Weatherproofing Your Home for Winter

Here are five simple home winterizing tips you can do for a worry-free season

Winter has already arrived in full swing and you can expect that this cold weather won’t be going away soon. In that case, now is the time to winterize your home.

Weatherproofing your home for winter is essential for keeping the warm air inside and the cold air out. A weatherproofed home will be more comfortable, protects your HVAC from overworking, and keeps your utility bills in control.

In this article, you can learn five quick tips to winterize your home. You can get these tips done within a day, ensuring your home is prepared for the winter. Protect your home and prevent high utility bills with these simple winterizing tips today.

1. Seal up Leaky Windows/Add Weather Stripping

If the window’s caulking is beginning to crack or some pieces are already missing, then it’s time to seal them up. Remove the old caulk and apply a new bead to fill the gaps. You can also cover the gaps with transparent sealant tape. Using self-adhesive strips for weather stripping are also useful for filling the gaps on the entry door.

2. Insulate the Attic and Basement

The attic and basement are two of the coldest parts of the house. They’re the places that can get so cold during the winter, the chill can penetrate the other parts of your home. Installing reflective insulation in the attic, basement or crawlspace helps to keep the cold out. Reflective insulation is a great alternative to traditional insulation because it is more affordable, fiber-free, and easy to install.

3. Cut Away/Trim Trees Near Property

Cut or trim the trees near your house. It will help to prevent the ice from building up, cracking branches, and then landing on your roof or gutters. By cutting or pruning the trees close to your property, you can ensure no accidents happen. Make sure you do not attempt to trim trees when it is actively snowing, as it can be dangerous.

4. Insulate your Pipes

Plumbing pipes in the unheated areas such as attic and basement can be in trouble. They can burst from being frozen and cause flooding and expensive water damage. Many people simply leave their water trickling to keep the water in the pipes moving but this wastes water and isn’t always effective. Take the safe route and insulate your pipes so that they will be protected from the cold.

5. Seal the Air Ducts

If your air ducts aren’t closed sealed come winter, you will lose around 20 to 30% of heated air by the time they blow through the vents. If that’s the case, you can expect to pay higher bills than necessary to heat your house. It will also cause your HVAC to work overtime, causing it to wear down faster. You should change your filters and inspect for leaks every 30 days or so.

These are easy, simple ways to prevent your home from the damage against the cold weather. They are only a few tricks, but now you get the idea of why it is essential to perform some weatherproofing. So, take the time to learn more about what you can do to keep from freezing during the winter season.