Early polar vortex disruption is in the forecast: what is actually worth doing to prep the house before the first cold snap?
Forecasters are talking about an early polar vortex disruption and a cold snap arriving well before Thanksgiving. I have a drafty old house, pipes on an exterior wall, and windows that rattle. What is actually worth doing this weekend, and what is overkill? I would rather spend a little now than pay a plumber in January.
2 answers
- Seal the gaps, skip the gadgets
I have done this in three rentals now. Pipe insulation and a roll of draft strip cost under $30 total and do more than any $200 winterization kit. Check the hose bibs outside, the attic hatch, and the gap under the back door - that is where the cold actually gets in. A space heater just moves your money to the power company. Do the cheap sealing first, then see if you still have a problem.
- Insulate the pipes and seal the worst window first
Foam sleeves on any pipe on an exterior wall cost a few dollars and take ten minutes, and that is the thing that actually floods a house. After that, one tube of caulk around the worst window and a door sweep. Set the thermostat floor to 55 when you are away so nothing freezes.