Insulating your home properly for the winter

Cold winter weather is not only uncomfortable; it can be expensive trying to keep your home warm. Going Green's Terry Ettinger explains how to properly insulate your home.

One way to make sure youre not spending more than you have to is by taking advantage of the wide variety of home winterization products like these window kits.

So that way its a film over the window and what that film does is it prevents heat from escaping and the cold getting in, said James Gardner, a Lowes assistant store manager.

Theres also caulk rope you can use and basically this goes around the edge of doors and windows and that way youre not losing heat through spaces where you might have gaps, Gardner said. Theres also door sweeps. The door sweeps will keep the wind from coming in under the door. That way youre not losing heat or energy out that door.

Theres heat tape and insulation that can be used to wrap around pipes so they dont freeze, and you might want to consider putting a blanket on your hot water heater.

A lot of people dont realize that with a water heater sometimes youre losing heat and energy out of the water heater, especially if its in a basement thats unfinished. You put a blanket around it and keep that heat inside so it isnt kicking on constantly and wasting energy, Gardner said.

And for those interested in the latest technology.

We also have a system thats called Iris. Iris has what they call a home and comfort system and that home and comfort system allows you to control your heat from an iPhone or a tablet or any kind of smart phone, Garder said.

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Insulating your home properly for the winter