Its winter time and its better to be safe than sorry. The list below is some indoor projects that will help you prepare for the winter and also help lower your energy bills.

INDOOR PROJECTS

  • Have your furnace inspected before the first cold snap. Getting this done early will keep your family warm and safe, and save you from having to wait (sometimes weeks) for a service professional when everyone else is scrambling to fix the same problems.
  • Move flammable items away from the furnace.
  • Stock up on furnace filters.
  • Check attic insulation levels and add new insulation where necessary.
  • Seal openings around doors, windows, and exposed pipes.
  • Consider purchasing a water heater blanket and wrapping pipes in special insulating tubes. These can be obtained from a home improvement store.
  • To maximize energy efficiency, purchase insulating drapes, curtains or blinds.
  • Change screens on storm doors if necessary.
  • Test portable space heaters and discard any not in top working order. (Malfunctioning space heaters are one of the leading causes of residential fires during winter.)
  • Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and install new ones if necessary. Consider changing the batteries.
  • Have the fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned.