Winter is fast approaching, and it’s time to get your house in order. These tips can help you save some money — either in terms of saving energy or simply preventing damage — and help save some sanity, too.

Around the house

It’s probably not a good idea to head into the cold season without getting a thorough heating system check-up. Better to get it done before a problem comes up. If you’ve had problems with ice dams forming on your roof — or if you’re simply motivated to make sure you never have that trouble — consider bringing in a home energy auditor or weatherization contractor to help identify possible problem spots and their causes. These tips and more courtesy of Charles & Hudson.

Check out the video above, too, for more advice from home improvement expert and Today Show contributor Lou Manfredini.

Energy efficiency

Re-Nest shares some good tips on saving energy around your home this winter. They’re certainly of the basic and practical variety, but that only makes them more useful, no?

• Insulate your windows (weatherstripping around the edges and/or insulting film over the entire window)
• Let the sun heat your home as much as possible during the day
• Bundle up a bit: wear slippers or warm socks and throw on a sweater while keeping your thermostat a bit lower

And of course, if your windows are old and drafty or otherwise out of good working order, consider replacing them with highly efficient windows from Marvin.

Lawn and garden

Don’t forget about the outside of your home. Make sure your lawn and garden are ready for the frigid onslaught of winter. Re-Nest reminds us to be sure to rake leaves before winter rains and snow come to prevent disease and other problems with your lawn. And of course, composting those leaves will leave you with some great topsoil when spring rolls around. Don’t forget to add a protective layer — leaves, mulch or a ground-covering plant — to insulate your perennial plants from as much as cold as possible.

For the serious gardeners among us, Charles and Hudson has even more tips on how to get ready for the cold — to save headaches and trouble come springtime.

What suggestions do you have for getting the house ready for winter weather?

As we wake up in the dark and begin to toss layers of clothing on our chilled selves, the grim reality of the season sets in. Soon we’ll be throwing on our snow boots and winter coats to head out into the sub-freezing air and tromping through piles of snow to start our cars after a long, cold night in the garage. (Unless you live in the south.)

Lovely picture isn’t it? Maybe it is if you enjoy winter and the beauty of a snowscape or a trip around the local skating rink. As you ponder that reality, consider for a moment whether you have properly prepared the exterior of your home for Old Man Winter.

While the tasks necessary to winterize your home might not seem as important as those needed to get the interior ready, they are nonetheless vital to your house’s well being.

Think of the future. Think of a time when the warmth returns and the grass greens again and the flowers bloom. That means now is the time to rake. If you allow fallen leaves to remain on your lawn through the winter, you risk disease and die-off in the spring once the snow melts. You don’t necessarily need to remove the leaves, but they should be mulched and allowed to return to the soil as nutrients or raked away completely and composted.

The same can be said for your gardens and flower beds. The steps you take in the fall can ensure a healthy garden in the spring. Start by removing your annuals in order to prevent pests and disease from surviving the winter. Healthy leaves can be composted, but those that are diseased should be disposed of.

Now is also the time to plant spring bulbs, being careful to protect them from scavengers by covering them with a cloth or some loose gravel. And don’t forget your tools!

Finally, give your lawn one last mowing in order to ensure the grass won’t be susceptible to disease and mold in the spring. Grass should cut to a height of one inch. When this is done, drain the gas out of your mower (or run it until it is empty) and give it a good cleaning before stowing it away for the winter.

You should also take care to eliminate any possibility or burst pipes and water supply outlets by taking a few common sense steps. Turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets and open the spigots. This will ensure that any water remaining will run out or have someplace to go should it freeze.

You should also take steps to drain your sprinkler system. The last thing you want to do in the spring is dig up the pipes that supply your system and search for a leak! Most systems will have a drain outlet located near the lowest point in the system. If that isn’t accessible, you might want to contact a professional about having your pipes blown out using compressed air. Learn the basics here.

As long as you’re dealing with water, take the time to clean out your gutters and downspouts. During the course of the winter, snow will fall and it will melt and if it doesn’t have someplace to go it can back up under your roof shingles and cause leaks as it re-freezes. Clean gutters are another vital tool in protecting your home from Mother Nature and should be attended to.

Finally, prepare your self for the inevitable. Dig that old snow shovel out of storage and make sure it’s ready for another season. If not, now is the time to head out and buy a new one — before the first flakes fall and everyone else is doing the same. You can also take your snowblower in for service now to beat the rush. If you’re in the market for a new snowblower, here’s some research that can help you make the right decision.

The steps you take today can pave the way for a safe winter and a satisfying spring. With a little hard work and common sense, you’ll be ready to survive the cold and look forward to green grass and blooming flowers!

Photo courtesy of cadd48 on Flickr