The cost to winterize a house is $250 on average, but it can cost between $65 and $1,000 or more depending on the extent of work you need done.
The cost to winterize a house ranges from $50 to $1,500. You can DIY certain tasks for as low as $65, but you’ll need to hire a winterizing pro for more complex projects, which can cost $1,000 or more. Luckily, our guide breaks down the costs associated with winterizing a house.
Determine how much it costs to winterize a house based on these essential factors.
Keep in mind that you’ll likely only perform some of these winterization projects each year.
| Winterization Project | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Insulate Windows | $3–$20 per sq. ft. |
| Replace Furnace Filters | $5–$100 |
| Inspect HVAC | $200–$400 |
| Insulate Pipes | $1.10–$11 per linear foot |
| Clean Gutters | $120–$230 |
| Winterize Sprinkler System | $56–$131 |
| Inspect Chimney | $450 |
| Trim Branches | $460 |
| Close the Pool | $150–$400 |
| Install New Thermostat | $113–$264 |
| Install Insulated Curtains | $50–$100 |
| Drain and Flush Boiler | $75–$200 |
| Change Humidifier Evaporator Pad | $10–$20 |
| Put Up Storm Windows | $30–$65 per hour |
| Roof Inspection | $125–$350 |
You can expect to pay between $3 and $20 per square foot for window insulation and weatherproofing costs. You can insulate windows by caulking, adding weatherstripping, adding insulation film, using bubble wrap, creating a draft stopper, or using spray foam to fill in cracks around the window.
Changing a furnace filter is relatively simple and should cost $5 to $100, depending on the type of filter. You’ll want to replace your furnace filter during the winter to prevent dirt, dust buildup, and unpleasant odors. Fresh filters also help the furnace run more efficiently.
Ensuring that your HVAC runs efficiently helps lower your energy bills and prolong the unit's life. You’ll pay between $200 and $400 for a professional HVAC inspection, which includes checking:
Thermostat
Furnace cabinet
Electrical components
Furnace blower wheel
Furnace ignition
Flue pipe
Heat exchangers
Gas and carbon monoxide testing
Pipe insulation costs between $1.10 to $11 per linear foot. Pipes in colder areas of your home will freeze much faster than indoor pipes. So, it’s a good idea to winterize pipes in the garage, basement, attic, or crawl space.
You can expect to pay between $120 and $230 to have your gutters professionally cleaned before winter. Gutter cleaning removes all the leaves and debris that have built up over the spring, summer, and fall—making it much easier for snow to melt and prevent ice dams.
You’ll pay between $56 and $131 to winterize your sprinkler system, which includes draining water and insulating any above-ground pipes and components. Typically, average irrigation systems have three or four zones—so the more zones you have, the higher the cost.
Chimney inspections cost between $100 and $5,000, with most homeowners paying an average price of $450. Your overall cost will depend on the current condition of your chimney—whether it's operational, needs minor repairs, or has extensive damage.
You can expect to pay between $75 and $1,800 for tree trimming services, with an average cost of $460. You should trim tree branches before harsh winter sets in because tree limbs can cause damage to power lines, homes, cars, and pedestrians.
The cost to close your pool for winter ranges from $150 to $400, with an average price of $250. Winterizing your pool is essential, or you could end up with frozen pipes, pool water, and equipment. Your total pool closing cost depends on the size of your pool, type, materials, labor, and adding extra accessories.
You can expect to pay between $113 and $264 to install a new thermostat, with an average cost of $182. A new thermostat is an excellent addition during the winter months—and if you choose to go with a smart thermostat, it can help regulate your home’s temperature, providing energy savings.
You’ll pay between $50 and $100 to add thermal curtains of polyester or thicker cotton to your home. Thermal curtains hold on to heat and prevent it from escaping out the window, making this a smart and easy choice to add to your winterization list.
You can expect to pay between $75 and $200 to drain and flush your boiler. Draining and flushing the boiler once a year increases your water quality and prevents sediment buildup in the tank, which can lead to cold water, unclean dishes, rusty water, and foul smells.
You’ll pay between $10 and $20 to replace your humidifier evaporator pad. Evaporation pads soak up water and evaporate it into the air through the bypass tube. A whole-house humidifier helps your family stay healthy in the winter by keeping moisture in the air and reducing airborne bacteria and viruses.
You can expect to pay a pro $30 to $65 per hour to install storm windows. Storm windows provide excellent insulation by keeping out drafty, cold air. Not only that, but storm windows protect your existing windows by catching all of the rain, flying debris, snow, hail, and ice.
You can expect to pay between $125 and $350 for a home roof inspection, with an average cost of $230. A roof inspection is an integral part of the winterization process—a roofing pro will check the structure and integrity of your roof, shingles, supporting components, gutters, flashing, and soffits.
Typically, a larger home costs more to winterize. Bigger homes have more windows, doors, and pipes to insulate and more lawn care needs. However, depending on your home’s design, the costs can still add up for smaller homes if there are a lot of doors, windows, and land to winterize.
You can expect labor costs to take up the bulk of your expenses when winterizing a home. The average cost to hire a handyperson runs from $177 to $690, with most homeowners paying $412. If the work is more complex, you may pay more to hire an HVAC specialist, plumber, roofer, or contractor.
A few winterization costs are specific to your location. Homeowners in the northern United States may opt to pay for an annual snow removal contract, which costs between $200 and $600 per season. Another item specific to the north is deciding whether to cover your AC in the winter—with a condenser cover costing between $40 and $150.
You can expect to pay yearly, ongoing maintenance fees to service your HVAC, furnace, boiler, and air ducts:
| Maintenance Item | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| HVAC | $150 |
| Furnace | $80–$100 |
| Boiler | $200–$500 |
| Air Duct Cleaning | $268–$492 |
Your overall winterization costs will increase if your appliances need repair or replacement. For example, on average, HVAC repairs cost $350, and furnace repair runs from $131 to $495.
Handy homeowners can tackle many home winterization projects, including insulating windows and doors, hanging thermal curtains, installing a new thermostat, replacing filters, and cleaning the gutters. You’ll save around $200 or more if you DIY these tasks.
However, we recommend hiring an HVAC company near you to handle your heating needs. You can expect to pay between $50 and $150 per hour. If you need to insulate your pipes, your best bet is to hire a plumber near you, and you’ll pay between $45 to $150 per hour.
You can reduce costs while winterizing a house by:
Conduct yearly maintenance early for major appliances.
Purchase insulation supplies during the off-season.
Reverse your ceiling fans.
Get at least three quotes from winterization pros.
Purchase winter storm essentials in advance.
Roll up a towel and place it under the door to prevent drafts.
Complete house winterization goes above and beyond the list we created above. In addition to everything listed, full house winterization also includes:
Performing a home energy audit.
Preparing your deck and patio for winter.
Learning how to start a snowblower.
Replacing smoke detector batteries.
Installing outlet gaskets.
Installing storm doors.
Although the cost might seem high, winterizing your home is important for your health and the structural integrity of your home. Winterizing will keep your home warm and toasty during the cold months and prolong the life of your appliances, windows, pipes, sprinkler system, pool, and more.
