It’s not too late to winterize your home’s exterior. The first thing you’ll want to do is a thorough inspection of your windows, doors, and siding. You may discover your home is ready for winter. But many times you will find areas that need minor repairs. Here are a few easy ways to stop winter from entering your home.
Check Windows Doors and Siding
Test drafts with a candle
- Inspect your home’s siding and trim. Look for ways that winter can find its way into your home through cracks and any gaps or other open areas.
- Check around pipes. Not only can cold air get in, but let’s not forget about those little critters who would love to snuggle up to you by the fireplace.
- Use paintable caulk to winterize your home’s exterior by sealing small cracks and gaps.
- Use expanding foam to seal large exterior gaps up to ½ inch wide.
- Plug very large exterior gaps with fiberglass insulation and then fill them with expanding foam.
- Inspect all windows and doors for drafts inside your home. Using a lit candle can detect even the slightest of drafts.
- Lock the windows to give them a tight seal.
- Use weather-stripping around doors and caulk windows to prevent winter drafts from entering your home.
Unless you’re inviting Disney’s Anna and Elsa from the movie Frozen over for dinner, then you’ll want to perform these winterizing techniques every year to stop winter from entering your home. Best to do it before winter settles in, but it’s never too late. If you’re unable to stop winter from entering your home by using these easy-to-do tips, you may want to consider new energy-efficient windows, doors, or siding. The investment will be well worth the money in energy savings, longevity, and peace of mind. Is your home winterized? Share your tips for keeping winter out of your home.
