7 Money Saving Tips To Winterize Your Home

The winter can be a tough time on your home. It can also be a tough time on your heating bill. The fine folks at the DIY Network have provided a great video on how to winterize your home. By following these 7 steps, you can minimize heating bills and care for your largest asset, your home.

1.Cleaning Gutters & Downspouts – Fall, with its onslaught of leaves, has come in gone. Now is a fabulous time to clean out your gutters. A clogged gutter can wreak havoc on your home. Over-running rain water can damage your home’s soffit, as well as the deck or landscaping found below.

2. Trim The Trees Close to Your Home - Trimming the trees near your home is also a must. Heavy winter precipitation can bring heavy limbs to the ground…or onto your house. Keeping these limbs off of your home is essential. Also, by keeping limbs away from your roof line, you keep the critters from nesting in your attic (i.e. squirrels).

3. Caulk Windows & Door Frames – Keep you heating bill at bay by closing the cracks from which cold air seeps into your home. Here, you can find another great DIY video on caulking windows.

4. Replace Weather Stripping – Weather Stripping is one of those things we take for granted. It is often found around exterior doors, including the bottoms of garage doors. Before winter sets in, inspect your home’s weather stripping to insure it is providing a tight seal. This is a ‘no excuses’ fix. Replacing weather stripping is a simple home repair, even for a novice.

5. Outlet Seals – This is actually a new product in my world. I was unaware of outlet seals before I discovered this video. It is a fantastic product though. And it is also an easy install.

6. Wrap Pipes in Exterior Walls – Pipes in exterior walls, particularly your garage, will be the first pipes to freeze. Do yourself a favor and protect these pipes from the elements. You don’t want to return home from a Christmas trip to find a soggy house.

7. Replace HVAC Filters – This is a no-brainer and should be done regularly throughout the year. Keep your air filters clean.