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The below-zero days of winter may be the last thing on your mind in 80-degree beach weather, but consider this: You can winterize your home in summertime and save twofold!

According to the Department of Environmental Protection’s EnergyStar program, the average energy bill for a single family home in 2001 was $1,900, half of which went to heating and cooling – and in the past eight years that figure has continued to rise. But a trip to the hardware shop and you’ll spend less while playing Mr. Fix-It now, and save again come February when that energy bill stays under control.

Alex Bandon, multimedia editor at This Old House [TWC] magazine says any projects you need to do for winter you can do during summer. At the top of the list? Interrupt your handyman’s summer vacation. “You’re going to be able to get them when you want them,” if you make an appointment now, she says. For example, having your water pipes winterized now, will likely prevent a more expensive fix later. If your untreated pipes eventually burst at the first frost and you call a plumber, it’s likely that either “a) you’re not going to get them and b) they might be at peak rates,” she says. (Plus, you’ll probably be a lot less bothered by turning the hot water off now, when it’s 77-degrees outside!)

Contractors could also be willing to cut you a deal when you prep for snow weather during off-peak seasons. Bill Smith, president of Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing of New Jersey, says a rainless summer could mean 10-20% less business for his company, so he would have plenty of time to waterproof your basement before that first Nor’easter. “Our prices will reflect that – we might have a 10-20% discount based on how slow we are,” Smith says. A draining system for a small basement could cost about $2,500, he says, so a summer discount can translate into big savings.

Check preseason sales at big box stores on winter products, including those for winterizing, because stores might have received an early shipment on winter products you’ll eventually want (at the same time as thousands of other people). Vendors sometimes send shipments early and a store will sell it at a pre-season discount, says Anthony Falcone, the store manager for Home Depot on 23rd Street in New York City. “You very well might see a snowblower in the end of August,” he says. Typically a snowblower might vend for $150 but a sale could lower the price 10-15%, he says.

Frank Gambatese, store manager for Lowe’s [LOW] in Princeton, N.J., adds that his store has recently started retailing pellet stoves (which burn pellets made from recycled materials to heat like a space heater) for $500 to $1,500. “People are aware it could be a rough winter and you have no idea how much heating fuel is going to be this year,” so the pellet stoves are popular, he says. By the time it starts getting cold, Gambatese says he expects they’ll be in high demand.

But you don’t need to buy all your building equipment at a department store. Habitat for Humanity operates 500 outlets across the country, called ReStores, which sell new and used building equipment. B.J. Perkins, ReStores’ program manager for Habitat for Humanity, says “typically things for winterizing are more likely to be donated in summertime,” such as double-pane insulated windows. ReStores prices are typically 50% lower than big box store retail prices, she adds.

Here’s a list of products for your winterizing wish list: Print this list out and see how much you can save before Labor Day!

• Window and door sealant.
• Snow removal equipment (blowers, shovels and ice-melting chemicals).
• Insulated double-paned windows or shutters.
• Space heaters or pellet stoves.
• Roof shingles.
• Wall insulation.
• Door and window sealant – double-sided tape for windows.
• Epoxy or cement for fixing cracks in walls and floors.