Before the colder winter months roll around again there are some things you can do to get your house ready. 

Projects like sealing doors and windows, insulating and protecting pipes helps you save money and prevents problems when the temperature drops.

“Getting ahead of the cold now saves time, hassle and expense once freezing weather arrives,” Powell Ace Hardware manager Tony Rodriguez said.  

Seal windows and doors

Approximately 12% of a home’s heat loss takes place around windows and doors. Updating weatherstripping and thresholds is a simple way to make a big difference.

“That’s probably the one thing I would do for sure,” said Jeff Clemens, inside sales rep at R.P. Lumber. “I would check all your west and north doors and windows. Because that’s the direction the wind blows the hardest.”

New weatherstripping can be purchased from most lumber or hardware stores and installed in about 10 minutes. Clemens recommends doing a visual check around doors and windows, looking for light coming through.

“That’s going to be a big clue as to what you’ve got,” he said. “You might also have to take the trim work off, and see if anybody puts any insulation between the door jamb and your stud. If not, we’ve got foam that can be put in there and fill up that gap.”

Window insulation kits are also helpful, as they block cold winter drafts and lower heating bills by creating a clear, airtight plastic barrier over your window frames.

“Window kits, door weatherstripping and foam pipe insulation keep heat inside and dramatically reduce heating costs,” Rodriguez said.

If sunlight is coming from underneath your external doors, then the door is not in contact with the threshold. Many thresholds are adjustable with a few screws, but if not it might need to be replaced.

Insulate, insulate, insulate

Insulation can be added to specific areas to reduce heating costs. One common, but often overlooked place for heat to escape due to poor insulation is directly around and behind the electrical box. Remove the box’s cover plate and fill any smaller holes or gaps around the box with caulk, or foam sealant for larger holes.

Adding insulation to a poorly insulated attic will also save you money in the long run. You’ll keep your home’s heat in the living areas where it belongs. When your attic is colder you’re also much less likely to get ice dams from forming on your roof. 

“There are still some houses out there that don’t have any insulation in their attic, and that’s a simple thing to do,” Clemens said. “There’s plenty of places that have insulation blowers for rent, and then sell the insulation to go with it. And I would definitely blow at least 15 inches into all attic spaces.”

Find and fill holes

Fill holes in exterior walls or the foundation. Any utility services added may have gaps around them. These holes can be filled with expanding foam. An additional bonus is eliminating entry points for insects and mice.

“If you’ve got any holes in the foundation or skirting, I would definitely fill up all the holes and cracks that you might see,” Clemens said. “With an older home you could have a wood foundation, you could have a stacked stone foundation, you could have stacked block. With all of those, you need to check to see if there are any cracks. If there are, then of course you need to fill those cracks with something, and I would suggest foam.”

Protect indoor pipes

Pipe insulation, which you can install yourself around any exposed copper or PVC water pipe, is fairly inexpensive compared to the cost of a burst pipe. If one bursts it can set you back about $500 in repair and can cause up to $3,000 in additional damage, according to Home Advisor.

“In modern homes most crawl spaces or basements are cement, which helps insulate the pipes,” Clemens said. “However in older structures, you never know what you might see.”

Rodriguez said heat tape is also a good option. Heat tape is an electrical heating cable wrapped along or around metal or plastic pipes to prevent them from freezing.

“This prevents costly freeze-ups during extreme cold,” he said.

Service your furnace and chimney

It’s important to have your heating equipment serviced and inspected regularly, as fireplaces, chimneys and furnaces are some of the biggest causes of home fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Properly maintaining furnaces (including regularly changing filters) and boilers also keeps them working reliably and efficiently.

“This is going to be a shout out for all our heating and cooling people,” Clemens said. If you haven’t had your furnace checked in probably the last five-10 years, and your furnace is over 15-20 years old, I’d have someone come out and look at it.”

Outdoor prep

Outside, there’re some winter preparations you can do to keep you and your property safe during the colder months. The first is to clean and inspect your gutters. Keeping gutters clear and making sure they aren’t coming loose can help ensure that melting snow runs off your roof and through downspouts. 

“You should definitely do that to keep water from getting to your foundation,” Clemens said.

Also check for and clear dying or dead tree limbs. A dead branch covered in ice or snow can easily snap, endangering people and potentially causing damage to structures. 

You should also secure outdoor water sources. If you have a sprinkler system, make sure to get it blown out before winter so the pipes don’t freeze and burst. Also drain and store any garden hoses or sprinklers before the first frost to eliminate the chance that they’ll freeze and are unusable next year. 

Get your winter gear now

Once winter hits, Rodriguez recommends ice melt and snow shovels to keep steps, walkways and driveways clear, and to prevent dangerous winter slips and falls.

“Insulated, waterproof gloves protect your hands while maintaining dexterity for shoveling and outdoor chores,” he added. “For snow blowers, a quick preseason tune-up or a new snow blower ensures you are ready when heavy snow falls.”

There’s portable heaters as well that offer safe, targeted warmth for drafty rooms or workspaces without raising the main thermostat.

Ace also has automotive and RV antifreeze for protecting vehicle engines, camper plumbing and seasonal water lines from freezing and cracking.

“Our team is always here to help you find the right supplies to get your home and vehicles winter-ready,” he said.