Protecting Your Home From Cold Temperatures

Frigid temperatures. Heavy snow fall. Yes, winter is in full force and it can take a toll on your bills and your home. Where should you start when protecting your home against cold temperatures?

"For extremely cold weather like we've been having, you want to protect your pipes. A lot of times your pipes will run up through your outer walls and can tend to freeze and burst. It could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. I would recommend some insulation for them and we also have water heat cables. They're designed to keep it warm enough to where they won't freeze. Brings it up to about 40 degrees," said Roger Kelley with Home Depot.

While heating costs don't seem to be as high as they have been in the past, you still don't want to pay more than you have to. You can help retain the heat in your home with a few easy steps."

"To maintain heat in your house you want to seal your windows and doors with insulation. We have rubber, felt, a foam, and we also have the silicone. For gaps you can use caulks. For large gaps you can use the polysavers, the caulk savers," said Kelly.

If you spent all day outside shoveling, you might want to take a nice, long, hot shower. There is a way to save money on your water bills as well.

"This shower head will save you 20 percent of your water costs by using only two gallons versus 2.2 gallons per minute," Kelly said.

Keeping your driveway and walkways clear in the winter can be a pain. If you're using rock salt to melt the ice, you may want to reconsider.

"The bigger recommendation to save wear and tear on your driveway is to use calcium chloride versus rock salt because the rock salt can actually destroy and etch into the blacktop and the concrete. It's not recommended for new driveways at all. "

If you're using space heaters to keep particular rooms warm this time of year, make sure you buy one that turns off if it tips over, to avoid a fire hazard.

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Protecting Your Home From Cold Temperatures