Winterizing your Home is as crucial to your comfort and peace of mind over the long, cold months of the year as is winterizing your wardrobe for the change of seasons. You most likely don't wear the same clothes over the winter as you do during the spring, summer or fall. So, it would behoove you to treat your home as a second skin, so to speak, and cover it accordingly.

There are also a variety of practical, prudent and proactive reasons why home winterization is in your best interest, not the least of which is to reduce your heating costs, as well as save yourself from preventable property damage.

Here are some simple suggestions to prepare your home for Old Man Winter:

  • Cover drafty baseboard cracks with caulk
  • Make sure doors and windows seal tightly to prevent air leakage
  • Install sweeps to exterior, basement and attic entries
  • Cover edges of windows with weather-stripping tape
  • Remove window-mounted air-conditioning units
  • Check heating system and change the filter
  • Insure water pipes are properly insulated
  • Clear gutters of clogs to prevent water damage to shingles

And finally, while the addition of insulation to your attic and the underside of your home can be an expensive project, it can also be incredibly rewarding over the winter.