6 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Winter is coming, and you need to prepare your house to weather the cold if you want a cozy, warm home all season long. But, preparing for cold weather doesn’t need to be complicated. Thankfully, you can keep your home comfortable without spending a fortune every month on heating bills.

Close Your Curtains at Night

You can keep heat inside by simply closing your shutters or curtains after the sun goes down. If you don’t have curtains, investing in a thick set this season can help prevent cold air from entering your home. Just remember to keep them open during the day so the sunlight can provide warmth.

Keep Unused Rooms Closed

Rather than wasting energy to heat rooms you don’t use, shut the doors to any extra rooms in your home so that the ones you use get the most heat.

Seal Air Gaps Around Windows

Cracks around windows allow cold air to flow into a home. Check closely for any signs of cracks or gaps around all your window frames and make a point to seal these with caulk or weather stripping.

Apply Bubble Wrap to Your Windows

Drafty windows are one of the most common causes of winter heat loss in homes. If your windows are old, they’re likely not as effective at keeping your home insulated. If window replacement isn’t in the cards for you right now, you can still prevent cold air from getting into your home by covering them with bubble wrap. As a short-term solution to ensure extra insulation, the bubble wrap traps cold air while still enabling sunlight to provide warmth through the glass.

Monitor Your Thermostat

While it’s tempting to turn your thermostat up when the temperatures drop in the winter, doing so can result in an excessively high heating bill at the end of the month. Make sure you turn down your thermostat when you aren’t at home and before going to bed. Investing in a programmable thermostat will allow you to set your heating schedule according to your daily work routine, so you’ll have the heat on during the times you need it most.