Winterizing Your House Now Can Save You Money Later—What Pros Want You to Know

The process of preparing your home for winter is known as winterizing, though the exact steps a homeowner needs to take to winterize their home varies. Basic winterizing tasks can be as simple as draining and turning off the water to the outside faucets, but wintering a house can also include complex and costly projects, like replacing the furnace.

On average, a homeowner will spend about $1,000 to complete repairs, upgrades, and a series of basic winterization tasks. Learn more about how much it costs to winterize a house to prepare your home for winter weather.

How Much Does It Cost to Winterize a House?

While the average cost to winterize a house is about $1,000, the price can range widely from as little as $75 to $205 for basic winterization tasks to as much as $12,900 to $37,250 for more comprehensive winterization projects.

If your house is in relatively good condition, you may not need to do any repairs or upgrades before the winter season, which can significantly decrease the cost. If you’re capable of tackling basic winterization tasks on your own, then you won’t need to worry about costs to hire a professional.

If your house is in poor condition or a specific home system needs to be repaired or upgraded, then the cost to winterize a house can quickly increase, especially when professional repair technicians or installers are required.

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Insulating and Sealing

Insulating and sealing the home are important steps in the winterization process that help to prevent warm air from indoors from escaping through gaps, cracks, and poorly insulated walls and ceilings.

Replacing the attic insulation ranges from about $1,500 to $3,500, but it can save you about $200 to $300 per year. Also, this only needs to be done once every 15 years, so you only need to address this issue if the attic insulation is in poor condition.
Wall insulation lasts from about 15 to 20 years, but if the existing insulation is in rough shape, then you will need to spend between $1,000 to $4,000 to replace it. New wall insulation will help save between $160 to $240 per year, making it well worth the investment.
Installing new basement insulation can cost between $1,500 to $2,500, while the average home will save about $150 to $200 with upgraded basement insulation. Typically, basement insulation lasts between 15 to 20 years, giving you plenty of time to recoup the costs.
Window sealing and insulation can generally be added for about $3 to $20 per square foot. This usually includes adding weatherstripping, insulation film, and caulking, though installers may also use spray foam to fill in cracks around the window.

Installing insulated curtains can help to prevent heat from escaping through the glass. The cost of the upgrade ranges from just $50 to $100, making this a good choice for any homeowners that are hoping to reduce their energy bills this winter.

HVAC Repair and Maintenance

HVAC repair and maintenance is an important step in winterizing a house.

Basic HVAC system service, including an inspection and annual tune-up will cost about $80 to $200 on average. The technician will check to make sure the HVAC system is operating properly and they will suggest any repairs or upgrades that may be necessary in the near future.
Installing a new furnace is a costly project that is best left for spring when the HVAC system isn’t in use. However, if the system dies just before the winter, you will need to pay about $2,000 to $11,000 to have the old furnace replaced.
Replacing the furnace filter is a relatively easy job that most homeowners can handle on their own. It costs about $5 to $100, depending on the type of filter, and can help the HVAC system run more efficiently throughout the winter.
Changing the humidifier evaporator pad is another easy task that homeowners should be able to do without professional help. A new humidifier evaporator pad will cost about $10 to $20, which is a small price to pay to reduce airborne bacteria and viruses.

Draining and flushing the boiler system typically costs between $75 to $200 on average. This yearly job can be tackled for free by an experienced DIYer, but many homeowners prefer to have a professional take care of the boiler system to ensure there aren’t any unforeseen problems.
Installing a new thermostat isn’t always necessary. Thermostats can last for years without needing to be replaced, but if the home needs a new thermostat then you should set aside about $113 to $264 for this upgrade.

Chimney and Gutter Cleaning

Keeping the chimney clean helps to ensure the HVAC system operates safely and efficiently, so have the chimney inspected and cleaned about once a year in the fall. This process typically costs between $150 to $300, depending on the slope of the roof and the local labor costs.

Similarly, cleaning the gutters before the winter season is important for preventing clogs and ice dams from forming in the gutters. You may be able to clean gutters yourself without any issues, but if you’re nervous about working on a ladder or simply don’t have the time, you can hire professionals to clean gutters for about $200 to $250.

Insulate Pipes and Winterize Sprinkler System

Low winter temperatures can put your water pipes at risk of freezing if they are not properly insulated. Pipes in colder areas of the home, like the basement, garage, or crawlspace are at greater risk. Plan to spend about $1.10 to $11 per linear foot to insulate the pipes.

You will also need to winterize exterior faucets by turning off the water to the faucets and draining any remaining water. If your home has a sprinkler system, it will need to be winterized before the snow and ice hit. You may be able to winterize your sprinkler system on your own, but if you call in a professional to handle this work, it will cost $56 to $131.

Roof Inspection and Repair

Winter snow and ice storms can be damaging to a roof that is already in poor condition, so it’s a good idea to have a roof inspection completed during the winterization process to identify any potential problems. You can conduct this inspection yourself or hire a professional for about $100 to $300.

If you discover any issues with the roof, make repairs as soon as possible. DIYers can typically patch small holes or replace a couple of shingles, but for more extensive repairs you will need to hire a professional. Plan to spend between $150 to $1,500 to repair the roof before winter.

Trim Branches and Close the Pool

If your yard has one or more trees nearby then it’s a good idea to take some time to trim the branches. Depending on the size and condition of the trees, as well as the DIYer’s level of comfort dealing with tree trimming, it may be best to hire a professional tree trimming service. This typically costs between $75 to $1,800, so make sure to set aside room in your budget.

Similarly, not every home has a pool that needs to be closed before the winter season. However, if your home does have a pool, then you can end up paying between $150 to $400 to have a professional close the pool. Some homeowners may know how to handle this process on their own, allowing them to save on the cost of labor.

Basic Costs to Winterize a House

Winterizing can generally be completed for just $75 to $205 if you do most of it yourself. In fact, some winterization tasks don’t cost anything at all. Consider these basic DIY costs to winterize a home.

Add Weatherstripping: $5 to $50
Change Furnace Filter: $5 to $100
Clean Gutters: $0
Drain Outdoor Faucets: $0
Inspect Roof: $0
Install Outlet Gaskets: $5 to $15
Replace Smoke Detector Batteries: $10 to $20
Reverse Ceiling Fans: $0
Shrink Wrap Windows: $15 to $20

Full Costs to Winterize a House

Homes that have one or more areas requiring updates or repair will cost more to properly winterize than a home that is already in good condition. And if you’re not able to handle any DIY jobs to prepare the home for winter they will need to budget for the cost to hire a professional.

The full costs to winterize a house range from $13,500 to $39,250, depending on what needs to be done. While putting together a project budget, refer to this list of full professional costs to winterize a home.

Add Insulation: $3,000 to $7,000
Install and Clean Chimney Cap: $300 to $600
Install Gutter Guards: $1,200 to $2,000
Install New Ductwork: $1,900 to $6,000
Install New Furnace: $2,000 to $11,000
Install Storm Doors: $500 to $800
Install Storm Windows: $2,000 to $5,000
Insulate Hot Water Heater: $150 to $800
Insulate Roof Deck: $1,200 to $2,000
Insulate Water Pipes: $100 to $1,000
Seal Deck: $550 to $1,050