While owning your own home is an incredible accomplishment, it often comes with a few tasks. There are many benefits to owning your own home: you don’t have to worry about a landlord, your neighbors are not a wall away, you can change the interior of the home however you see fit, and more.
If you’re looking to save money on your heating bill or just make sure your home is winter-ready, check out the list of easy to do improvements below. These will not only save you money in the long run, but they won’t cost a lot to accomplish.
Winter Improvements
Window Insulation Kits
One of the easiest changes you can make to your home in the winter is insulating your windows. Many big-name stores carry window insulation kits, but there are some DIY methods as well. This works by putting double-sided tape around the frame of your window to use as a base for a sheet of plastic to stick to the frame.
You will then need to apply heat using a hairdryer to complete the insulation. This is a great way to keep heat in your home and keep the cold out. If you just bought a home and haven’t had time to make major improvements such as buying new windows, this is an amazing solution.
Show Your Heating System Some Love
Chances are you don’t think twice about your heating system during the summer. Summer will come to an end and autumn will quickly pass until you realize that your heating system needs a little bit of tender loving care.
The first thing you can do is to check your boiler water levels. You don’t want these to fall too low during the cold winter months. You also want to change any filters throughout your home, including heating and air filters.
While it’s a good reminder to change your filters in the winter, you should be doing this at least every three months. There are certain circumstances where this needs to be done more often. For example, if you have pets, live with somebody with an allergy, or use a fireplace, you should be replacing the filter in your furnace every 30 days.
Change Batteries
Many professionals suggest changing the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be done in the winter. The best time to do this is when you change your clocks back to fall, simply because it’s an easy way to remember you’ve done it. There are many benefits to doing this during the wintertime.
You’re likely using appliances like the stove or space heater more often, the house heating system is running, and you may light a fire or candles to create a cozy atmosphere. All of these things increase the risk of a house fire. To keep you and your loved ones as safe as possible, be sure to change the batteries in all the detectors.
Interior Painting
Painting the inside of your home is a great way to pass the time and make improvements when you’re stuck inside during the frigid winter months. Conveniently, autumn and winter are when interior house paint is at its cheapest.
You also won’t have to worry about opening your windows when painting inside during the winter, as a simple box fan will do the trick. If you’re looking to get your home professionally painted, you’ll also find the best deals during the winter.
Seal Cracks Within Your Home
One of the biggest and easiest improvements you can make to your home during the winter is to make sure there are no cracks. This can be a bit time consuming, depending on the size of your home, but it is a crucial step to ensure that your house is winter-ready. If you have a basement, you’ll want to check the concrete flooring and fill cracks as needed.
Another place that is prone to having cracks that let cold drafts in during the winter is windows and sliding glass doors. All of these areas are relatively cheap to fix yourself, they will save you money on your heating bill, and even save you money on your air-conditioning bill come summertime.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know some of the simplest home improvement tips for the winter, you are one step closer to having a warm and cozy home. If you’re on a budget, a window installation kit will be of good use to your home. Make painting rooms a fun family activity and don’t forget to change the batteries in all the detectors in your house.
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Author Bio:
Darren Robertson is a top-producing licensed REALTOR® in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Valuing service over sales, Darren is known by his clients for both his extensive local market knowledge, as well as his patience and reliability as he helps them on their home buying and home selling journey. Darren is a tech-forward agent who places a heavy emphasis on internet marketing and blogging in his business. When he’s not helping his clients buy and sell homes, he enjoys going on adventures with his beautiful wife and two little ones, strategy games, movies, red wine, and traveling.