Winterizing Your Home’s Windows, Attic, and More: Do’s and Don’ts

There’s a shiver in the air around our Lancaster County office–and many areas of the Mid-Atlantic are also feeling the chillier air. The good news is you still have time to winterize your home’s exterior before Old Man Winter settles in.

Here are tips for winterizing your home to save energy and keep it cozier.

Do check for drafts and air leaks.

Drafts can drain between 5 and 30 percent of your energy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A simple tool, like a thermal leak detector, will help you find trouble spots. (You can find DIY detectors for under $30 online or at your local hardware store.)

Don’t let that air loss make your home chilly this winter. One budget-friendly fix for door drafts is to use a draft snake–like the one your grandma used to use!

For windows, a simple DIY fix is to use weather-resistant caulk on the window’s exterior. Another option is a window insulation kit, but these can be tricky and frustrating to install.

However, if your windows are warped or more than about 15-20 years old, you may want to have a window replacement professional assess them. It may be more economical–and warmer–to replace troublesome windows. Learn more in 7 Signs You Need to Replace Your Windows.

Don’t forget your landscaping.

When you hear winterize your home, you might not immediately consider landscaping. Yet good landscaping practices can be a long-term solution to winterizing a home. Good tips include making sure trees and large bushes don’t block southern sun from warming your home. You can also strategically plant trees and bushes to act as windbreaks against cold wintery winds.

You still have a little time left for fall plantings if you want to grow a natural windbreak, or simply put the landscape work on your spring to-do list.

Do winterize your attic.

Most people forget about the attic until it’s time to drag down the holiday decorations, but it’s worth your time to check it out for heat drains before the weather gets too cold. Look for air leaks that could be making your home colder. Small gaps can sometimes be filled with caulking, for a quick DIY fix.

If you have attic drafts related to roofing problems, call an experienced roofing contractor to climb onto your roof and conduct a professional inspection so you can stop additional damage before it starts.

In some cases, the attic can pull warm air up through the attic staircase. If that’s the case in your home, consider covering the top of the stairs with plywood or a tarp to prevent the loss of warmth and energy.

Don’t forget to winterize exterior faucets.

Save yourself a lot of springtime hassle by removing and storing garden hoses first. Then, if your exterior faucet has an internal water shut-off valve, shut it off and drain the faucet. If your home doesn’t have an interior valve, be sure the exterior unit doesn’t have a drip that can freeze and damage the faucet.

Winterize your home with the help of experienced professionals.

Best Contracting offers free roof inspections and window replacement quotes for homeowners in Lancaster, Coatesville, Downingtown, Reading, and Chadds Ford, PA. We also serve areas of NJ, MD, and DE.

Take the first step toward winterizing your home so it stays cozier–get in touch with us for roof or window replacement.