Are you ready for Winter?

As a Realtor in Fort Collins, I like to help people get their homes ready for winter. There’s nothing worse than not having your home winterized, and paying huge utility bills all winter because your heater is constantly working overtime. With that in mind, here are ten tips that may help you this winter to prepare early for the cold that is coming our way!

1. If you haven’t had new windows put in your home in a long time, think about installing them quickly before it gets cold out. This can be costly, but there are some very good ways to save on windows as well. We love Milgard Windows, and there are some good Milgard distributors around Fort Collins and Loveland that you might want to look into. If you are not in the market for new windows, but want to protect your home from some pesky drafts coming in, try sealing those drafty windows with clear plastic.
2. Have your furnace checked. If your furnace is more than 10 years old, and you think it might waste fuel, then either a furnace tune-up or a furnace upgrade may be in order.
3. Make sure to turn down the water temperature on your water heater to about 120 degrees, which is considered a warm setting. This is still plenty hot enough to get a hot shower in the winter, and will save you some money on your heating bill. If your lines around your water heater are not insulated, also consider doing that asap.
4. Don’t forget to replace your furnace filter once every 2-3 months. This can help the furnace work to its efficiency in the winter.
5. When was the last time you replaced the weather strippings around your home? If its been a long time, and you have some drafty doors, this is a cost effective, and easy to do yourself.
6. Do you have energy efficient lightbulbs? If not, you might want to consider switching to them.
7. Are your cold air returns blocked? If they are, unblock them. This helps the furnace work cleanly.
8. If your thermostat has a schedule built in, set it to a lower temperature when you aren’t home during the day to save on costs. If you work from home, layer your clothing during the day instead of turning the heat on a few degrees hotter.
9. The City of Fort Collins, and other private companies offer an inexpensive home efficiency audit that can tell you if the insulation in your home is good, or if it’s about time to think about an upgrade. Some of the old insulation may not be thick enough, or it may be well overdue for your insulation to be changed out. This can be expensive, but it will save you hundreds, if not thousands on your energy bill in the long run, and will protect your home against the elements for years to come.
10. Keep your vents and baseboard heaters clean and dust free.

I hope this helps you get ready for winter in Northern Colorado. There is much more you could do for your home, but the above ten tips are either quick and easy, or some things that you should think about for this winter or the future.

For your Fort Collins and Loveland Real Estate needs, give me a call at 970-342-3568, and enjoy the last few days of this great 70 degree weather!