Getting all the facts and getting out of the air conditioning was all I really needed to ensure that this past winter was a warmer and less expensive one. I’m very new to being a homeowner and I still have a whole lot to learn. One thing that I now know for sure is that owning a home is far more than simply paying a mortgage each month. Up until two years ago, I had only lived in apartment. While I put up with substandard heating and cooling and some noisy neighbors, I never really had to do much upkeep. So when I bought my starter home, I really hadn’t considered just how much went into owning a home. I figured I’d have to take care of the lawn. But what I didn’t realize was that owing a home also meant preparing that home for the seasons. The first winter I lived in my house, I spent a ton of money on heating and the gas furnace ran almost all the time. But the house was never what I would call cozy. The following spring, I learned all about what was necessary when it came to making sure the house was ready for winter. The HVAC technician who was doing the air conditioner tune-up taught me a lot and also gave me plenty of reference points to learn more. So instead of sucking up the air conditioning all summer, I also worked on my home. Insulation was added to the attic. I replaced the storm doors and the weather stripping around all the doors and windows. And this past winter was super comfortable and way less in heating costs.