Winterizing for Comfort and Efficient Living

Begin with the easy stuff (you) :

• Wash your hands often
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and steer clear of people with colds
• Boost your immune system by getting at least eight hours of sleep each night
• Eat immune-boosting foods like dark leafy greens
• Cut down on sugar and processed foods
• Reduce stress
• Exercise regularly

Want to feel warmer?

• Layer your clothing and cover your head and ears (Scarves are great for fashion and warmth!)
• Indoors, a sweater or scarf can make it feel 5° warmer!

Safety Precaution:

Signs of frostbite include itching, stinging or hardening of skin that’s exposed to cold air, or even skin turning blue. If you experience symptoms, move to a warm place indoors as soon as possible. In the meantime, warm up with body heat if possible — such as putting frostbitten fingers in your armpits.  Don’t use hot water to warm up, because it could damage numb skin. In fact, the CDC notes that you can injure yourself with old-school “remedies.” So don’t rub or massage a frostbitten area with snow or anything else. Don’t use a heating pad directly on the skin, and don’t get right up close to a heat lamp, a stove, fireplace or radiator.

‍. . . and then, winterize your home . . . keep heat as close to 68° as you’re able . . . (remember sweaters and scarves can make it feel 5° warmer)

Easy Home Weatherproofing

Some small weatherproofing jobs require little to no “handiness,” but can make a real difference once cold weather hits. By doing these things before the snow flies, you’ll be saving yourself some hassle (and possibly some money, too!):

• Clean gutters and downspouts in mid-fall and double-check them before winter.
• Replace the filter in your furnace.
• Close any vents in your home that may have been opened for the warm weather.
• Disconnect hoses from outside faucets and turn off the water.
• Buy a snow shovel and other winter supplies before the messy weather hits.
• Keep extra water and canned food in storage just in case.
• Test your heating system, so you know it will work properly when you need it.
• Give your deck a fresh coat of sealer to protect it from the winter elements.

Additional Home Weatherproofing Inspections

You might want to tackle these jobs yourself, however, there are professionals who do these inspections for a living:

• Check the attic, walls, and basement for adequate insulation.
• Feel around electrical outlets and switch-plates for cold air, add insulation where necessary.
• Look around doors and windows for gaps and potential places where warm air can escape.
• Caulk or apply weatherstripping around problem draft areas.
• Look for damaged roof shingles and loose gutters.
• Check your furnace to ensure it is running efficiently.
• Clean chimneys and wood stoves early in the season.
• Test the flue for each fireplace for a tight seal when closed.

Weatherproof Windows

Though there are many places in the home where heat can escape and cold air can enter, windows are one of the biggest culprits. In older homes, especially, having weatherproof windows can make a marked difference in your energy costs and how comfortable your living areas feel. Installing weather stripping costs around $255 on average, but in some instances, you might only need a bit of caulk to weatherproof windows. If your windows are well past their prime, you may also consider replacing them with energy-efficient double paned windows to create a more efficient space.

Another GREAT Energy saver . . .

Replace an older thermostat with a programmable one. Setting your thermostat 5° lower while you sleep saves energy without impacting your comfort.

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