17 Ways Renters Can Winterize Their Home to Avoid Disasters and Save Money 

From MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc. 

You might think it’s up to your landlord to take on all winterizing chores, but in most cases, landlords and renters share the responsibility. Depending on your lease, you might have legal obligations to perform winter maintenance, like draining hose bibs or cleaning the gutters. As a renter, you can do plenty of simple projects to prepare for the colder months that will make you more comfortable while saving money. 

Before winterizing your rental home, talk with your landlord about who’s responsible for each maintenance task. 

Winterizing You Can Do

Most of these tasks take just a bit of your time and are low-cost or free. Combined, they can help you save money and ward off future problems. 

1) Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. 

This simple chore takes minutes and provides the earliest protection against disaster. You may only need to change the batteries. But talk with your landlord if you think yours aren’t working and need new ones. 

2) Change your HVAC filters regularly. 

Most heating unit manufacturers recommend a monthly filter change, but you should follow the unit’s manual for the proper schedule. New filters keep debris out of the air and let the unit run more efficiently, saving energy costs. 

3) Remove and store window AC units.

A lot of air passes through the cracks and crevices of a window air conditioning unit. Take the time to remove, clean, and store your units, so they’re ready to run effectively when the temperatures heat up. 

4) Close storm windows and doors. 

You might love a fresh spring breeze blowing through the house in warmer months, but in the fall and winter, it’s time to lower or install the storm doors and windows to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. 

5) Hang cozy curtains.

A quick way to trap heat from leaving your home is to hang thick curtains. They act like an insulator to warm the room. Choose a luxurious velvet, tapestry, tweed, denim, or suede. They’ll also add a moody vibe to your home over the holidays and winter months. Who doesn’t love a cozy ambiance? But, if your windows get abundant sunshine during the day, let the curtains fly and the rays in to boost the heat intake. Close the curtains at night to contain the warmth. 

6) Check the doors and windows for drafts.

If you feel cool drafts each time you walk by the door or windows, consider a couple of winterizing techniques. First, buy “draft dodgers” that lay on the window sill or floor. They’re stuffed “logs” of wind-absorbent material that keep the cold out. Or, if your landlord agrees, use an at-home window insulation kit. You can also insulate electrical outlets and switches with foam gaskets to keep even the tiniest drafts at bay. 

7) Install a chimney balloon.

As awesome as a roaring fire is on a blustery day, the fireplace and chimney are one of the worst offenders of energy inefficiency. A chimney balloon plugs the chimney from the fireplace opening. It’s easy to install and remove, but you won’t want one if your fireplace gets daily use. Instead, use it for inoperable fireplaces or if you don’t think an occasional fire is worth the money floating out of the chimney. 

8) Drop the temperature. 

Energy-saving resources like energy.gov promote money savings by dropping your temperature a couple of degrees during the day and several overnight. For continuity, use a programmable thermostat or upgrade to a smart thermostat if your landlord allows. 

9) Reverse the ceiling fan direction. 

Ceiling fans bring relief on the hottest days by spinning counterclockwise, but during the cold months, ceiling fans push the heat down and circulate it around the room if you reverse the spin to clockwise. 

Winterizing Tasks You OR Your Landlord Handles 

Depending on your lease agreement, some or all of the following chores could be up to you. If they’re not in the lease, check with your landlord about who handles the task. 

10) Prevent frozen pipes.

Most landlords go out of their way to avoid any type of water damage, especially in the winter, so they’ll likely take on sophisticated tasks like hiring professionals to winterize the irrigation system. But, they may ask you to drain hose bibs before turning off exterior water sources and add insulation pieces to hose bibs or exposed pipes to avoid freezing and bursting. 

11) Empty the gutters.

Another way to prevent water from entering the house is to clean the gutters seasonally. Gutters that don’t drain properly lead water to soak into the foundation, causing significant problems later. Sometimes DIY cleaning is all it takes, but if the house is large or has awkward angles, it’s best to call professionals. 

12) Clean the chimney. 

Frequent gatherings around the fire are a must for some families, so it’s important to talk with a professional chimney sweep about a proper cleaning schedule. Depending on the frequency of use, your landlord may ask you to pay for the cleanings. However, if the chimney sweep finds damage, the landlord needs to address the repairs.

Winterizing Your Landlord Manages

Some winterizing should be left up to your landlord to manage. They might take on the issue if they have the expertise, but they may hire professionals. 

13) Get a home energy audit. 

A professional home energy assessor is skilled in finding ways to save money and add comfort to the home. They work room by room and use tools like blower doors, infrared cameras, furnace efficiency meters, and surface thermometers. After the inspection, they’ll provide a report with options to winterize the house, like insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces and adding insulation to the attic, foundation, or walls. 

14) Insulate and flush the water heater.

To keep the water tank and heater working correctly, these systems need maintenance at least once a year or according to the manufacturer’s schedule. A flush allows the system to run at peak performance, and the insulation helps the heater work less to warm the water. 

15) Adding insulation.

Most attics and basements could use more or updated insulation. Although more insulation might reduce costly energy bills, it’s an upgrade your landlord should plan for. 

16) Heating system maintenance. 

A properly serviced heating system is more efficient and likely to avoid major problems during the coldest months. With regularly scheduled maintenance, a technician can diagnose existing issues or prevent future ones. 

17) Check for exterior cracks in the house. 

Exterior cracks in the house, whether in the foundation, in the siding, or somewhere else, can lead to a number of problems in the winter, like rodent and pest infestation and weather damage. 

It’s simple to start winterizing your home. Choose the preventative measures that match your rental home, and you’ll feel safe and comfortable in no time. 

* Read more advice from Military By Owner on AWN.