In case you haven’t heard, the US Northeast is supposed to have an extremely cold winter this year. The secret to saving money on your utility bills this winter is to take some basic steps to winterize your home. This article at the Dollar Stretcher is a good list of things to do. I’m adding to the list a bit.
If you have an attic fan with vents in the ceiling of your living area, it’s important to seal up those vents. My dh buys a kit for this that comes with plastic sheeting & double stick tape. This type of kit is widely available & easy to use.
The article says to keep unused rooms closesd & their heating vents closed to limit the space needing heat. I’ve read other places to keep closet doors closed too for the same reason. It might not seem like much, but it all adds up over a winter’s time.
Another idea if you are putting up blankets/quilts on some windows is to install grommets along the top so that you can hang them more easily. Fabric stores have grommet kits. You’d probably need some heavy duty grommets for this, but you could ask the person at the fabric store for advice.
The article says to keep hot drinks, like coffee or tea, in a carafe to use all day long. I think they mean one of those carafe-looking thermos bottles. You can use a plain old thermos too. It’ll stay hot longer if you preheat the thermos with hot water before adding the hot coffee or tea.
I agree that it’s a great time to bake as the extra heat is good in the house. Be sure to have a carbon monoxide detector in case your oven is putting out too much.
You can make draft stoppers to put on the bottom of doors on the inside of the house too. These make nice gifts sometimes if you make them decorative.
Click title for link to article with all the basics.
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