How to Winterize Your House with 10 Steps for Your Health and Wellbeing
© 2026 Health Realizations, Inc.

After pumpkins and apple cider come snow showers and icicles, and while you're preparing your mind for the upcoming holidays, it's important to prepare your home for the coming winter weather as well.

If you don't, you risk higher heating bills and possibly some expensive repairs come spring. As soon as you feel the air getting chilly, it's time to complete the list below.

1. Clean Your Gutters

Fallen leaves can easily clog your gutters, causing water to back up, freeze and possibly seep into your home. First remove any debris from the gutters, then rinse them well with a hose. As you do so, check for any leaks, and make sure the downspouts carry water away from your house, so the outpour doesn't leak into your foundation.

2. Do a "Pre-Winter Cleaning"

Many of us already do spring cleaning of our homes, but a thorough cleaning prior to winter is also important. Keep in mind that during a winter cleaning you will not be able to vent your windows for fresh air, so it's very important to use only natural cleaning supplies that won't add potentially toxic chemicals into your home's air.

When it comes to cleaning tools, some of the same ultramicrofibers tools used by leading hospitals, hotels, and other organizations that depend on environments that are clean down to the biological level.

Rather than just pushing dust and dirt around, or worse, stirring it up into the air, ultramicrofibers are positively charged picking up everything in their path -- including the biological and toxic contaminants that no other cleaning tool or solution can touch.

Be aware that most commercial cleaners are toxic and contain harsh chemicals that are poisonous if inhaled or spilled on the skin as they contain hazardous ingredients, petrochemicals, perfumes, dyes or animal byproducts.

3. Check Your Insulation

Hot air rises, so adequate insulation in your attic is crucial to save money on your heating bills.

"If you go into the attic and you can see the ceiling joists you know you don't have enough, because a ceiling joist is at most 10 or 11 inches," says Danny Lipford, host of the TV show "Today's Homeowner."

Generally, you want at least 12 inches of attic insulation to keep your home warm.

4. Disconnect and Drain Hoses and Sprinkler Systems

You must disconnect, and drain, hoses, outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems before the first freeze of the season. Otherwise, the pipes could easily burst, causing major damage.

5. Keep Out Cold Air

Drafts from cold winter air are said to account for 10 percent of your heating bill. To keep cold air out, use weather-stripping and caulk around your windows and doors. If your windows are particularly drafty, and you aren't ready to buy new windows, inexpensive window insulation kits are available at home improvement stores. The key areas to inspect for leaks, according to Lipford, are:

• Around door and window frames

• Around exterior openings including utility outlets, phone lines, outside plumbing faucet, vents and fans

• Around heating and/or air conditioning

• Around room air conditioners

• At corners formed by siding

• Openings around drain pipes in bathroom and kitchen

6. Consider a Programmable Thermostat

It's most efficient to heat your home up a little after you've been out than to simply keep the heat up all the time. Programmable thermostats allow you to keep the heat down while you're out or sleeping, then turn it up shortly before you get home from work or wake up in the morning. Even small temperature changes can make a big difference. According to Lipford, for every degree that you lower the temperate in your home, your heating bill will go down about 2-3 percent.

7. Take Care of Your Furnace

Replace or clean your dirty furnace filters and have a professional inspect your furnace to make sure it's working properly. If necessary, have your ducts cleaned as well.

8. Prepare Your Hot Water Heater

Hot water makes up an estimated 14 percent of your utility bill. You can help to keep your water hot by wrapping a water-heater blanket around your water heater and insulating your water pipes.

9. Inspect Your Roof

Minor damage, such as missing or cracked shingles or bare spots, can lead to much more extensive damage if water leaks in. If you spot broken or curling shingles, or bare spots in the granular coating, you should repair them now.

10. Reverse Your Ceiling Fan

In the winter, ceiling fans can keep hot air down toward the floor instead of hovering near the ceiling. They should run clockwise, on low, for maximum efficiency in the winter.

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Sources

Today's Homeowner

CBSNews.com

Home Depot: Ways to Winterize Your House Checklist

House Beautiful: How to Winterize Your Home in 10 Easy Steps

Global Credit Union: 10 Tips to Winterize Your Home A Checklist

Greenattic: How to Winterize a House - Complete Checklist