1. Seal all gaps and cracks to keep your home toasty warm.
Sometimes even the smallest cracks in your home can let cold air, even rodents, into your home. There are several types of foam fillers and caulks that can be used, depending on the size of the cracks in the foundation.
2. Insulate your pipes to keep them from bursting in the freezing cold.
Pipes can easily be forgotten until it's too late! Get ahead of the problem by insulating any exposed pipes, which, if left unattended to, could potentially burst from freezing during the winter. It's easy to do yourself! Just go to your local hardware store for insulation foam tubes.
3. Get a doormat to prevent floor damage.
Buying a doormat during the winter prevents you from being a doormat to dirt. Although many people take off their shoes before entering one's home out of politeness, it holds a functional element during the colder seasons. Dirty boots and shoes carrying slush from outside can damage wood floors.
4. Circulate warm air by reversing your fans.
5. Invest in new window treatments and enjoy the cozy atmosphere.
A closed window might provide a sense of security. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop chilly air from entering one's home. Consider purchasing double- or triple-pane windows. Not only is it more energy efficient, it also helps to prevent cold drafts. For a little DIY, you can also add polyurethane film that is also removable.
6. Heat tape is your friend. Icicles are not.
Icicles are really beautiful to look at during the holidays... in a photograph, painting, or movie, that is. When it comes to your home, however, prevent any peril or icicle formation by placing heat tape along your roof/gutters.
7. Trim those trees to keep snow from falling onto your house.
8. Fires increase in the winter — double check your smoke alarms.
Fires can happen at any point during the year and, interestingly, even increase during the winter. Check your smoke detectors throughout your home and purchase a carbon monoxide detector (if you don't already have one) to keep you safe all winter long.
9. Keep plants alive by moving them inside.
Most of the year, plants need sunshine to grow. During the winter, potted plants must be kept inside as they don't do well in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure not to shock your plants with the difference in temperature through a gradual change in environment.
10. Give your furnace some serious TLC to stay cozy.
Don't wait until winter to turn your furnace on. Checking your furnace filters months before will give you an ample amount of time to make sure your airflow is clean. Not to mention, older filters that haven't been cleaned can potentially cause a fire.
11. Take the pressure off with a pressure release valve.
A change in temperature can be shocking; not just for you, but for your plumbing system as well! By installing an emergency pressure release valve, you can prevent your pipes from freezing and/or bursting.