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Fall & Winter Home Prep
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By
Tom Griffo profile picture
Tom Griffo
A starter checklist for getting your home ready for cold weather: seal the drafts, protect your pipes, get ready for snow and leaves, and run a few safety checks. Nearly everything is under $30. Links go to Home Depot. Disclosure: Some links on this ...
Sections
4
 
Seal the Gaps
 
Pipes & Heat
 
Snow & Leaves
 
Safety Checks

Seal the Gaps

 
Tom Griffo profile picture
Self-stick foam for the gaps around doors and windows. Under $7 and a five-minute job.
Frost King Foam Weatherstrip Tape, 3/4 in. x 10 ft.
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Closes the gap under an exterior door. It's 36 inches long, so check your door width before you buy.
Frost King White Aluminum & Vinyl Door Sweep, 36 in.
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Clear silicone for sealing around windows and doors. 4.5 stars from over 5,000 Home Depot reviews.
GE Advanced Silicone 2 Caulk 10.1 oz Window and Door Sealant Clear 2811092
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Four indoor shrink-film kits for about $6. A cheap way to cut drafts through older windows.
Frost King Indoor Window Insulation Shrink Kit, 4-Pack
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Pipes & Heat

 
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Self-sealing foam sleeve for exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces, and garages. Check your pipe size first. This one is 7/8 in. inside diameter.
Everbilt 3/4 in. Foam Self-Seal Pipe Insulation, 6 ft.
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Hard-shell cover for an outdoor spigot. Under $5, and a burst pipe costs a lot more.
Everbilt Hard Outdoor Faucet Cover
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Foam sealers that sit behind outlet and switch plates to stop cold air coming through exterior walls. 14 for under $3.
Frost King Electric Outlet & Switch Sealers, 14-Pack
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Snow & Leaves

 
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18-inch ergonomic shovel with a metal handle. A Home Depot best seller, 4.4 stars from over 1,700 reviews.
True Temper 18 in. Ergonomic Mountain Mover Snow Shovel
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A 20 lb bag of pet-safer ice melt that works down to 10°F, for about $13. Buy it before the first storm, not during.
Keep it Green 20 lb. Pet-Safer Ice & Snow Melt
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Light aluminum handle and a wide head, so fall cleanup goes faster. 4.8 stars from over 300 Home Depot reviews.
Fiskars 67 in. Lightweight Aluminum Handle Leaf Rake
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Safety Checks

 
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Smoke and carbon monoxide in one AA-powered unit, for about $50. Heating season is a good time to test your alarms and check the replacement date.
Kidde AA Battery-Powered Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector
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A 200-lumen LED lantern for power outages. It floats, and it's under $10. Check the listing to see whether batteries come with it.
Defiant 200 Lumens Floating LED Lantern
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