As the days grow shorter, colder, and darker, it's tempting to just hunker down inside and forget all about home and garden chores until the spring. But winter is no time for conscientious homeowners to take it easy—there is a lot of maintenance to deal with during the “off” season. Here are some crucial seasonal mistakes that trip up many homeowners during the winter months.

Not Scheduling a Free Energy Audit

What you don't know about your home's energy efficiency could cost you—in the form of higher utility bills. Get the full picture by calling your utility providers to schedule a free or low-cost energy audit to help figure out how you might be able to improve energy efficiency and save money on energy costs. Indeed, you could save 5 percent to 30 percent by making upgrades recommended by an energy audit, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Not Covering or Protecting Outdoor Faucets

If you worked through your fall maintenance checklist, you’ve probably already removed your hoses and winterized your outdoor water systems, but you may have forgotten to cover the faucets. Place an outdoor faucet cover over the tap—you can buy one for as little as $2—to prevent cold air from seeping into your house. You may also want to wrap any exterior pipes with foam insulation to protect them from freezing.

Not Letting the Sun Shine In

Don’t keep those curtains and draperies closed all season!  You can actually keep your house warm for less if you open your curtains during the day to let in the heat of the sun and close them at dusk to shut out the cold.

Not Humidifying Your Indoor Air

If you live in a region with sweltering summers, you've probably heard the expression, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” There is some science behind the saying—damp air makes us feel hotter than the actual temperature would indicate. The same is true in the winter—humid air feels warmer, so running a humidifier will do wonders to increase the feeling of heat in your home. Because it eliminates dry air, a humidifier will also help prevent dry, flaky skin, soothe aching throats and sensitive nasal passages, decrease static, and prevent damage to interior wood and furnishings.

Not Using Programmable Thermostats

Most people take a “set it and forget it” approach to temperature control, but this attitude can cost big bucks in the long run: The average homeowner can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by setting the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees lower for eight hours a day, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The easiest way to do this is to use a programmable thermostat. If you have one already, make sure it's set to run at a lower temperature when no one is at home. And if you don't yet have a programmable thermostat, make this the year you buy one!

Source Credit: https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/11-mistakes-homeowners-make-every-winter-51713#don-t-use-outdoor-appliances-indoors