Winter will soon be upon us and many La Plata County residents are looking forward to skiing Durango Mountain Resort and spending the holiday season with family.

Others, however, may have different priorities such as preparing their homes for the gruelling winter months. Anyone who has lived here for a long time is likely familiar with how to get their homes ready for the winter, but newer residents – or the unknowing – may not understand what they’re up against.

Gregg Dubit, executive director of 4CORE, an organization that provides information and help to promote energy efficiency, said there are plenty of low-cost ways to prepare your home for winter.

4CORE offers energy audits for homes and businesses throughout the area. After an audit, the client gets a list of cost-effective improvements that can reduce a home or building’s energy bills while helping the environment.

The most common misconception residents face is thinking that they need to replace their windows to reduce drafts, Dubit said.

Actually, there are plenty of low-cost solutions to eliminate a draft: weather stripping, insulation, caulking and installing insulated window covers.

Also, it is important to keep up with regular maintenance of your household heating devices – furnaces, boilers, electric heaters – because neglect can cost you energy and money.

“Regular maintenance is key,” he said.

Heating devices should be serviced once a year by a certified professional, especially if you have pets in your home. Pet hair can cause problems with burning fuel in the heating system, he said.

Dubit also recommends insulating your attic and crawlspace, if necessary, before turning on your heating system in the winter to save energy.

Other professionals involved in the maintenance of heating appliances strongly agree that maintenance is a must for winterizing your home.

Aaron Lombardo of Aaron’s Clean Sweep, whose busy season is between August and February, has owned his business for just over 12 years. His is one of several chimney-sweeping companies in the Four Corners.

“If you are using a fireplace or wood stove, I recommend chimney sweeping once a year, especially if you use sappy wood like pine or cedar,” he said.

The consequences of neglecting to maintain your chimney can be devastating.

“Chimney fires burn to 2,500 degrees and are really hard to put out,” Lombardo said.

As a preventive measure, it is best to burn dry wood. He recommends letting the wood dry for a couple of seasons before burning it.

Also, mixing aspen and oak with pine helps keep the fireplace smoke dry and less sticky, he said.

Winter cold can also cause problems for home plumbing systems, especially in older homes. Freezing weather can cause water in the pipes to freeze and possibly burst the pipes. That can result in hefty, unexpected costs.

Insulating bare copper pipes is recommended, and local plumbers in the area can help with that task, Dubit said.

And if you have a garden, your plants may require special attention as well.

Kirk Williams, outside manager of Native Roots Garden Center, said there are a handful of procedures home owners can take to protect their plants against the weather.

Mulching is key, he said. It helps retain water inside the soil and insulates plants from really cold temperatures, he said.

Residents can purchase lawn winterizing applicants that will help grass grow back healthy in the spring, he said. Applicants can be purchased at your local nurseries.

Also, watering your plants is vital if you live in a dry area.

“If you live in a dryer part of town, winter watering is definitely necessary on trees and larger shrubs,” Williams said. Dryer parts of town are areas that experience less rain, such as unincorporated La Plata County.

The recommended time between waterings is every four to six weeks depending on weather conditions.

Winterizing your home not only can help you save money and live more comfortably, but it can potentially save your life. Winter does not exempt residents from fire dangers.

Certified 4CORE inspectors have inspected nearly 700 homes through the HomeRx program and have found that about 80 percent of them had health or safety issues such as gas leaks, carbon- monoxide leaks and combustion risks in vents and chimneys, Dubit said.

vguthrie@durangoherald.com

Winterizing tips

The Business Insider provides a list of 10 simple ways to winterize a house and save money on energy costs:

Use a draft snake to keep cool air out and warm air in.

Bubble wrap your windows to keep cool air from entering the cracks.

Caulk gaps in windows and doors.

Change the direction of your ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation for warmer air.

Install a storm door.

Keep your thermostat at about 55 degrees while at work and at night to save money and energy.

Insulate your home.

Remove your window air conditioning unit.

Turn off your air conditioner’s water valve.

Set your water heater’s thermostat at 120 degrees.