With the days getting shorter and the air getting colder – it’s important that we not only prepare ourselves for the cooler months of the year, but our homes as well. Taking some extra precautions while the weather is still generally warm will help you from any headaches that may occur down the line. Windows are features in the home that require a little extra attention when it comes to winterizing, and with the following suggestions – you can be prepared for just about anything once the wind chill drops. If you’re a first time homeowner or you experienced issues after last winter – it’s the perfect time to plan ahead and get things taken care of well ahead of time:

The caulking around your windows is what ultimately helps to keep the chill out and ensure that your windows are working to their full potential. Before the temperature starts to drop, it’s a great idea to ensure that all of your caulking is up to par. If there are any spots you notice may be showing signs or wear or simply need touched up, you can purchase a tube of caulking at any home improvement store and take care of the problem in just an hour or so. This is especially important if you have large windows in a commonly used room that you ensure to keep warm during the winter. With bad caulking, your heater will be working much harder to keep your home at a toasty temperature, thus raising your bill. By stopping the problem before it even gets a chance to start, your utility bills will reflect your extra attention.

Heat Shrink Tubing

If you’re looking to replace your current windows, it’s a great idea to upgrade to an energy efficient style that will help conserve heat in the home. Double or even triple paned glass will help to insulate your home even more and can benefit you all year round. In the winter, it will help to keep the warm air in and in the summer months, it will do the same for the cool air conditioned climate. Not only will you have to worry less about climate control in your home, once again – your utility bill will certainly reflect your changes.

A quick temporary fix, although not very aesthetically pleasing, is to place a “shrink-wrap” type covering over your windows to add a bit extra insulation. This works great in spare rooms where new windows may not seem like a necessary investment, or even in a spot like the attic. Obviously, you’ll want to pay close attention to the windows in your most frequented rooms – but you also want to make sure that all problem areas are taken care of to ensure you’re getting the most out of your home’s heating system in the winter. By doing a quick walk-through and checking on all of the windows in your home, you’ll be sure not to let a window in the guest room or spare bathroom cause you a headache down the line.

Finally, giving the trim around your windows a fresh coat of paint will certainly help, as well. By painting the exterior portion around your windows while the weather is still nice, you’ll be helping to give the spot a little bit of extra protection from harsh weather. By ensuring to do this project around the same time every year, you’ll be building up the area’s immunity to damage, which will lessen your work load (and possibly even eliminate it) in the future.

So before you buckle down and prepare yourself for the cold front to roll in, make sure that your home is ready for harsh winter weather, as well. Although everyone hopes for mild weather during these months – we all know that that’s not always the case. By taking a few extra precautions, you’ll be sure that you don’t have a large workload on your hands once springtime rolls around.

4 Ways to Winterize Your Windows

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