Start Thinking About Winterizing Your Home

With Fall on its way and Winter biting at Fall's heels, it's time to start thinking about winterizing our homes for both comfort and energy costs savings. If you don't know where to start, your best bet is to think roof and windows, and simply go from there. Here's how to cheaply and easily winterize your home and get it in the best shape for the changing seasons.

Start with windows. Make sure they are all closed, and if double-paned, make sure you caulk the seams so air cannot get through from outside. Make sure all your windows are closed tight, because even a small draft will suck your heat out and leave you cranking up your heat. You can buy window sealing kits at local stores that have the plastic that shrink wraps with a blow dryer and come with tape in the box on the cheap.

Check your roof. You're looking for cracks and/or leaks. For tarred or aluminum roofs they may need an updated coating, which can be purchased in this white goop that rolls on the roof for less than $100. There is also liquid crack filler in gallon jugs you can purchase for less than $20 to fill in basic cracks prior to treating the roof. For people with tile roofs, check the roof for loose or missing roofing, to assure that you won't have leaks or drafts in the winter. A solid roof is a warm one.

For people with attics, have them well insulated with foam or insulation. For people in mobile homes or trailers, get your pipes winterized by wrapping them in insulation and replace old insulation under the trailer to prevent drafts. Put a tarp around your trailer skirting, or protect skirting with a thick plastic that will keep drafts out and keep your trailer dry. Also, now is a great time for all homes to be bug bombed as the bugs and spiders are wanting to move in!

Whatever methods you use to winterize your home, now is the best time to do it, before it gets too cold or humid/wet to do so properly. Many caulking materials or roofing repair kits need sunny,

dry days to work, and time is of the essence. Winterize your home so you don't spend more money to heat it and are not throwing your dollars out the window.