The frigid temperatures of winter can make it necessary to ask more of your home’s furnace and heating systems. However, these increased demands can quickly put a strain on your wallet through rising heating costs.
Fortunately, you can maintain a comfortable temperature in your home throughout the winter while limiting expenses by implementing the following steps:
- Consider circulation. Optimize the efficiency of your home’s heating and ventilation systems, including replacing furnace filters and shutting ducts in unoccupied rooms.
- Seal the exterior. Caulk and replace weather-stripping around doors and windows and repair any cracks or holes in your home’s roof and walls.
- Install a smart thermostat. These devices can adjust the temperature while you’re not home, allowing you to save on heating costs while you’re gone while ensuring things are comfortably warm when you return.
- Use natural light. Take advantage of sunlight by opening blinds and curtains during the day to allow it to transfer warmth inside. Cover windows at night to help keep warm air from escaping.
- Reverse ceiling fans. Although these fans are usually used to cool your home, you may be able to set them to rotate in the opposite direction, creating an updraft that can displace hot air gathered near the ceiling down into the rest of an area.
- Layer up. Wearing layers and using blankets can allow you to keep your home at a lower temperature.
Contact INSURICA for more Personal Lines resources.
This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information provided herein is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should it be construed as advice regarding coverage. Eligibility for coverage is not guaranteed and all coverages are limited to the terms and conditions contained in the applicable policy. © 2025 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Share This Story
Related Blogs
2026 Open Enrollment Checklist
To prepare for open enrollment, employers that sponsor health plans should be aware of compliance changes affecting the design and administration of their plans for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2026. These changes include limits adjusted for inflation each year, such as the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) affordability percentage and cost-sharing limits for high deductible health plans (HDHPs). Employers should review their health plan’s design to confirm that it has been updated, as necessary, for these changes.
Hot Dog Incident on Highway Emphasizes the Risks of Cargo Spills
In August 2025, a tractor-trailer owned by a third-party freight carrier was transporting thousands of pounds of frozen hot dogs when it overturned and struck another vehicle on Interstate 83 while traveling through York County, Pennsylvania, resulting in the meat products spilling across the highway. According to local authorities, the incident occurred on a weekday morning during rush-hour traffic as the tractor-trailer was nearing an exit ramp. In this moment, the driver of the truck reportedly lost control due to an undisclosed mechanical problem, causing it to tip over, hit a nearby passenger vehicle and tear open the boxes of tightly packed hot dogs in the process.
Fire and Security Safety for School Holiday Events
Fire and security safety for school holiday events should be a top priority as schools prepare for winter concerts, class parties, and seasonal performances. While these events foster community and joy, they also bring increased fire and security risks due to decorations, after-hours gatherings, and higher foot traffic