NY heating bills are rising. Winter home prep can save you money
What’s the winter forecast? Watch AccuWeather’s winter outlook.
It won’t be long until the cold and snow return. AccuWeather’s long-range experts share what you can expect this winter to be like in the U.S.
With utility bills skyrocketing in New York, taking steps to prepare your home for winter has become increasingly crucial to save you time, money and a whole lot of headaches as temperatures dip.
While home improvement upgrades like new windows, doors and heating systems make a difference in the long run, simple maintenance can save you hundreds of dollars now on heating bills. The stakes for household budgets are clear, as many New Yorkers brace for potentially double-digit percentage increases in monthly heating costs this winter, with rates varying depending upon utility providers.
The Journal News/lohud has gathered tips from household maintenance experts in the Lower Hudson Valley, and even joined them on the job to learn some of the best ways to prepare your home for winter.
Winter home prep is all about peace of mind
Getting your heating system serviced once a year (whether it be oil, gas, heat pump or something else) is top priority when it comes to safety.
Experts recommended installing CO alarm near heating systems, in a mechanical room or utility room. Be sure to change batteries on those monitors once a year.
And when the temperature cools down, the first thing homeowners should check is the battery of their thermostats. About 50% calls some local experts received for unfunctional heating systems were caused by weak batteries.
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Winter is also all about insulation and making sure everything is ready before winter to avoid surprises, which would be much harder to work if there’s snow. Put differently, winter could bring burst pipes or water damage to your basement if you don’t address insulation before winter, such as installing polyurethane insulation on pipes.
The insulation work can be ‘DIY’ at home,” though experts noted that if you call a professional, it should be a relatively inexpensive job.
Getting that annual maintenance and having furnace, boilers and pipes checked now is key, experts added, noting that spending a couple hundred dollars on upfront service provides that peace of mind in winter.
Get your home ready for winter with these tips
Here are some more suggestions you can follow to get your home ready for the winter.
- Change batteries for thermostats, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them for proper operation.
- Ensure all exhausts from heating equipment is not obstructed from the outside. If you have a chimney, make sure the flue is open, and chimney swept.
- If you have a fireplace, make sure to block it with glass when not in use.
- Make sure exterior doors have appropriate weather stripping. Screen storm doors should be swapped out for glass when possible. Attic and ceilings need to be well insulated.
- Look at shovels and snow blowing equipment. Buy snow melt.
- Clean gutter and drainage. Snow and ice could damage the gutter and roof should the gutter be blocked. Consider installing a leaf guard on your gutters.
- Shut off water supply from inside to water spigot. Spigot should be left in the open position outside to ensure excess water is let out and doesn’t burst the pipe.
- Interior pipes close to an outside wall may need to be insulated.
- Always check with local power companies for current rebate offerings.
Helu Wang covers economic growth, real estate and education for The Journal News/lohud and USA Today Network. Reach her at [email protected]
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