Ten No-Cost Ways to Winterize Your Home

Well, winter seems to be knocking here in Southern California and I'm sure it has already moved in and crashing on the couch of all my Midwest friends and family. So, I wanted to compile a quick list of free and easy tips that will save you money and keep you warm this winter.


1-Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. A counterclockwise rotation will pull down all the warm air near the ceiling into the living area.

2-Move furniture away from vents. Make sure you're not heating the backside of your couch, but your own.

3-In the morning, open the blinds and curtains of all south facing windows to let the warm light in during the day. Make sure to close them back up again at night to keep out the cold.

4-Turn down the thermostat when you're not home and at night. That should save you 1-3% on your heating bills.

5-Put those ridiculous Christmas sweaters to some good use. Layer up in cotton clothing to add 2 to 4 degrees of warmth to your body.

6-Make some draft dodgers. Simply roll up a bath towel and place them at the threshold of your exterior doors. It may remind you of your college dorm, but those drafts can waste up to 30% in energy use.

7-Drain all hoses and air conditioner pipes. If your AC unit has a shutoff valve, use it. And make sure all exterior water spigots are turned off as well.

8-Clean the furnace filter. Dirty filters can prevent airflow and force your furnace to use more energy. They also trap in air pollutants like bacteria, mold, and pollen.

9-Get an overall heating system tune-up. A clean furnace can save up to 5% of heating costs. Many utility companies, manufacturers and dealers offer free annual inspections.

10-Install foam outlet and switch gaskets on exterior walls. I know, I said these were "free" tips, but these things cost around 10 cents each and will save you a lot more down the road. Just unscrew your outlet or switch plates and pop these things in. Props to my mom for showing me how it's done.