Yahoo Finance 6 Best Frugal Resources for Winterizing Your Home
Winter is just around the corner. Now is a great time to delve into some do-it-yourself projects and start winterizing your home. The good news is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to hire a professional to take care of heating system tuneups and water line protection. You can make use of several apps, websites and resources in your area to handle many of these tasks on your own, using some basic tools.
[See: 8 Energy-Efficient Home Improvements That Save Money.]
Here are six frugal resources for winterizing your home.
1. Get a free energy review. Call your energy company to see if they offer a free home energy assessment to determine whether your heating and cooling system is running efficiently and where there may be leaks to fix. For example, the Energy Trust of Oregon offers this free Online Home Energy Review tool with customized recommendations on how to make improvements. Florida Power & Light performs a free home energy survey that includes an onsite inspection from an energy expert. Just give your energy company a call or check online to see if there are any free assessments and other tools available in your area.
[See: 10 Ways to Lower Your Heating Bill.]
2. Download free checklists. If you have a hard time figuring out how to prioritize your to-do list for your home winterizing projects or just want a breakdown of all the basic tasks that need to be taken care of before winter comes, download and print some checklists to create a blueprint for the project. You'll find this type of information at home improvement store websites, such as Lowe's, and Bob Vila's home advice website.
3. Apply for weatherization assistance. If your household meets certain criteria -- for example, it serves as a home with people over 60 years of age or one or more members of the home have a disability -- you may be eligible for weatherization services that are paid for by your state government. Every state has different eligibility requirements. The federal program is designed to help people save as much as $6,500 on energy-related repairs and construction, so they can survive the winter months and keep up with their energy bills.
4. Get free tips from your local home improvement store. If you prefer some face-to-face interaction and guidance, don't be afraid to ask the experts at your local home improvement store for some advice. These people will be able to provide specific tips and strategies applicable to the local area and weather changes. They can guide you in the right direction when picking out certain types of insulation materials, for example, or other tools and supplies that will be most effective for braving the winter months ahead.
[See: 10 Creative Ways to Cut Costs This Winter.]
5. Search Craigslist and eBay for tools and supplies. You might end up needing some special tools, supplies or bulk materials to take care of those large-scale winterization projects. Instead of paying retail price at the nearest home improvement store, consider shopping for gently used tools and other items on Craigslist or eBay. You might be in the market for a new snowblower to keep paved areas around your home clean during the winter, a humidifier to balance out humidity levels in the home and basic tools, such as screwdrivers, drills and handsaws, to take care of other projects. Shop around and don't be afraid to negotiate with the seller to save yourself some money on home repairs.
6. Read up on the basics. While everyone seems to rely on YouTube videos for DIY instruction these days, don't overlook an old-fashioned book. A good quality home repair reference or a specialized tome devoted to home winterization are often more authoritative than videos you find online. Plus, a book is easy to prop open in tight spots, and you won't mind when you drop it in grunge. Fumbling with pause and rewind on the smartphone or tablet is not convenient either. The best of these books provide step-by-step instruction and offer more in-depth information than you'll find online. If you're worried about the cost, your local library is probably well-stocked. And if you're worried about mucking up a library book, just photocopy the relevant pages before you slip into the attic to complete another winterization project.
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