Practical Manitoba-ready tips to prepare your home for winter
As temperatures drop and daylight hours fade, fall offers the perfect window to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. With a few simple fixes, homeowners can keep warmth in, drafts out and more money in their pockets. Efficiency Manitoba is encouraging residents to take advantage of practical steps that reduce energy use, cut heating costs and improve comfort all winter.
1. Service your furnace
A well-maintained heating system runs more efficiently, uses less energy and lasts longer. Efficiency Manitoba recommends scheduling an annual service check to ensure equipment is operating safely. Homeowners should replace furnace or air-handler filters every three months, and do the same for heat or energy recovery ventilators. Outside fresh-air intake and exhaust vents should also be cleared to keep systems running smoothly.
2. Seal out drafts
Even small gaps can let warm air escape and cold air enter, forcing heating systems to work harder. Sealing cracks around windows, doors, baseboards and electrical outlets with caulking or weatherstripping can significantly improve comfort and reduce heating bills.
3. Adjust your thermostat
For conventional heating systems such as furnaces and boilers, lowering the thermostat by at least 3 C for eight hours a day—overnight or while away—can help shave heating costs. Air-source and ground-source heat pumps are most efficient with little or no temperature setback. A smart thermostat can make managing home temperatures easier and more efficient.
4. Make the most of natural heat
Opening blinds or curtains during the day allows the sun’s warmth to help heat your home. Closing them at night helps retain heat. Window-insulating kits and insulated curtains can further reduce drafts and increase comfort near colder window areas.
5. Insulate for long-term comfort
For homeowners ready to take on a larger project, upgrading insulation remains one of the best long-term investments. Adding insulation to attics, basements, crawlspaces or walls helps keep warm air indoors and lowers heating costs. Efficiency Manitoba offers rebates for qualifying attic, wall and foundation insulation, helping make these upgrades more affordable.
Efficiency Manitoba provides rebates and expert advice to help Manitobans save energy year-round. From small adjustments to major renovations, the organization offers a first stop for those looking to boost efficiency and comfort.
For details on available programs, visit efficiencyMB.ca/my-home.
