Winter's coming! You can take steps now to increase your comfort indoors without sending your thermostat – and energy bill – through the roof. Here are a few tips on preparing for winter's cold:

• Seal or fix broken basement windows.

• Fix broken ducts and replace cracked or peeling tape on ducts. Use heat tape with the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) logo and labeled for heating ducts.

• Check weather stripping on exterior doors and windows. Adjust or replace it if you can see light or feel a draft.  

• Check ceiling and crawl spaces to ensure there is adequate insulation.

Once cold weather arrives:

• Close fireplace damper and glass doors when fireplace is not in use. Don’t use your fireplace in the coldest weather. 
 
• If your floor is uninsulated (usually in older homes), seal the crawlspace off from cold outside air by closing operable foundation vents. If the floor is insulated (newer homes), there is no need to close vents. (If there is water or a source of moisture in the crawl space, call a contractor or plumber to help you identify and eliminate the water source.)

• In the evening, close your drapes to retain heat. Make sure heating registers are not covered by the drapes or furniture.
 
• Check your furnace and heat pump filters once a month. Replace if dirty. 
 
• Lower your thermostat at night and when not at home. Use a programmable thermostat with a heat pump. 
 

Need more ideas? Call the Conservation and Customer Services office at (509) 661- 8008.