Winterizing a house yourself costs $50 to $150 in supplies. Hiring it done runs $200 to $500 depending on the size of the house. Either way, it is cheaper than a burst pipe.
What does winterizing actually include?
- Draining outdoor faucets and disconnecting hoses.
- Caulking gaps around windows and doors.
- Checking that attic insulation is deep enough.
- Replacing the furnace filter and getting the furnace serviced.
- Sealing the chimney flue when the fireplace is not in use.
What can you do yourself?
Most of it. Caulk, weatherstripping, draining hoses, and swapping a furnace filter are all beginner-friendly jobs. A tube of caulk costs a few dollars and an afternoon of sealing drafts can shave real money off heating bills.
What is worth hiring out?
A yearly furnace servicing, usually $80 to $150, is worth paying a pro for. They catch cracked heat exchangers and carbon monoxide risks you cannot see. If your attic insulation is thin, blown-in insulation is also a pro job — it pays for itself in a few winters.
What is the one thing people always skip?
The outdoor faucets. A five-dollar foam faucet cover takes thirty seconds to put on. Skip it and a frozen pipe can burst inside the wall, which is a multi-thousand-dollar repair. Do the faucets first, then everything else.
October is the month to do this. Once the first hard freeze hits, it is too late to do it comfortably.