Warming Up Your Colorado Home This Winter

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful Indian summer that we’re having in Colorado this year. While I hate to face reality, I’m guessing it’s probably going to get pretty cold pretty soon.

Before that happens, you might want to get your home prepared for winter, so that the howling winds and frigid temperatures won’t come indoors.

While it’s still nice outside, I try to get the following items completed:

• Caulking joints and minor cracks on exterior walls and siding.
• Inspecting the roof to see if there are any loose, damaged or missing pieces.
• Checking the attic vent openings for any possible bird nests or other blockages.
• Cleaning out storm drains, gutters and other drain pipes.

This is also a good time of year to:

• Check your windows and doors for air leaks. Putty, caulk or weather stripping may be needed to keep the cold air outside.
• Check your basements for cracks in seal or leaks in the walls and floor.
• Get your furnace serviced to make sure it is working at its maximum efficiency.
• Change or clean your furnace filters.

I like to make the inside of my home feel more inviting inside as well. Here are some ideas you might want to use:

• Lighten up the indoor space – either by turning on lights and/or adding some bright colors to your walls. If painting a room seems like too much work, add some bright artwork, colorful table lamps, or decorative accent pillows and throws.
• Use scented candles to add a nice fragrance, as well as a warm, inviting glow.
• Add live plants to make the indoors more inviting. Ask the local nursery about the best plants to buy for the low light conditions of wintertime.
• Let the sun in on sunny days, which we have a lot of here in Colorado. Keep your window treatments open and allow the warmth of the sun into you home.

When all else fails, head outside to enjoy the fun that Colorado’s winters can bring. As soon as they open, you can always head to the slopes for some skiing. Or when the snow starts to fall in town, you can head to the nearby school yard from some sledding or just out in your backyard to build a snowman with your kids.