How to Weatherproof Your Home Before Winter

Step-by-step

1. 1

   Caulk exterior penetrations

   Walk the exterior — every hose bib, dryer vent, cable/gas line, exterior outlet. Caulk with exterior-grade silicone where the penetration meets siding.

2. 2

   Weatherstrip doors

   Replace crushed foam and install a new bottom sweep. You should be unable to see daylight anywhere around the door frame.

3. 3

   Weatherstrip windows

   V-strip on the sash tracks, foam strip on the sash bottom. If windows are truly bad, add window film kits ($15/window).

4. 4

   Insulate outlet boxes

   Foam gaskets behind exterior-wall outlet covers. Costs $8 for a dozen, blocks a surprising amount of infiltration.

5. 5

   Attic hatch

   The single biggest hidden leak. Weatherstrip the hatch and add 2" rigid foam to the top.

6. 6

   Seal ducts

   In basements and crawlspaces, seal every joint with mastic or foil tape (NOT duct tape — it fails).

7. 7

   Reverse ceiling fans

   Set to clockwise on low. Pushes trapped warm air down from the ceiling.

8. 8

   Service the furnace

   Change filter, book a $120–$180 tune-up. Prevents 60% of winter no-heat calls.

Safety note: this guide is educational. Always follow local building codes, pull required permits, and hire a licensed pro for structural, electrical, gas or plumbing work when in doubt.