Part 3 of 3 – Prepping Your Home For Colder Weather

Part 3 of 3

Tis the season for vibrant reds, golden yellows and vivid oranges, pumpkins, and refreshingly cool temps. But, it also means winter isn’t far away.

Our first post covered a few projects including lighting, landscaping/composting and hiding trash containers.  Part 2 of 3 touched on freeze-proofing exterior faucets, getting your entry guest-ready, building a mudroom bench with storage and maintaining your washer and dryer.

Continuing on, here are more things that can help your home brace for the cold and save you some cash.

Give Your Fireplace a Facelift

Chipped bricks, a stained hearth, and years of accumulated soot can turn what should be the focal point of a living room into an eyesore. Replacing a hearth and surround—either with seamless stone slabs or with stone or ceramic tiles—makes a big difference in the way a fireplace looks.  For added safety, consider adding glass fireplace doors. Adding an insert is a smart investment that’s pure win—it’ll keep you warm and slash your heating bills all at once. This energy-efficient upgrade may even score you a tax credit from Uncle Sam. Tip: The National Fire Protection Association recommends that getting chimneys swept at least once a year at the beginning of the winter to remove soot and debris. Find a certified sweep in your area via the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Add Warmth Underfoot With Cork or Carpet

Nothing’s worse than waking up to the icy shock of a cold floor. Resilient yet durable, stylish yet earthy, adding a natural easy-install cork floor can turn any cool room into a cozy haven. Cork not your thing? Warm up rooms with traditional carpets; here’s how to install wall-to-wall carpeting yourself with professional results.

Create an Efficient Home Office

Few people today would consider remodeling a house without making room for a home office. Chalk it up to the spike in part- and full-time telecommuting, after-hours e-mailing, and an effort to keep the Internet out of kids’ rooms. Whether it’s a bare minimum desk off the kitchen or a full-blown study with custom cabinets, multiple work surfaces, and extensive file storage, here’s how to create a workstation that’ll work for you. For added storage in your workspace, build a bookcase or put up wall-mounted shelves

Get Your Heating System Serviced

Before the chill sets in, make an appointment for your furnace’s annual checkup. Without this yearly cleaning and inspection, a system can wear itself out quickly, pump deadly carbon monoxide into your home, or simply stop working. If you have forced-air heating, change the furnace filter. You’ll notice a difference in the air quality, and your furnace will run more efficiently.