10 tips to get your Colorado Springs Home ready for winter

It never fails, right when Halloween arrives, it gets cold in Colorado Springs  Review the list below to learn how to winterize the exterior of your home and make it more energy efficient t in order to reduce the amount of your heating bill.

1. Lawn care- Just because it is cooler, your lawn still needs attention.  Make sure to apply a winterizing fertilizer in the fall and water your lawn on warm days during the winter months.

2. Blow out your sprinkler system- Sitting water in your sprinkler system when temperatures drop to freezing can result in an unpleasant surprise when spring arrives!  If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, hire a professional for the task.

3. Unhook your garden hoses- Leaving hoses attached to the water spigot can cause a pipe to split if any sitting water freezes on the inside.

4. Seal air leaks- Save money spent on your utility bill by sealing and caulking all air leaks around doors, windows, and outlets, and exterior walls of your home.

5. Program your thermostat- With the cost of natural gas continuing to rise, it is important to program your thermostat.  Programming your thermostat for lower temperatures while you are at work, sleeping, or away from home will also save you money on your monthly utility bill.  Dropping the temperature too much can cause other problems such as freezing pipes so use caution!

6. Check your windows- If you have older windows than cold air is more likely to come inside while the warm air seeps out of your home.  Although costly, vinyl windows are much more efficient than wood or aluminum windows.  You can also purchase a window insulation kit if you have older inefficient windows.

7. Insulate- Insulating your attic, crawl space, garage, and basement will keep your home warmer and save money on your heating bill.

8. Water heater tips- Insulate your water heater and reduce its thermostat to 120°F to save energy. 

9. Care for the Furnace- Have your furnace serviced and cleaned yearly to ensure it is works efficiently.  Also change the filters every month to prevent your furnace from having to work harder than it has to.

10. Ceiling Fans- Most ceiling fans have a switch to alternate the direction of the fan blades.  During the winter months, reverse your ceiling fan blades so the warm air in your home is pushed down.

Stay Warm!

For more energy saving tips:  U.S. Department of Energy

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