Keep money in your pocket with these expert winter weatherization tips for your home.

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Check Doors and Windows

Before the winter seasons starts, take some time to evaluate the weather stripping around your doors and windows. If weather stripping is damaged in any way, it should be replaced because it means you are losing energy. Energy transfers from hot to cold, so keeping the heat in helps to keep the cold out.

To fix it, remove the old or damaged weather stripping and bring it in to your local Home Depot and let an expert set you up with new ones. Installation is easy: there are channels in the door frame that the weather stripping can slip right into. Or you can purchase stripping with adhesive. 

Look For Other Cracks and Gaps

Beyond doors and windows, before the weather gets too cold you should take a look around the exterior of your home in search of any other cracks and gaps. Fixing this is simple. All you need is a little caulk in a color that most closely matches the color of your home as possible. Use the caulk to fill in any gaps. Be careful -- latex caulk should not be applied if the temperature has fallen below freezing. This is a project that should be done in milder conditions.

Check Your Insulation

Another thing you want to check before winter weather settles in is your home's insulation -- commonly found in your home's attic and crawl space. Since hot air rises, it's important to seal any gaps between the ceiling and attic. Insulation helps your home stay even more efficient and can help keep your electric bills down as it helps keep the warm air inside your home.

Consider a Programmable Thermostat

While not completely necessary, you may want to consider getting a programmable whole-home thermostat to help regulate the temperature while you're home and while you're away. Some models even sync with mobile apps so that you can monitor the thermostat and your home's temperature anywhere you are. Smart thermostats, like models made by Nest, will learn your habits and anticipate things for you.