Tag Archives: winter

Things to do in Central Ohio – February

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Things to do in Central Ohio This February – February might be the shortest month of the year, but there is definitely no shortage of things to do in the area. From family-friendly activities to adults-only nights out, Central Ohio has it all. Here are five things going on near you this month.

1. emerging: An Annual Exhibition of Student Art

When: February 3 – 13

Admission: Free

Bring the whole family out to the Dublin Art Center to celebrate the artistic abilities of local students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade, who participate in summer ARTcamps. It will be a great celebration of students and community.

2. Paradise Island

When: Fridays this month

Admission: Free to attend

Leave the kids at home and gather a group of friends for a fun Friday night out on the town. Paradise Island will be on from 9 – midnight and there will be happy hour specials all night long.

3. McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra

When: February 8

Admission: $12 – $25

For a beautiful Sunday afternoon experience, make your way out to the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington. You will have the opportunity to hear classical pieces in the intimate setting of our Bronwynn Theatre.

4. I’ll Eat You Last

When: February 12-22

Admission: $25 – $30

Gather a group of friends and head out to The Garden Theater for a conversation with Sue Mengers. In the height of her reign, Mengers made her career simply by uttering an invitation to one of her memorable dinner parties, which she will share with the intimate audience.

5. Eddie Pollina Band

When: Fridays this month

Admission: Free to attend

The Eddie Pollina Band is coming to Dublin, so bring your significant other for a fun and thrilling date night out on the town. The band will be playing all night long with happy hour prices on drinks in the lounge.

For more information on all of the great events and activities available to you in Central Ohio, visit here.

7 Ways To Keep Your Home Showing Ready in the Winter

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7 Ways To Keep Your Home Showing Ready in the Winter-Some people think it is almost impossible to sell their homes in the winter because it’s hard to keep a buyer interested when the weather outside is frightful. Fortunately, there are a plethora of things you can do to prepare your home for a showing this season. Even small tasks can make the biggest difference when it comes to keeping your home attractive to buyers. Here are seven ways to keep your home showing-ready this winter.

 

Shovel the Snow

Make sure the snow in your driveway and walkway leading up to your house is clear and plowed. Nothing will scare potential buyers away more than having to trudge through a foot of slushy snow. It will also help enhance the curb appeal.

 

Salt the Walkways

On a related note, salting the sidewalks is always a good idea. Eliminate the possibility of a disaster with the potential home buyer and make sure they’re able to get in the house without slipping.

 

Let There Be Light

Add extra lamps to the rooms in your home to brighten it up. Even in the middle of the day it can appear to be a bit gray outside, so adding lamps will help brighten up the space to make it more inviting to a potential buyer.

 

Festive Decor

Something as simple as a holiday welcome mat on your front porch will do wonders. It makes your home seem not inviting, but also festive and ready for the holiday season.

 

Crank the Heat

Ok, you don’t necessarily have to make it 80 degrees, but make it warm enough that it will be a relief for the potential buyers to step in from the cold outdoors. If they walk in cold and remain cold the whole time, it may be a turn off.

 

Display Photos

Sometimes it’s hard to picture what a home will look like in the spring and fall if it’s masked by feet of snow. Display pictures of your home in other seasons to show the potential buyer how beautiful your home will be, year-round.

 

Do Some Baking

Bake some holiday cookies in advance of potential buyers viewing your home. Not only will the wonderful smell take over your house, but you’ll have some festive treats to share with the potential buyers.

 

For more ways to keep you home showing ready this season, visit here.

Ice Dams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

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Ice Dams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them – Colder temperatures means less lawn care, but the cold and snowy weather can lead to several serious problems for your home. These issues can be troublesome and costly while adding stress to your life. One such problem is ice damming, which if left untreated can damage your roof, gutters, paint, drywall and structure extensively and even lead to mold. In this post, we’ll discuss what ice dams are, how they form and offer several tips to help you avoid them.

What are ice dams?

Ice dams occur when melting snow runs off your roof and refreezes at the edge, causing water to become trapped on your roof and creating a larger ice dam. They form most often after a large snowfall because the snow acts as an insulator. The heat from your home makes your roof warmer than the freezing point and the snow begins to melt, then refreezes in the cold winter air.

