14 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Winter

While the first nip of fall hasn’t hit yet, Maryland residents should take advantage of the good weather to check your heating system and do a few quick chores that can reduce your home heating bill.

Here’s how to be comfortable in your home this winter without spending a fortune on heating costs.

• Have the system inspected by a professional before (or at the beginning of) the heating season. A poorly maintained system loses heat.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter, following the instructions on the manual.
• Move furniture and curtains away from heat registers and air ducts.
• Place a sheet of aluminum foil behind a radiator, especially if it’s against an outside wall. The foil will reflect heat back into the room, so you don’t lose it.
• Use an extra blanket when sleeping.
• Close your attic, basement and garage doors to keep drafts out. Make sure exterior doors are closed as well.
• Seal cracks in walls and floors, and weather strip your windows and doors.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company says if customers make a few energy efficiency improvements, they could save 20 percent or more on their winter heating bills.

• Keep it sealed. Use caulking around doors, windows and other openings to seal up a drafty house. Locks on your windows can make them tighter and more resistant to drafts. Keep your fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
• Upgrade your insulation. Insulate your home to reduce heating costs and increase the comfort of your home. Reducing air leaks – in floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, doors, windows and vents, and around plumbing – could cut 10 percent from an average household's monthly energy bill.
• Check ducts for air leaks. Look for joints that should be connected but have separated. Leaky duct work can increase your utility bill significantly.
• Warm up your system. Service your heating system at the beginning of each heating season so it lasts longer, and operates more efficiently.
• Manage your thermostat. Keep thermostats set at a constant, comfortable level. You can save about 2 percent on your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat.
• Be prepared for cooler weather. Remove screens and air conditioners from windows and install storm windows.
• Shorter days and longer lights. Don’t forget to adjust outdoor lighting timers as the nights grow longer. Take the time to replace older incandescent bulbs with energy efficient LED and CFL bulbs.

»Images from the U.S. Department of Energy