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Ask Steward

2018 Fall
by Roubie Younkin
MSU Extension Agent in Valley County

What should I do to get my home ready for winter?

While the sound of running water can be soothing in the right environment, it is a nightmare when it is running through your basement from a broken pipe. Preparing a home for winter can be relatively simple and even satisfying. Keeping the heat in and the cold out saves money, improves safety and makes your home more comfortable. At the same time, you can reduce the risk of expensive repairs. These useful tips will help you get your home winter-ready.

  1. Clean gutters. Keep gutters free of leaves and other debris.
  2. Disconnect hoses and winterize your sprinkler system.
  3. Seal drafty windows. Use clear shrink type plastic window kits to cover drafty windows with a nearly invisible extra layer.
  4. Move warm air. Change your ceiling fan to a clockwise position to push the warm ceiling air downward into your living space.
  5. Weather strip doors and windows. Stop drafts at windows and doors with high quality weatherstripping. The bottom of doors can be sealed with door sweeps.
  6. Insulate pipes. Use pre-slit foam available from the hardware store to insulate pipes. This reduces heat loss while saving money. Insulating pipes also protects them from freezing if they are in a drafty or cold location such as an unheated crawlspace.
  7. Lower the hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees.
  8. Install a new showerhead. Save water and energy by installing a high-quality showerhead with no more than 1.5 gallon per minute flow rating.
  9. Replace furnace filters. Dirty filters reduce the efficiency of a heating and cooling system and could shorten its useful life.
  10. Let the sun shine in. Open blinds and curtains on south-facing windows during the day to take advantage of free solar energy. Close them at night.
  11. Invest in a programmable thermostat. You will see energy savings by lowering the heating temperature (or raising the cooling temperature) at night and when you are not home. A 10-degree night setback can save as much as 10 percent of heating costs.
  12. Inspect the chimney. Chimneys often leak warm air out or cold air into a home. A chimney balloon can fill that space and reduce air leakage and drafts. Don’t forget to clean wood burning flues and chimneys regularly to reduce chimney fire risk.
  13. Insulate the attic. Add insulation to achieve an R-value (insulating factor) as indicated by energy codes of at least R-49.
  14. Replace lights with LED lamps. Save energy and replacement costs.
  15. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Keep your family safe by checking the batteries and testing detectors every six months.
  16. Use tax credits. Take advantage of tax credits available to homeowners who complete energy efficiency projects.