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In the winter, your home should be a fortress. No precious heat escaping and no winter weather making its way in. Make use of that extra “indoor” time and follow these tips from the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association to complete your winter home maintenance checklist and make sure your home is running as energy efficiently as possible.

• Windows: Check around windows to make sure they are well sealed. On a windy day, put your hand around the frame and feel for airflow. Use caulk to seal around the frame or use a plastic window insulation kit to cover an entire window. Heavy curtains will also help keep more heat from escaping from windows. It may sound simple, but make sure all the windows in your home are closed and latched. Top sashes tend to slide downward over time if they’re not locked, letting cold air into your home.
• Doors: Check for cracked or worn weather stripping and replace as needed. When you touch the door, you should not be able to feel the exterior’s cold on the inside surface. If so, then your door may not have adequate insulation and you should consider upgrading the door with a replacement that is more energy efficient.
• Heating system: Change your furnace filter regularly, and have your furnace inspected by a professional to make sure it is running efficiently and your ducts are sealed properly. A programmable thermostat is a must, or, even better, an Internet-connected thermostat to program based on your schedule and allow you to turn the thermostat up or down from your smartphone.
• Water heater: Now is a good time to drain your water heater (a task that should be done about once a year). Most water heaters are also big energy wasters. The thermostats in many water heaters are set too high which can be wasteful and even dangerous. Make sure your thermostat is set no higher than 120 degrees.
• Gutters: When we have one of those “warmer than average” days and you want to venture up a ladder, check for any debris or leaves that may have made their way into your gutters and make sure downspouts are clear to allow for that melting snow to drain away from your home in early spring.
• Detectors: Winter brings an increased risk of home fires and carbon monoxide leaks. Make sure you and your family are protected by replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Or, replace smoke detectors that are over 10 years old with a combination model.


A great extra step is a professional energy audit. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy both offer a free analysis of your home’s energy usage, including ways to save energy and money. Visit these links for more information. Consumers Energy: www.consumersenergy.com. DTE Energy: newlook.dteenergy.com. DTE Energy also offers additional services to those with limited incomes, including replacement of inefficient refrigerators and free programmable thermostats. To learn more about this program, visit https://newlook.dteenergy.com.

These tips will not only help keep your home cozier and more efficient in the winter, it will also help in those warmer months ahead (and we promise, they will be here before you know it).

The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association (MMHA) is a nonprofit association representing the manufactured and modular home industry in Michigan. MMHA works to improve the image of manufactured and modular housing by educating consumers, media and government about the quality, affordability, design and beauty of the homes. For more information, visit the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association at www.michhome.org or contact MMHA, 2222 Association Drive, Okemos, MI 48864-5978; 517.349.3300.