10 Tips to Keep Your Home Warmer This Winter

When Connecticut winter settles in, temperatures drop quickly and your home’s heating system has to work overtime. The good news is that staying warm doesn’t have to mean turning the thermostat up and hoping for the best. With a few practical upgrades, many of which you can handle yourself, you can boost comfort, improve efficiency, and keep drafts at bay. Here are ten reliable ways to make your home warmer this winter.

1. Seal Up Drafts Around Doors and Windows

Even small gaps can let in a surprising amount of cold air. Check for drafts by running your hand along the edges of windows and exterior doors. If you feel air movement, use weatherstripping, caulk, or draft stoppers to seal the gaps. These fixes are simple, inexpensive, and often make an immediate difference.

2. Install Thermal Curtains or Insulated Shades

Your windows can lose up to 30% of your home’s heat, even if they’re newer. Thermal curtains or honeycomb cellular shades add an extra layer of insulation to help keep warm air in and cold air out. Close them at night and on cloudy days, then open them when the sun is shining to take advantage of natural heat.

3. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

It sounds counterintuitive, but ceiling fans can actually help warm a room. If your fan has a reverse switch, flip it to the clockwise setting for winter. This gently pushes warm air, which loves to hang out near the ceiling, back down where you actually need it.

4. Add Area Rugs to Hard Floors

Wood, tile, and laminate floors can feel icy and pull warmth from the room. Adding thick area rugs, especially in basements or rooms over unheated spaces, helps insulate the floor and make your home feel instantly cozier.

5. Check and Replace Weatherstripping on the Attic Hatch

The attic access door is one place homeowners forget to check, but it’s a notorious escape route for heat. Make sure the hatch closes tightly and that the weatherstripping hasn’t compressed or cracked. A tight seal here helps prevent heat from rushing straight into the attic.

6. Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly

A dirty furnace filter forces your heating system to work overtime, which can make your home feel less warm and your bills noticeably higher. Check your filter monthly and replace it as needed. It’s an easy DIY task that can improve airflow and efficiency right away.

7. Insulate Hot Water Pipes

Insulating the hot water pipes in your basement or utility area helps reduce heat loss as water moves through your home. Pipe insulation sleeves are inexpensive, easy to install, and can improve both water temperature and heating efficiency.

8. Add Door Draft Blocks in Older Homes

Connecticut is full of beautiful old homes but those charming original doors often come with less charming drafts. Door draft blockers (or even a rolled-up towel in a pinch) can help keep cold air from sneaking in under exterior doors. Bonus: they’re kid-friendly DIY projects.

9. Get Your Heating System Professionally Tuned

A yearly tune-up can help your furnace run more efficiently, identify issues before they become bigger (and more expensive) problems, and ensure your system is operating safely. Plus it will lengthen the lifespan of your system.

10. Consider Small, Strategic Upgrades

If your home still feels chilly, a few targeted improvements can help. Adding attic insulation, sealing ductwork, or upgrading older thermostats to programmable or smart models can make a big difference. These projects vary in difficulty - some homeowners feel comfortable tackling them, others prefer a professional - but in many cases, the energy savings can quickly outweigh the upfront cost.

Winter in Connecticut will always bring its share of cold snaps, but with a little preparation, your home can stay warm, comfortable, and energy-efficient all season long. Whether you’re sealing a drafty window yourself or calling in a pro for a furnace check, small steps can add up to big improvements. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Why Fall Might Just Be Your Garden’s Secret Weapon

Most people think of fall as the time to put the garden to bed - pull the weeds, store the tools, and dream about next spring. But seasoned gardeners know better: late summer and early fall can be the start of a whole new harvest season. With the right timing and a few simple steps, you can enjoy crisp, homegrown vegetables well into the cooler months - even past the first frost.

If your garden’s been looking a little neglected, this is your second chance to make it thrive. Here’s how to get started:

1. Know your frost dates

Your fall garden success hinges on timing. Cool-weather crops need to mature before daytime highs consistently dip into the low 50s. In our region, the first frost usually arrives in mid-October, which means you have roughly six weeks to get plants established. Mark that on your calendar and work backward to plan your planting schedule.

