By Colleen Rothe

Over the next few weeks my family will really go into overdrive with preparations for winter. The last of the firewood will get chopped, the leaves will be raked and mulched for compost, the last of the vegetable garden will be harvested, and the summer patio furniture will get stored away.

But we’ll be adding a few more things to our “Winter’s Coming” to do list. My furnace has only been on 10 days in the new billing cycle for my local energy company, and my bill has already jumped $100 dollars. The home heating cost battle begins! So it’s necessary to save money wherever possible.

Clean the coils: The refrigerator coils. The coils take heat out of the inside of the fridge, and any layers of dust on them will insulate them from performing efficiently. Your refrigerator can use up to 9 percent of your home’s electricity costs. Think about it: it runs 24 hours a day. Regardless, keeping the fridge running at peak performance will bring my bottom-line energy costs down.

Replace the duct: I just got a new dryer. That alone is saving me HUGE amounts of energy cash, as well as time. But we did a little research and found the former PVC dryer duct leading up to the wall and out the vent was too long and really inefficient. The ridges in the typical PVC duct slow the air flow out of the dryer, making it take longer to dry a load of clothes, which therefore uses more electricity (or gas, if you’re lucky). Replacing the dryer duct from PVC to metal cost us an investment of about $15. But I have saved at least that in the first month of using it. My savings will just compound from there.

Get out the duct tape: For those of us with forced-air ducts from a furnace, we need to make sure the joints in the ducts (where two pieces of the metal flow system are joined) have no leaks. Duct tape will only work for about three years efficiently. Then you will start to have leaks and be wasting money.

Check the windows: Because so many of us are so busy these days, many of these preparation and maintenance tips become forgotten. But the first time your energy bill skyrockets, you’ll be checking it out for sure. The first spot to check should be your windows. It’s cliché, but having drafts around windows – and doors for that matter – is like throwing money out the window. Seriously, it is. Be sure to replace your screens with storm windows (and doors). Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors and replace where needed. You can try also using a heavy duty, clear plastic sheet which is adhered to the frame. They sell them in all the home improvement stores. Lastly, pull the drapes, blinds, and shades at night to help hold in the heat, and in the morning – especially for your south facing windows – open them up during the day, so the sun can warm your home.

Sweep the fireplace: Chimneys and fireplaces, especially if you use them regularly, should be cleaned (swept) annually. This is a really hard job to do yourself, but the benefits are worth it. Your professional chimney sweep can also check for drafts and air leaks around your fireplace, to make sure you’re not losing heat form that source.

Computerize the thermostat: A programmable thermostat can be a very easily employed energy saver. Program the room temperature to a lower level while everyone is at work and school, or asleep at night, (down to like 65 degrees) and save on your energy bill. Some of the nicer models cost only about $45 and are super easy to install. Also, many come with passwords or pins, so your disgruntled teen or old Aunt Flora can’t change it from your programmed and energy efficient 68 degrees.

Turn down the water: In winter, your water heater can easily be turned down to 115 degrees. Anything higher is really a waste. Also, a low-flow showerhead will help you save hot water, so that your gas and/or electricity usage is lower.

Once you get all that done, the break for the Thanksgiving holiday will really have a whole new level of appreciation. You might even save yourself enough cash to buy an extra bakery pie for everyone!