Keeping Out the ColdI live in a senior community and they pay the utilities. I am grateful for it and try to be frugal with the bill. I also like to keep my doors open for light. This can be a problem when the screen doors are older and don't close all the way.
Protecting Outside Water FaucetTo keep your outside water faucet from freezing and getting damaged, keep the hose unhooked during freezing weather. Also, Walmart carries a Styrofoam cover made to hook onto the faucet and keep it covered.
Keeping Your Water Pipes from FreezingDue to cold weather and power outages over Christmas, many households had to leave their homes to find a warm place. My son was one of these. He was worried about his water pipes freezing and bursting.
Fleece Door Draft StopperIf you have doors or windows in your home that let in the cold winter air, here is a very simple draft stopper idea that I use. I purchased 1 yard of fleece fabric from the "bargain" table. This 36 inch length should work at any exterior door.
Free Home Weatherization Programs for Energy EfficiencyCheck with your power company, your county, state, and nonprofit organizations to see if there are any free weatherization programs available. I did and had my house completely weatherized for free.
Preventing Ice Dams On Your RoofIf you have trouble with ice dams in the winter, try putting "ice melt" salt into nylon stockings and laying them in the valleys of your roof. It keeps the salt from running off and melts the snow and ice slowly! It really works.
Insulating WindowsWe live in an older rental home and almost all the windows are singled paned so before the Arctic weather arrived I went to Home Depot and bought 4 x 8 panels of insulation at $8.95 a sheet.
Leftover Peel and Stick Tiles for WeatherstrippingMy house is very old, and I have a lot of drafty windows and doors. Of course, I don't like to turn up my heat very much due to the high cost of electricity. So, I did what a lot of you do; hanging drapes, using plastic on my windows, etc.
Tips for Winterizing Your HomeConsider getting your furnace inspected by a professional. Change your furnace filters monthly. Cap your chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
Making a Heat Register CoverUsing a flap from a cardboard box, cut it to fit over your furnace register. On one side of the flap, place two strips of magnetic craft tape. Place the flap onto the register with the tape side down. If properly sized, it should work nicely. I would suggest that you place the tape on the longest sides of the flap.
Coffee Grounds for Icy SidewalksI came home during a freezing rain storm on Sunday Night. My cement steps were treacherous and I was out of Ice Salt and table salt. I racked my brain to think of what I could use and went to make myself a pot of coffee then I thought of the used coffee grounds.
Making a Wind Stopper for the WinterIf this winter, you need to stop cold air from entering under your door, simply stick paper tape to the bottom edge of the door. Not under the door but simply on the inside edge of the door. . .
Winterizing Vacation HomesShut off water systems by turning off the pump or shutting the valve if on city water. Drain the pressure tank...
Do It Yourself WeatherstrippingYou can weatherstrip your doors even if you're not an experienced handyman. There are several types of weatherstripping for doors, each with its own level of effectiveness, durability and degree of installation difficulty.
Spreading Salt on Sidewalks or DrivewaysAn empty parmesan cheese container works perfectly as a salt or gravel spreader for those icy spots in the winter driveway.
Keeping Locks From FreezingIf you have a shed or outbuilding with a padlock, keep it from freezing in cold weather by putting a piece of duct tape over the keyhole, then covering the padlock with a plastic bag.
Weather Strip and CaulkOne of the quickest, best ways to save money is to weather-strip, caulk, and seal all of the seams and cracks in your home. Reducing air leaks can save you 10% of more on energy costs.
By Robin
