Upgrade to a smart thermostat

Stop us if this sounds familiar: Every winter, you turn down your thermostat when you leave the house or before going to bed. You turn it down on sunny winter days and back up when it’s windy and cloudy. Then there are the times you leave for a few days and agonize over whether you remembered to turn the heat down to save money.

This winter, Kevin Busch, vice president of operations at Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly Company, recommends installing a smart programmable thermostat.

“This one change will make your entire home more energyefficient,” says Busch. “Just lowering the heat 8 degrees while you’re at work or sleeping can save an average of $180 each year.”

You can tackle this job yourself, but don’t forget to turn off the power before you get started. Once you’ve taken safety precautions, install your new detectors by following these steps from the Home Depot.

DIY: Call in the pros:

Most electricians can install a thermostat in two hours or less for under $200. But don’t forget to factor in the cost of the device itself, which can run you $300 or more.

Install hardwired smoke detectors

If you’re over going room to room checking the batteries on your smoke detectors, there’s no better time than now to upgrade to hardwired versions, says Sean Dion, president at Mr. Electric of Queensbury, a Neighborly company. After all, there are more house fires in winter than any other time of year, according to the American Red Cross.

The added benefit of hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is that they interconnect.

“If any one detector is activated, it triggers the rest of them and notifies everyone in the home,” says Dion.

Install your new hardwired detectors using this handy guide from the Home

DIY:

Depot.

Call in the pros:

An electrician can install three hardwired detectors with a new base for around $270.

Give your portable generator a checkup

A portable generator will be a lifesaver if you lose power during a winter storm — now’s the time to make sure yours will fire up and generate power when you most need it. (Be sure to avoid these dangerous mistakes if you’re firing up a portable generator for the first time.)

If you haven’t already, you’ll want to service the engine’s oil and add fuel stabilizer for winter storage, recommends Jake Thomas, portablegenerator safety expert and director of global service operations at Generac Power Systems.

“You should also remember

DIY:

to start and run the engine for 10 to 15 minutes to circulate the stabilizer,” he says.

And think about where you’re going to keep the portable generator before finding yourself in crisis mode to restore power. Shield generators from snow and rain, place them at least 25 feet away from doors and windows, and be sure you have a safe, clearable path to access it.

Call in the pros:

If your generator is throwing up red flags, call a pro in to repair it right away. It might cost you up to $300, but you’ll be grateful you shelled out the dough when you don’t have to bundle up during the next ice storm.

The post 7 Winter Home Maintenance Tasks That Will Save You Money (and Your Sanity) appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | Realtor.com.