Although the forecast doesn't call for any of the white stuff as seen above, forecasters are calling for a cold weekend. It is funny last week, I wrote about the effects of a mild winter, because lets face it; it has been. Now I am writing about the polar opposite, that's New England weather for you.
So what effects do the cold have on your house. Well for starters, you'll be running the heat more, and the cold isn't the only factor in that. If your home isn't insulated well, your heat bill will be higher.
Here are a few things you can do to limit the cold from getting in. Plug any air holes in your windows and doors. Weather stripping your home will do wonders in conversing energy.
Seal any cracks in your foundation. If you aren't familiar with this process, contact your local handyman for help. Air is like water it finds ways in, so plug things up.
Those are my top two things to do. If you don't know where air is coming through arrange for energy audit. They will not only find the areas, they will plug them too.
Another thing to check is your insulation levels in the attic, and around pipes. The insulation in your attic well go a long way to keeping the inside of your house warm.
If your pipes are exposed to extreme cold temperatures, that can lead to pipes bursting, and much more serious issues. If they are not insulated make sure the area they are located in stays above freezing.
I have a rule of thumb. Your living spaces shouldn't dip below 65 degrees. If you don't use the basement, make sure it never goes below 50 degrees.
If you done all of the above, and still want to conserve more energy. Lowering your water heater temp, will also lower your bill. That is if you don't mind not taking steaming hot showers.
Make sure your furnace is working properly, the last thing you need, is it to not work when you need it most. With the current economy the hassle of getting things in, you may be waiting for a new furnace for a bit. If that is what you need.
If your furnace does go, make sure to have a back up heating plan. Space heaters might help, but if you don't have power, a back up generator is the way to go.
Finally my last tip is to clear your gutters, the last thing you want to happen is to do all the stuff above, and have ice dams in your gutters. They can not only damage your gutters, but and this has happened to me. Water can get into your home behind you gutters and into your attic.