MADISON, Wis. — Fall is a time that many start putting away their pool supplies and getting the house ready for winter.

And this one is shaping up to be extra expensive, with natural gas prices at historic highs that continue to be volatile.

Here are a few things you can do to get your home ready for the winter months.

Check your home’s heating and air conditioning system.

The average lifespan of a heating and air conditioning system is 12 to 15 years. Some systems can last under 12 years and others can last around 20 years; the reason for that is maintenance. 

The easiest thing homeowners can do to their heating and air conditioning systems is to change the air filter. Homeowners can also have their systems inspected or sign up for an annual maintenance agreement. 

Dirk Lessner, project manager for Harker Heating and Cooling, said it is important that you find any problems that may exist in the fall instead of the winter, when temperatures will be much lower. 

“Because it is going to get cold fast and everybody forgets that the furnace was not running that well last March, and it warmed up, and they stopped thinking about it, it may not turn on when they go to turn it on,” said Lessner.

Madison Gas and Electric said that water heating is the second largest single energy-use in most homes and they recommend the following for homeowners:

  • Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Wash clothes in cold water
  • Take shorter showers and install a low-flow showerhead 

Furnaces usually last around 20 years and Lessner said it’s important to know when to retire an old, inefficient model. 

“If your furnace is over 30 years old, the potential of natural gas savings can be at least 15 to 20% based on the technology installed then to what it is now,” said Lessner. 

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

Paint, caulk and seal exterior wood

All the wood trim on the exterior of your home also needs to be protected. Wood trim around exterior doors and windows is only one-inch thick and can deteriorate quickly. It can cost over $2,000 to replace. 

To check the caulk, walk around your home to make sure it’s not cracking and that the paint isn’t chipping away.

“Number one, get outside your house and see if you have cracks around windows, around doors,” said Brendan Conway of WEC Energy Group. “Now is a good time to use some caulk or weather stripping to seal those things.”

While Conway said the cost for heating bills tends to fluctuate up and down, WEC Energy Group predicts that this winter, those could increase by $20 to $30 a month. 

“The two things that really impact and matter most are the price of natural gas, which we don’t have much control over. The other thing is the weather,” said Conway. 

Part of the reason for the natural gas price hike is the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia is the world’s biggest exporter of natural gas. With fewer exports from the country, those across the globe are scrambling to secure supply.

And there’s no doubt it will affect many this winter.