Save Money and Avoid Repairs

How to save money and avoid repairs by winterizing your home.

In addition to getting the toys out of the yard or storing your mower and other lawn equipment, here are a few things that everyone must do to save money and avoid costly repairs.

1. Clean your gutters
   • A poor structure that is full of fallen leaves, nests, and other debris will cause ice dams and leaks.
2. Prepare and dissemble water-utilizing tools
   • To avoid repairs and replacement of pipes, turn off the water on your outside faucets and open the valves to drain any water. Even if the faucets are designed to withstand freezing temperatures, do not skip this step. You may want to invest in insulated covers to place on your exterior faucets. Don’t forget to drain your hoses, sprinkler systems, pressure washers, and any other equipment that uses water.
3. Shield your fireplace from drafts
   • For those who don’t use your fireplace during the winter, make sure the damper is closed that way cold air will stay outside. If there is no damper, don’t worry, a piece of cardboard will achieve the same result.
4. Seal windows and doors
   • First, ensure all are locked. This forms a seal, to keep the heat in and cold out. Next, inspect your home’s window stripping to ensure it is in good condition and that windows are properly caulked. You can also add another layer of glass, “a storm window”, to help your home stay warm. Another option is to use a plastic window insulator kit or hire a professional to apply window films.
   • To save money on your heating bill, get a “draft snake” for your doors. A “draft snake” is just a piece of material, the length of a door, filled with some type of insulated material, like cotton, that prevents drafts from entering under doors.