Winterizing your home is a critical part of owner maintenance.  The immediate benefits of staying warmer and minimizing household heating expenses are only part of the story.  Taking the proper steps to prepare your residence for cold temperatures each year ultimately protects your long-term investment in preserving its condition and market value.  There are many options to get your home ready for chilly outdoor temps.  To get started, check out the following ten quick ways to winterize your home.

Inside your home

To check for air coming in from outside, walk around the interior of your home, carefully going through every room.  Feel around cracks in doors, baseboards, and windows and note where drafts from outside may be coming in.

1.  Cold air can pour in through doors and baseboards.

• Use caulk to seal up trim and baseboard leaks.
• Consider using peel-off foam weatherstripping, felt, weather-seal tape, and door sweeps to prevent air from coming in through the top, bottom, and at the sides of exterior doors.
• If money is limited, you can utilize towels or rolled newspaper as an alternative measure for sealing up cracks and winterizing your home. Old blankets at the bottom of sliding or patio doors can also prevent air coming in and help save money on electricity bills.

2.  Watch for heat loss around windows.

• Rope caulk, especially useful for older homes, can be pressed into cracks easily to seal out air. It tends to be very pliable and never gets hard, making it a quick DIY fix to block out air coming in around windows.
• Another effective remedy to eliminate costly drafts is installing plastic either inside or outside of your windows.  Plastic can be a particularly viable option to reduce heat escaping through the glass of failing windows.
• As temperatures drop, put up your thermal curtains.  The insulation in these curtains helps prevent frosty air entering your home while simultaneously trapping warmer air inside.  Some people keep them up all year because blocking the air coming in and outside of the home also helps keep homes cooler during summer when air-conditioning is used.  If thermal curtains aren’t in the budget, placing old blankets across the windows can help keep your house warmer in the winter.
• Interior acrylic or plexiglass window panels also help reduce heat loss and save on energy costs. Hire someone, or save money with a DIY kit.  Durable magnets and peel-and-stick adhesive make this an easy project.  These kits are designed to last over several years of use, making this a wise investment for most homeowners.
• Take out window air conditioners or cover them.

3. Close off unused rooms.

The cold temperatures are a great time to get cozy. If you don’t use all of the rooms in your house and want to conserve energy, sealing off spaces that you are not using is another way to save money on heating costs.  Easily accomplish this by just closing the doors to unused rooms.  If the rooms do not have doors, consider putting up heavy bedspreads or curtains up to conserve heat.

4.  Don’t forget the chimneys and fireplaces.

• Take time for cleaning and maintenance. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is crucial to inspect chimneys, fireplaces, and vents at least once a year and to follow up with any needed cleaning, maintenance or repairs.  Have your furnace checked, and change your filters.
• If you aren’t using your fireplace in the winter, a chimney pillow or chimney balloon can help avoid heat loss while still maintaining proper ventilation. Many options are available.  Be sure to choose one that is acid and heat resistant.  Chimney pillows range from $40 to $70 and can install in just a few minutes.  Additionally, they may be deflated and reused.  The tight seal created by the chimney balloon not only keeps out the cold but can also prevent birds, bugs, and bats from using your chimney to enter your home.

5.  Inspect other critical areas, including your home’s foundation.

Remember to inspect the foundation of your home, and other areas including the basement, slabs, and crawlspaces for any visible leaks or cracks and ensure that they are clear of any trash or vegetation.  Making sure that these areas are sealed helps to maintain the structural integrity of your home, saves on energy costs, and also serves to keep out mice and other uninvited guests.

Outside your home

6.  Don’t forget your pipes.

Wrap all unheated, exposed, or poorly insulated water pipes with insulation, pipe sleeves, or pipe tape to prevent freezing, cracking, and breaking.  According to the American Red Cross, if you will be leaving your home in the wintertime, you should be sure to set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees or higher.

7.  Protect your outside air conditioning unit.

To prevent damage to your unit, take care to drain pipes and hoses to avoid potential ice damage from freezing water.

8.  Take care to put away hoses and sprinklers.

Remember to turn off the water and carefully drain all exterior hoses before rolling them up and storing away until you are ready to use them again in the springtime.

9.  Remember to inspect gutters, downspouts, and your roof.

Make sure these items are clear of debris and in good condition.  Confirm that all flashing is adequate to prevent water from entering your home and inspect the roof for possible loose, damaged, or missing shingles.  Clean your gutters to prevent ice build-up and damage from freezing rain.  Take care to check nearby trees for branches that may be too close to your home or to electrical wires, and trim as needed.

10. Locate tools, planters, lawn equipment, and furniture that you don’t plan to use during the winter.

• Drain gas from gas-powered equipment.  Have them serviced and cleaned so they will be ready to go next season.
• Make sure winter tools, including shovels, sand, salt, and ice-scrapers are out of storage and prepared for use.  Inspect your snow blower and service if necessary.

Taking a weekend or two each fall to winterize your home will not only keep your family warmer but conserve energy, save you money and protect your property’s value.  Implement a few of these quick tips to jump-start your cold weather preparations.

All photos – AdobeStock