2. Give your plants a cozy cover

Even hardy vegetables appreciate a little shelter. Cold frames are a gardener’s best friend in the fall -  they trap heat, block wind, and extend your harvest. You can buy one at a garden center, build your own with plywood and plastic sheeting, or repurpose materials you already have. For small garden beds, a hinged plexiglass lid works wonders; for bigger spaces, opt for heavy-duty plastic stretched over a simple frame.

3. Invest in your soil’s future

If you’re not planning to harvest this fall, plant a cover crop instead. Cover crops boost soil health, prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and can even feed your soil with nitrogen. Edible options include peas and beans, while clover, rye, buckwheat, and sorghum are excellent for pure soil enrichment.

What to plant now

Fall is prime time for cool-weather champions. Leafy greens like chard, kale, lettuce, and spinach love the chill. Broccoli, beets, carrots, and radishes can handle a bit of frost, while root vegetables like fennel, parsnips, turnips, and Brussels sprouts practically thrive in it. And if you want a sweet treat for later, rhubarb might just become your new favorite fall project.

Even if you decide not to plant this year, keep this guide handy. Come next season, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running and planting for an early, delicious harvest.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visithttp://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Think Twice Before Tackling These Outdoor Projects in Winter

Many homeowners think about tackling big projects in the winter before the weather warms up and contractors start getting too busy. But when it comes to major exterior work like roofing and siding, winter isn’t your best bet. Here’s why holding off might save you headaches—and money—in the long run:

1. Cold Weather and Building Materials Don’t Mix
Temperatures below 40°F can significantly impact the performance of materials like shingles and vinyl siding. Shingles become brittle, increasing the risk of cracks and splits during installation, while vinyl siding shrinks in the cold, which can lead to misalignment or leaks when it later expands in warmer weather.

2. Shingle Adherence Needs Heat
Shingle sealant relies on warmth and sunlight to activate properly. In cold conditions, the seal might not set as securely, leading to potential issues down the line. Contractors often need to hand-seal shingles in these conditions, which adds time and expense to an otherwise straightforward process.

3. Air Tools Aren’t Winter-Friendly
Most contractors rely on air nail guns for outdoor work, but these tools can malfunction in cold weather. Moisture in the airline can freeze, causing nails to be driven in too shallow or too deep, compromising the integrity of the installation. Compressors face similar challenges in freezing temperatures.

4. Safety Risks on Icy Surfaces
Winter conditions make outdoor work hazardous. Even experienced contractors face risks from black ice on roofs or ladders, increasing the chance of accidents. While professionals take every precaution, working in icy conditions is inherently more dangerous.

5. Unpredictable Winter Weather
Snow and freezing rain can wreak havoc on a job site. Unlike rain, which can be managed with tarps, snow adds both moisture and weight, making it difficult to protect an open roof. Imagine starting a roofing project only to have a snowstorm dump a foot of snow on the site—it’s a risk no one wants to take.

6. Warranty Concerns
Many manufacturers require products to be installed in temperatures above 40°F for warranties to remain valid. A cold-weather installation could void your warranty, leaving you unprotected if issues arise later.

7. Winter Work Takes Longer
Cold weather slows everything down. Workers need to take frequent breaks to stay warm, and shorter daylight hours limit productivity. A job that might take a day in spring could stretch to several days in winter.

When Winter Work Can’t Wait
In some cases, waiting until spring isn’t an option. If delaying repairs could lead to further damage, make sure you hire an experienced contractor who is well-versed in working under winter conditions. Discuss the precautions they’ll take to ensure a safe and effective installation. Cutting corners to accommodate the weather isn’t worth the risk.

Is It Really Worth It?
While winter projects may seem like a good idea, the risks often outweigh the benefits. Waiting for warmer weather ensures a safer, smoother, and more cost-effective process.

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.