly or otherwise vulnerable during the winter months? Check out this infographic from St. Elizabeth Healthcare on what preparations to make at home for staying safe during winter:
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