By the time fall rolls around, it’s time to start thinking about what you might need for winter. While you might be tempted to move to a warmer climate, perhaps buying one of the Los Angeles homes for sale, if that’s not in the cards, you don’t want to wait until the cold hits and find out necessary supplies, gadgets, and clothing are out of stock. Here are five essential home items you need to have before winter.
Programmable Thermostat
If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, be sure to get one to help save on your utility bills while keeping your family warm. These handy gadgets allow you to adjust the temperature in your home anytime during the day so that you won’t have to heat it while you’re at the office or out of town. The Family Handyman reports that lowering the temperature at night by just 5 degrees and 10 degrees during the day can reduce your bill by as much as 20 percent.
Door Draft Stoppers
Many homes, even newer ones, have drafty doors. If you’re losing heat through a drafty door, a door draft stopper is a must to further cut those energy costs. It will keep the cold air out while keeping the heat in, plus they’re cheap and easy to install. They’re magnetic, so all you have to do is snap them in place.
Space Heater
A space heater is a must to help you stay warm over winter. Even when you have the heat on, you might not feel totally warm on especially cold days. Maybe you tend to be a little colder than the rest of your family and would rather have your own person heater close by to stay comfortable. If you have an older home, you might even have some rooms that aren’t connected to your home’s heating system. Whether it’s a large, drafty room, or a small room with no heating, or you just want to be extra toasty sometimes, a space heater is a must.
Electric Foot Warmer
If you’re someone who always gets cold feet, there’s always cozy slippers, but even better is having an electric foot warmer. You just slip your feet into the warming pocket like you would a large slipper. They can even help sore feet after a long day, perfect after a day out on the snowy slopes wearing snow boots. Just select the heat and massage option and enjoy. The comfy fleece lining is washable too, all you have to do is unzip it and toss it in the wash.
Electric Footwear Warmer
Having to go out in the cold with wet shoes or boots is a miserable experience, but if you get a shoe-drying rack, you can be sure you at least start out with warm, dry feet. It can also help eliminate odors that develop from a moist environment. Nothing is better than putting on something that’s fresh and warm, and with a footwarmer, you can treat yourself to this every day.
