Tag Archives: winterizing

Green Ways to Winterize Your Home – Part 2

Today, I am going to talk about more ways to warm up your home during these cold winter days without turning up your thermostat. Don’t underestimate the value of cleaning or replacing your furnace filters once a month when you are using the heat. If the filters are dirty, it restricts the airflow and uses more energy. You can also get a permanent filter, which will not only reduce the waste of the old filters, but also the hassle of changing them. However, the permanent filters may not come cheap – they can cost between $50 to $1,000 and more. … Continue reading →

Let it Snow?

A couple of days ago, my kids and I were discussing whether we would have a white Christmas or not. It is almost uncanny how we often have just a touch of snow for Christmas, like icing on a cake. Then, we learned that we might actually get some snow this weekend. My little one jumped up and down yesterday morning asking, “Is it gonna snow? Is it? Is it?” I had to wonder what kind of weather we might expect. It’s been rather mild except for the occasional harsh day or night. However, when I stopped in the store … Continue reading →

If the Weather outside is frightful…

It is that time of year again. The weather can do some crazy things, and that’s even more true if you live in an area that is prone to drastic weather changes. We actually have days here that may be sunny and a nice, warm 75 degrees but drop more than 40-50 degrees by late that night. That’s a big difference in a 24 hour period! Sometimes, it’s even more extreme. Have you ever had the air conditioning on during the day and the heat running at night? I try to avoid such uses of energy, but there have been … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: Nov. 26 – Dec. 2

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we have moved right into winter and Christmas. Here are this week’s articles at a glance: Remove Musty Smells Do you have some old furniture that has been stored too long in a basement or garage? It happens to the best of us… Household Germs: Try this Hand-washing Test Are you sure your hands are really clean? Dreaming of a Green Christmas? Some environmentally friendly ideas instead of wasted packing materials… More Ways to Recycle for the Holidays More ways to use stuff you already have around the house… Fighting Soap Scum Who doesn’t … Continue reading →

Winterizing Tips: Outdoors

Even if it is already getting cold where you live, it’s not too late. You can still winterize or weatherize in several ways that will help protect your home and family throughout the winter months. Clean the Gutters If you can do it yourself, carefully go ahead and clean out the gutters. Always make sure someone else is home when climbing a ladder and be sure the ladder is stable. If you aren’t up for doing it yourself, hire someone to do it sooner than later. Make sure the person you hire is insured. It’s not a bad idea to … Continue reading →

Winterizing Tips: Indoors

With winter winds beginning to blow (or coming soon), these winterizing tips may come in handy. Clear the Clothes Dryer Now is a good time to replace your clothes dryer vent or at the very least, make sure it is obstruction free. By checking or replacing your vent hose at the same time you winterize (doing such things at the same time each year), you will develop a good habit. This is one of the best ways to ensure that such things don’t get overlooked. Get the Fireplace ready for Santa If you have a fireplace, it’s a good idea … Continue reading →

Ready for Winter?

One important step in winterizing your home is to be sure that you’re keeping warm air in and cold air out. One good way to do this is by making sure your insulation is in good shape and is sufficient. This is something you may be able to do yourself. If not, a handyman should be able to help you out at a reasonable rate. If you turn on the furnace and find that you’re getting no heat or very little heat in one area, it may be a problem with your duct work. This is something you need to … Continue reading →