Off-Beat Home Winterization Tips for Montanans

With the weather getting colder, it's time for the annual flood of home winterization advice from most every form of media.  I decided to take a look through some articles and find some non-standard tips that jumped out at me, either because I've never thought that much about it before, they're a little unusual, or just made me go "wait, who actually does this?".

Makes sense when you think about it a bit

• Putting straw bales around your house's foundation.  I mean, we live in Montana and there's no shortage of places to buy them here.  I'll admit it might look a little odd in city limits, though, if you're the only one doing it.
• If you have a ceiling fan, reverse the direction of the fan blades so it will push the warmer air down.
• Here's a variation on a traditional solution.  Wrap fresh baked potatoes in flannel and use them to warm your bed instead of an electric blanket, hot water bottle or even older things.
• Open curtains during the day.  Get as much heat from the sun into your house as possible during the day to give your heater a little break.
• Indoor plants.  Since your windows are going to be closed, there isn't as much fresh air coming into your house, so indoor plants can keep things from getting musty inside.
• Check your fire extinguishers.  One of those "better to have done it and not needed to than the other way around" things.

Maybe a little out there

• Cover your windows.  I'm familiar with the clingy, almost window-tinting like stuff that you put on your windows to insulate them, but I came across an article suggesting using Bubble Wrap, since the air pockets will add a little extra bit of insulation.  Every little bit helps is the thought here, I guess.
• Bake bread.  I mean, I get it, it's heating up the house, but it's a short-term fix that will really send your utility bill up if you do it too often.

Does anyone in MT actually do this?

DON'T cover your HVAC unit.  Seriously, don't.  Covering it makes for a shelter for wildlife to come in and make themselves at home, chewing through wires and insulation and doing their business right there, plus it encourages mold and mildew growth.

Do you have some some winterization advice that doesn't get repeated multiple times every winter?  Drop us a line and let us know.

Sources:  This Old House, How Stuff Works, Martha Stewart, doityourself.com