Every single year you should take the necessary steps to winterize your home. This is important because you can actually save money when your home is ready for the winter. How is this possible? Well, you might be surprised because 40% of your energy bill is consumed simply by the heating and the cooling of your home. In this case, it is being consumed by whatever method you use to heat your home. If you winterize, you're going to be able to reduce that percentage in ways you never thought were possible.



So how can you winterize your home and save some serious cash?

1. Make sure you don't wait until cold weather has already set in. You want to winterize while the weather is still warm. When you do these tasks in warm weather, you are more motivated to get things done. You'll also find that the steps you take to winterize your home can also be beneficial all year round. You can look at this as a home improvement project because, let's face it, you are actually improving your home in a lot of ways.

2. Make sure you get the outside work done first just in case you can't finish winterizing until cold weather comes. Go ahead and clean your gutters. This will keep melting snow from getting up under your shingles. This can make your roof last longer.

3. Make sure storm windows are installed before the first snowfall. If you can, put them up early. This is better than waiting.

4. Take care of any weather stripping around windows and doors that is cracked or worn. This weather stripping is meant to keep cold air out and warm air in, but that is not going to happen if it isn't completely intact. Try to find drafts around windows and fill them in. If the drafts are severe, you need to have your windows replaced.

5. Check attic insulation to ensure that the thickness is okay. If you don't think it is thick enough, add some more. It is better to have too much than not enough.

6. Check furnace filters to make sure they are clean. If they are not clean, install new ones or clean the ones you have. You would be amazed how much money is lost because of furnace filters that are simply not clear of dust and debris.

7. Make sure you have good batteries in your thermostat. Better yet, make sure you are dealing with an efficient thermostat. If you're not, then you may want to try getting a programmable thermostat that can automatically control temperature. When no one is home, it can automatically lower the temperature to save money.

8. Check the age of your furnace. If it is more than 10 to 15 years old, it is time for a replacement. There are much more energy efficient models out there today. In the long run you will save more money.

9. Make sure you set your thermostat lower. You can save 3% of your energy bill for every degree that you lower your thermostat. Simply layer on clothing to stay warm and that will save quite a bit of money for the year.

10. Try energy efficient blinds. These are special blinds that let in the sun's warmth during the day and keep the heat in at night when they are closed.

You'll be quite surprised at how much cash you can actually save by doing these things. If you don't, then you are spending a lot of money that you shouldn't have to spend. Sure, it does cost money to winterize your home, but that cost is nothing compared to the cost that you may have to pay to keep yourself warm in the winter.