According to Thumbtack—the modern home management platform—the top winterizing projects that you shouldn’t ignore are those providing maintenance to water supply and pipes, prepping for snow and ice and servicing your fireplace (hiring a chimney sweep if it’s a real wood fireplace or checking the gauge if it’s gas).
As if you needed another reason to winterize, the repercussions of not winterizing can be costly. Thumbtack says that a typical frozen pipe repair costs $200 and anywhere from $400 to $1,500 for a burst pipe. And if you must replace the main water line? Well, then that cost jumps up to $2,000 to $3,000.
Keep reading for everything you need to winterize your home. As always, the prices listed may fluctuate over time.
11 Things You Need to Winterize Your Home
1. 3M Indoor Window Insulator Kit
2. Splash RV and Marine Antifreeze
Antifreeze is a critical ingredient in your winterizing checklist. You can use it on everything from unused pipes (in a vacation home), recreational vehicles, boats, campers, hot tubs and pools. Splash RV and Marine Antifreeze is specifically formulated to protect pipes from bursting from temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit. One Lowes.com reviewer wrote, “Wonderful item… Use in drains, toilets during the winter to insure [sic] that pipes don’t freeze. Shut off water, drain all pipes in the cabin and pour this product in drains and toilets. Excellent Item. Use it every year.”
Buy at Lowe’s for $3.48.
3. Evelots Door Draft Stopper
4. DampRid Hanging Moisture Absorber in Fresh Scent (Set of 3)
Available in a pack of three, the DampRid Hanging Moisture Absorber in Fresh Scent is a disposable packet that unfolds and hangs, absorbing up any excess water as well as unpleasant musty odors. You’ll want to utilize the DampRid’s help in the basement, shed or vacation home. You can also hang them in bathrooms, lockers, RVs, boats, cars, campers and more. You’ll know it’s working when you see just how much liquid fills up the bag; and when all of those white pellets are dissolved? Well, that means DampRid worked its magic, and it’s time to dispose of the freshener and replace it with a new one. With a 4.8-star rating on BedBathandBeyond.com, one reviewer wrote, “I have used these hanging bags for many years. I recommended them recently to a friend who recently looked at the items on the upper shelves of her closet. Expensive boots, handbags etc. were covered with mold, unable to be salvaged.”
Buy at Bed Bath & Beyond for $9.99.
5. Reach Barrier 3009 Garage Door Insulation Kit
6. The Planket Frost Protection Plant Cover
The Planket Frost Protection Plant Cover 8-foot Round is a lightweight but strong blanket that covers and protects the ground and plants from frost and freezes. It’s easy to assemble as it just effortlessly envelopes around plants up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The Planket works on everything from ground-covered plants to hanging plant baskets, protecting them from cold temperatures, so they don’t die off from frost. One HomeDepot.com reviewer wrote, “I bought this cover for a 4ft hibiscus that I was having difficulty wrapping with a blanket. The round cover was easy to use and to attach to the ground with staples (bought separately). It is light and so didn’t damage the hibiscus as a heavy blanket would.”
Buy at Home Depot for $14.95.
7. Pool Chemical Winterizing Kits
Pools have to be winterized, too! The Pool Chemical Winterizing Kit from In the Swim has everything you need to prepare your pool for wintertime. The kit includes chlorine-free shock, time-release winter floater, Winter Stain Away, winterizer and Winter Sorb—all of which will never stain or bleach vinyl or plaster pools. The kit is even pre-measured for your specific pool size! Just make sure to clean the pool water first, balance it and close the pool with the temperature as close as possible to below 65 degrees. With a 4.5-star rating on InTheSwim.com, one reviewer wrote, “Been winterizing pools for 30+ years. Used this kit last season and the results were well beyond my expectations.”
Buy at In the Swim from $23.99.
8. Pop-Up Plant Plant Protector
9. Snow Joe Shovelution Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel
10. Heated Ice Scraper
The Heated Ice Scraper is a saving grace! It plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and features an extra-long 11.5-foot cord and an extendable handle so that you can reach the front, side and rear windows to scrape off your car. It even comes with a built-in squeegee and LED work light so you can comfortably use it even when it’s dark out. By heating up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, the Heated Ice Scraper melts ice and frost faster so that you can get on the go quicker.
Buy at Sharper Image for $49.99.
11. Freeze Miser Outdoor Faucet Freeze Protection
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