During the winter, home utility prices can skyrocket. In order to keep your home warm and cozy this winter, it’s important to spend time winterizing your home. Taking the following steps to winterize your home will improve your home’s efficiency and help you save money on monthly fee when buying a house.

1. Seal windows with plastic & caulk
The first step toward winterizing your home is to seal your windows. There are a few steps you can take to make sure your windows aren’t letting in a draft. The first step you can take is to caulk the edges of the windows. This is a good option for windows that don’t open in both directions. Sealing the edges of the non-moveable area of the window will allow you to seal the cracks and prevent them from letting in cool air. If caulking isn’t an option you can take it to the next level and seal each of your windows with plastic. There is special window plastic that you can buy which allows you to seal the window frame with an air tight layer that prevents window drafts.

2. Cover cracks under drafty doors
Another step you can take toward winterizing your home is to cover cracks under your doors to prevent a draft from getting through. You can do this by simply rolling towels into long snake like shapes to cover each door crack. You can also buy pre-made double sided door draft stoppers from a home decor store.

3. Get a furnace tune up
You should also winterize your home by getting a furnace tune up. A tune up includes changing your furnace filter and making proper adjustments each year to reduce energy costs. Most tune ups can save you up to 5 percent on your monthly heating bill in the winter, so this is an effective cost saving tip for winterizing your home.

4. Keep an eye on your thermostat
When winterizing your home, it’s also important to keep an eye on your thermostat. Typically in the winter you will turn the heat on to increase the room temperature higher than you normally would during other cool seasons. Because of this it’s important to adjust your thermostat when you’re not in your home during the day. This will help you save on energy costs by only being at the highest heat while you’re in your home. For every degree that you turn your thermostat down you can save between 1 and 3 percent on your heating bill, so it’s an important way to stay efficient this winter.

5. Add insulation to the attic
A final step toward winterizing your home is to add additional insulation to the attic. You can first remove the current insulation to find and seal leaks in the ceiling that may be causing a draft from the attic. Once sealed you can put the original insulation back in place and then add an additional layer to keep the heat in your home and prevent it from escaping through the attic.