How can I prevent ice dams?

The best way to prevent ice dams during the winter is to reduce or get rid of any sources of heat in the attic of your home and ventilate the attic space of the roof. The goal is to make the roof of your house the same temperature as the eaves, so water won’t freeze at the end of your roof. There are several things you can do to properly ventilate the area under your roof and prevent heat from escaping:

  • Cap the attic hatch or whole-house fan with weatherstripped caps made from foil-faced foam board held together with aluminum tape.
  • Make sure all exhaust goes to the outside, preventing heat from warming the roof.
  • Add more insulation on the attic floor.
  • Seal and insulate your ducts.

If you’d like to learn more about how to prevent ice dams, this article from This Old House offers good advice.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to prevent ice damming, keeping your home in top shape this winter.

Do you have tips for winterizing your home? Leave them in a comment below and we could feature them in a future blog post.

How To: Cut Energy Costs This Winter

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It is about that time of year again! It always seems to creep up on us faster than we would like. The days are getting shorter, colder and sometimes more expensive. However, they don’t have to be as expensive this year. There are a few things you can do this winter to cut your energy costs.

  1. Unplug everything

Don’t leave your electronics on standby or plugged in. You can not only cut your energy bill this winter, but all year round by doing this.

  1. Heat the rooms you use

Close off, or even seal, the vents in the rooms you do not use.

  1. Minimize the use of a few things

Try cutting down on the time you use things everyday such as hairdryers, kettles, and irons.

  1. Get a humidifier

Moist air feels warmer as well as holds heat better.

  1. Bundle up

Instead of increasing the temperature on your thermostat, increase your layers! Wear a sweater and some fuzzy socks while walking around the house. Also add an area rug to insulate the floor in your living room.

  1. Only use exhaust fans when absolutely necessary

Exhaust fans pull the heat out of your home making your heater work harder.

  1. Use your ceiling fans

Switch the fans to move clockwise and set them on a low setting to push the hot air back down.

  1. Use the sun to your advantage

Open the curtains during the day and close them at night to trap that free heat inside your home

  1. Lower the temperature on your water heater

For every 10-degree reduction you save 3-5 percent in energy costs.

  1. Keep your furnace clean

Change your furnace filter clean and free of blockages. Check it every month!

These few tips seem obvious, however, most people just never get around to doing them once the winter months arrive. Make sure to utilize these few tips so that you won’t regret it when the bills roll in. Read more about cutting your energy cost here. Have fun and stay warm!

6 Ways to Prepare Your Home For The Cold Weather

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6 Ways to Prepare Your Home For The Cold Weather – We just experienced our round of snow for the year and many homeowners are preparing for the cold weather. Preparing your home for the change in season can be very helpful to you in the long run, and even keep your home looking and feeling like new. Here are six ways to prepare your home for the cold weather this year.

Use Plastic on Your Windows

Covering your windows with plastic might sound crazy to some, but it will help to cut down on your energy bill this season. Some homes are draftier than others, but keeping the warm air in and the cold air out will always be helpful.

Clean The Gutters

Whether you’re home is near trees or not, be sure to clean out your gutters before the weather becomes too cold to do so. Natural things accumulate in your gutters throughout the year, so cleaning them before snow starts falling can help to prevent ice dams and other potential damage.

Boost Lighting

Winter tends to be a dark and dreary time, so boost the lighting in your home for days like that. It will keep you more energized and ready for each day.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan

Reversing your ceiling fan will help it do the opposite of what it does in the summer times, it will help to keep the warm air circulating throughout the room. This works particularly well in rooms with very high ceilings, but has the same effect all over.

Inventory Your Supplies

Nothing is worse than not having a snow shovel or a brush for your car when you’re trying to get out of the driveway. Make sure you have the things you need before the weather becomes bad and it’s too late.

Prepare For A Storm

The weather is a unpredictable thing, so make sure you are prepared for any scenario. If there is a winter storm and the power goes out, how will you keep warm or prepare food? Being prepared for a situation like that will keep you more calm in the long run.

To learn more about how to prepare your home for the cold weather, visit here.