8 Cool Weather Tips for Homeowners

Sure, the days are reasonably chilly right now, the pumpkin spice drinks are flowing, and the trees are JUST hitting the peak of their beauty. Give Mother Nature a few more weeks, though, and we’ll be seeing colder temperatures and Old Man Winter will be making his appearance. As the days get shorter and colder, here your home will appreciate some extra loving care to help it stay protected, and your pocket book will benefit from some great money saving tricks. Here are a few things you can do this winter for your Lake of the Ozarks real estate.

Turn it Back

Turn your thermostat back 10º to 15º for just 8 hours a day. This is especially true if your home sits empty while you’re away at work. You can actually save up to 15% a year on your heating bill by doing this one simple trick. Just turn it down before you leave for work, and turn it back up when you get home.

Switch Your Fans

Did you know that you need to turn the switch on your fan to run clockwise in the winter? This can help distribute the heat in your home better. You’ll also want to keep it running at a low speed to help keep the air moving and circulating better.

Check Your Water Heater

Did you know that you can turn your water heater down to a normal setting of 120º? this can help you save more than 7% on your heating bill this winter. If you need to replace your water heater in the coming months, you can also look into a tankless water heater. It will only heat the water you need instead of heating a large tank and then letting it sit until you use it.

Is There a Draft?

This isn’t like the NFL, you don’t want a draft in your home. If you are finding that your windows are letting in cold air, this may be a good time to get them replaced. If you can’t make that investment right now, be sure to take a close look at your windows and try to seal up and gaps. Up to 25% of your heat loss in your home can come from your windows not being properly insulated.

What’s In the Attic?

What’s NOT in the attic is actually more appropriate. If your attic is insulated correctly, it can help you shave anywhere from 10% up to 50% off of you heating bill! This is a big deal, and can really help make an impact on your heating costs. If your attic is already sealed, it’s not hard to rent the equipment to fill the attic with insulation or hire someone to come out and quickly do it for you.

Clean Your Gutters

Before the temps drop down to ice cold and freezing, you’ll want to inspect you gutters. Make sure that they are free of debris, which can help prevent ice dating and gutter back-up causing leaks.

Turn Off Your Water

Make sure that the water supply to your outside faucet is turned off. This is a great way to prevent busted pipes.

Inspect the Chimney

Before you make like Santa and climb down it yourself, this is something you’ll want to hire out. Chimney inspections do more than just save you money on your heating bill. It can help keep you family safe! Many older homes could have problems with the chimney that you never even knew existed.

A little bit of maintenance can go a long way for not only helping your energy costs this winter, but also helping to make your home cozy and comfy. Winter is a great time to cuddle up and enjoy time with family, watching movies, playing games, and celebrating the upcoming holidays. If you’re still looking for your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks, I would honored to help. I am a very experienced real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks, and I want to help you buy your new lake home!

Here For All Your Real Estate Needs At Lake Of The Ozarks!

Dan Sells The Lake

573-216-8439

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