5 Things to do this Fall in the Flathead Valley

Fall in the Flathead Valley is a beautiful time of the year. As the days get shorter and the nights a bit cooler, there are still plenty of fun things to do before the snow flies.

- Take a soak in hot springs: Hot Springs, MT. These hot springs are said to have some of the highest mineral content water in the world! Take the scenic drive to one of the several soaking establishments and let the worries of the world melt away. They have private rooms or public soaking pools, indoors or out. On your way back stop by the cool Tamarack Brewery in Lakeside for a cold, hand made Montana brew.

- Take a hike: With cooler weather, fall can be a great time to hike in the Flathead Valley without being beat down by the summer heat. For a good hike look at heading towards Jewel Basin in the Flathead National Forest Wilderness Area or to Glacier National Park.

- Rent a Forest service cabin: Northwest Montana has great getaway cabins maintained by the Forest Service. Most cabins have propane heat, light, range, as well as a nice vault toilet outhouses; some have electricity. So if you don't need "turn-down" service available on you little getaways you should look into making a reservation. Don' wait to long they fill up fast and some close up before winter hits.


- Get in shape for ski season: With the ski season almost upon us, nobody wants to be the one huffing and puffing come opening day! The Wave in Whitefish has a great ski conditioning class to get you ready to hit the slopes hard right from the opening bell.

-Listen to Glacier symphony & Chorale: Take in one of the wonderful shows that the Glacier Symphony & Chorale have to offer! Checkout their schedule of events.


Nick


Realtor
Ecobroker
Email: nickmunson@century21.com
http://www.montanagreenrealestate.com/

Winter is coming....part 3

Winter is coming...

Now that you have installed your new programmable thermostat and have had your furnace inspected by your local HVAC pro (as talked about in parts 1 and 2) you are ready for the next project to help cut on your heating bill and make that beautiful home of yours more energy efficient.

-Seal up drafts-

There are hundreds of points in your home that cold air can sneak in and rob you have your hard earned heat. Before winter really sets in, take the time to seal up these drafts throughout your house. One of the most obvious "heat stealing hot spots" are your exterior doors. Add weather stripping (click here for an easy "how to" video) to help stop cold air penetration. Also check around electrical outlets and windows. Use your hand to feel for cold drafts or light some incense and hold it close to a suspected draft and watch to see if the smoke wavers. Here is a quick video on how to caulk. Keep in mind to check the caulk or weather stripping on your garage door, pet doors, and attic/crawl space entrance.

Save money and live more comfortably this winter. Take the time now to make your winter warm and enjoyable!

Nick

Realtor

Ecobroker

Email: nickmunson@century21.com

http://www.montanagreenrealestate.com

Winter is coming...part 2

Winter is coming...



...what are you going to do to winterize your house and cut back on this winters utility bills? The US Department of Energy says that the average household spends about $1400 a year on heating their home. There are a hand full of easy and affordable ways to save money on your heating bill, lets look at one:

-Service your furnace-

-Before you switch your programmable thermostat from "cool" to "heat" give a call to your trusted local HAVC professional. If you have already made the switch, don't despair, it is never too late to get your homes HAVC system inspected. This "tune-up" of your heating system will help insure a more efficient unit, be it gas or electric.


-In addition to an inspection, take a look at the air filter monthly, and if necessary clean and/or replace it. A clean air filter will allow the furnace work properly and easily. Where as a dirty air filter reduces airflow and makes your furnace work harder, which cuts back efficiency and the life of the unit. higher efficiency equals less money going toward your heating bill! As a reminder, think of checking your air filter when you pay your monthly bill.

Yet another easy way to help save money on your heating bill this winter.

Stay warm, stay efficient!

Nick

nickmunson@century21.com
http://www.montanagreenrealestate.com/

Winter is a coming...

As winter closes in rapidly and the thermometer already beginning to fall, we all have one thing on our minds.....well at least I do, and it can be summed up in two words; energy efficient. With energy costs as high as they are, we should all be thinking about what we can do to help keep heating costs down this winter. There are a handful of simple things you can do to help cut costs this winter that don't include wearing your down jacket inside.



- Buy a programmable thermostat: Cheap, easy, and they come in all shapes and sizes, with a number of different settings. These handy little gadgets can warm up the house right before you wake up or get home from work, without heating the house all day or night. They are very affordable and can be picked up at just about any hardware store for as little as $30. Energystar.gov says the average house hold can save at least $180 a year. Lots of people already use a programmable thermostat, and if you are one of them, give it a quick check...are your temps set right...does your heat come on too early or stay on too late...did it adjust for daylight savings?



Not only are you saving money but you are doing your part to use less. Remember being conscious of what we use doesn't mean we have to live without.



More winterizing tips to come...keep it simple, make a difference.



Nick



Realtor

Ecobroker

Email: nickmunson@century21.com

http://www.montanagreenrealestate.com/