The temperatures in many areas of the country are dropping fast as winter descends once more.  Winter weather can wreak havoc on your home and on your energy bills.  However, with a little preparation now, before the big freeze hits, you can do a number of things to help protect your home sweet home from the ravages of winter.

Fire Up the Furnace

Have your furnace serviced by an HVAC professional if you haven’t already.  Invest in a full tune up and thorough cleaning of the entire system and stock up on new furnace filters.  To keep your furnace operating as efficiently as possible during the winter, replace the filter once a month.  If you do not have a programmable thermostat controlling the heating system in your home, have one installed now.  This one small investment can save you a fortune on energy bills all season long.

Check Your Doors and Windows

Now is the time to remove all your fly screens from the windows and reinstall their glass replacements.  If the caulking around your windows looks a little worse for wear, you should renew it and, for extra insulation, purchase a plastic window insulation kit from your local D.I.Y. store.  These thin sheets are affixed easily to window surfaces with the help of a hairdryer and are an inexpensive way to add an extra layer of insulation to stop precious heat from escaping.

You should affix weather-stripping to all the doors in your home that lead outside, including the often neglected basement door.  In addition, although you make think of them as an old fashioned idea, keep a door snake in place to block drafts from exterior doorways.  Saving money never goes out of style and a simple draft stopper can make your entire home feel a few degrees warmer.

Protect Against Plumbing Disaster

Winter is frozen pipe season in many areas of the country.  To prevent such a messy and expensive disaster, drain all outside faucets and garden hoses and make sure all your pipes are well insulated.  If you are leaving home for a winter break or simply visiting the family for the holidays do not turn your heating off completely, leave it set to 55 degrees Fahrenheit  to avoid coming home to a plumbing nightmare.

Winterize Your Outdoor Space

After you have removed all your patio furniture to its winter basement retreat, sweep and clean your deck and, if you live in an area prone to snowfall, if you have not sealed it in a while do so now.  Take in all your delicate pot plants and drain any remaining gas from your lawnmower before you put it away.  If you have trees near your home make sure there are no overhanging branches that could fall on your home during a storm.

Prepare a Winter Emergency Kit

Remember to stock up on candles and matches and then store them where they can be easily found in the event of a power cut.  Keep the numbers of your utility companies and a reliable local plumber where they can be seen by everyone as well.

These simple tips should help you survive the perils of the coming season relatively unscathed.