Business bureau has winter tips for homeowners

The Better Business Bureau is offering a checklist for homeowners who want to get their homes ready for cold weather while also saving money.

타 Inspect caulking and weather stripping, checking for cracking and peeling. Make sure doors and windows close tightly and no cold air is coming in due to old weather stripping.

타 Make sure your furnace’s filter is clean and the thermostat works correctly. Furnaces older than 15 years might be ready for a replacement.

타 Heating ducts should be cleaned once every two years. Homeowners should consider adding insulation to exposed ductwork in order to prevent losing heated air.

타 Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and install fresh batteries. Homeowners should consider replacing smoke alarms older than 10 years.

For more, visit www.bbb.org/.