How To Prepare Your Home Ahead of Winter With 6 Items Under $20
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Winter is just around the corner, and heating costs are about to rise. Want to avoid costly utility bills and save money?
Check out these very cheap items you can buy to help make sure your home is ready for the colder temperatures.
Window Insulation Kit
Melanie Musson, a finance expert with InsuranceProviders.com, said an affordable way to get any house ready for winter is a window insulation kit. Musson recommended the Duck window insulation kit, which is $17.95 on Amazon.
“Even high-quality windows are not as insulated as most walls, so getting another layer of insulation can help you cut utility bills,” Musson explained. “This window fill should be cut to the size of your window. You can apply adhesive around the window frame or your wall around the window, then place the film you cut to size. Then, with a hair dryer, you can shrink the film to remove wrinkles or loose areas.”
Weather Sealing Tape
If sealing is needed for smaller areas of a window, Musson suggested getting weather sealing tape, which is available for $15.99 on Amazon.
“This weather-sealing tape is designed for windows and window frames,” Musson said. “You can apply a strip of tape to the edge of the window where it fits in the frame to give another layer of protection against drafts. It also works well for casement windows, so you can seal the seam where the window opens in the summer. You probably won’t need the window open during the winter, so a strip of tape will reduce drafts from the seam.”
Caulk
Another great way to insulate is by using caulk. Caulk is a common method for insulating windows for the winter, as it successfully keeps heat in, per Home Depot’s website. Keeping more heat in means less money going out with your utility bills.
Lowe’s has GE advanced silicone caulk for $10.98.
Curtain Liners
Trying to stay cozy? Consider investing in curtain liners to keep heat in during the chilly winter months.
Amazon is currently running a deal on curtain liners. Get two panels of curtain liners for $15.98, which is 20% off the original price.
Gutter Cleaning Kit
Musson said that it’s really important to clean gutters before winter, and ideally before autumn. “In the fall, leaves can clog gutters and downspouts,” she said.
To stay prepared, Musson recommended buying a gutter cleaning kit. Amazon has a Layhit gutter cleaning kit for $17.99. “This cleaning kit can clear your gutters to lower your risk of ice dams during the winter. Ice dams can wreck your gutters and damage your home’s roof and structural integrity,” she said.
Aluminum Foil Tape
Vernon Trollinger, web content editor and writer at Electricity Ratings, recommended looking at dryer air ducts and HVAC ducts.
“Dryer ducts can clog with lint and refuse to close,” he said. “That will let in lots of cold air and possibly mice.”
As for HVAC ducts, Trollinger says a sealed HVAC system is more efficient.
He explained that when the HVAC system runs, the ducts will vibrate to some degree, but over time, some joints can come apart. “Any gaps I find, I’ll reattach and then wrap and seal with aluminum duct tape (never use the vinyl stuff). This aluminum tape is stronger and won’t decompose from the heat like the vinyl tape,” he said.
Amazon sells aluminum foil tape for $11.97.
More From GOBankingRates
