Many homeowners hear the weatherman say it’s time to winterize the house, but they’re not even sure what that means.

Winterizing a home means making it energy efficient — keeping cold air out and warm air in. Here’s a crash course on how to do that!

Outside the Home

  • Look for gaps around windows and doors, hose bibs, gas pipes and dryer vents. Seal big gaps with expandable foam; seal other gaps with caulk — use a color that matches your home so there’s no need for touch-up paint.
  • Use hose bib, or faucet, covers to insulate exposed water lines. They’re affordable, easy to install and ensure there’s no freeze damage whatsoever.
  • Turn off water to sprinkler systems and use a wet-dry vacuum to suck out any leftover water from each zone of your irrigation system.

Heating Your Home

  • To save the most money, set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit

Watch the full segment, featured on The Weather Channel’s “AMHQ,” above to learn more!


Further Learning

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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