Turn up the heat!

It's time to turn up the heat. Let's make sure you are prepared for the cold winter ahead.

Stay on top of all the things your house needs to keep you warm efficiently. Change your furnace filter. Get your boiler inspected every 5 years. Maybe even have your heating ducts cleaned – you can at least remove the grate and stick the vacuum hose in there. Check your water heater.

Check your windows and doors for leaks (hold a lit candle around the edges; if the flame bends or goes out (!) you need to do some caulking!). You may want to think about window shrink-wrap, too.

Make sure the damper in your fireplace is closed (until you're ready to build a fire).

Use an area rug or a "door snake" against the bottom of an exterior door to cut the draft across the floor.

Get on the budget saver plan with your utility company! Level out those payments, so you aren't afraid to use the heat!

Now that it's getting cooler and heaters are blowing, check your indoor plants and move them if they're too close to heat ducts or radiators. You can also add decorations for the holidays by wrapping a ribbon around pots.