Cold temperatures, snow, freezing rain and the occasional deep freeze are all part of winter in Renfrew. Before the temperature drops, a little preparation can help keep your home comfortable and make sure you’re using energy as efficiently as possible.

The good news? Getting winter-ready doesn’t necessarily mean taking on a major renovation. Start with a few simple checks around your home, then consider whether larger energy-efficiency upgrades make sense for you and your wallet.

Start by keeping the heat you already have

One of the simplest and effective ways to improve your home’s winter efficiency is to reduce heat loss.

Check around windows and doors for drafts and replace worn weatherstripping or seal gaps where needed. Pay attention to other common sources of air leakage too, including around pipes, vents and electrical outlets.

If your home has an older or under-insulated attic, basement or exterior walls, insulation can also make a significant difference in how well your home retains heat and maintains a comfortable temperature. (Keep reading for more on this including rebates!).

Give your heating system a seasonal check

Your heating system works hard during winter, so fall is a good time to make sure it’s ready.

Check or replace furnace filters as recommended for your system and make sure vents and registers aren’t blocked by furniture, rugs or other items. If your heating equipment is due for maintenance, consider having it serviced before the coldest weather arrives.

Make your thermostat work smarter

Your thermostat can also help you manage energy use without sacrificing comfort.

A programmable or smart thermostat lets you adjust temperatures around your household routine, for example, lowering the temperature when you’re asleep or away and bringing it back up when you need it.

Need a smart thermostat? A $125 rebate is available on eligible smart thermostats through the Save on Energy Home Renovation Savings program.

Already have an eligible smart thermostat? You may also want to explore the Save on Energy Peak Perks program, which rewards participating households for allowing small, temporary thermostat adjustments during periods of high electricity demand.

Look for the little things

A few smaller changes can help too.

• Reverse ceiling fans so that they run clockwise at a low speed during the winter to help circulate warm air.
• Open curtains or blinds on sunny days to take advantage of natural warmth, then close them at night to help keep heat in.
• And while you’re doing your fall maintenance, it’s also a good time to make sure your emergency kit is stocked and ready for winter storms and possible outages.

Thinking about bigger upgrades?

Sometimes improving your home’s energy efficiency goes beyond weatherstripping and thermostat settings.

If you’re considering upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, new windows and doors, a heat pump, smart thermostat, solar panels or battery storage, incentives may be available through the Save on Energy Home Renovation Savings program.

The program currently offers incentives for a range of eligible home energy-efficiency upgrades, including incentives of up to $12,000 for eligible heat pumps and up to $7,700 for eligible insulation upgrades. Eligibility requirements apply, so homeowners should review current program details before purchasing equipment or beginning work.

Explore the Home Renovation Savings program →

Ready for winter?

You don’t have to tackle everything at once. Start by looking for drafts, checking your heating system and reviewing how you’re using energy at home. From there, you can decide whether larger improvements could make your home more comfortable and energy efficient for this winter and the winters ahead.