How to prepare your Illinois home for winter. Window insulation, door weatherproofing, pipe protection, and heating system preparation.
The first hard freeze in Chicagoland typically arrives in late October or November. Here's how to prepare your home so you're comfortable, protected, and not calling for emergency repairs in January.
Windows & Doors — Your Biggest Heat Loss Points
- Check all windows and doors for drafts — hold a candle near edges on a windy day
- Replace worn weatherstripping on all exterior doors
- Apply window film to single-pane or older double-pane windows as a temporary insulation boost
- If you're still dealing with old, drafty windows, the best time to replace is NOW — before the first freeze. Our crews install through early winter. Schedule before winter →
Roof & Gutters
- Clean gutters completely — clogged gutters cause ice dams
- Check that downspouts are clear and directing water away from the foundation
- Inspect roof for damaged shingles that could leak during winter storms or ice events
Exterior
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses
- Shut off exterior faucets from the interior shutoff valve
- Seal gaps around exterior penetrations with caulk or foam
- Check that siding is intact with no gaps where wind-driven snow could enter
Heating System
- Replace furnace filter
- Schedule furnace inspection/tune-up if not done recently
- Test your thermostat and verify heat works before you need it
- Bleed radiators if you have hot water heat
Don't Wait for Emergency
Every winter we get calls from homeowners with burst pipes behind failed windows, roof leaks from ice dams, and drafts so bad they're wearing coats inside. A few hours of preparation now prevents expensive, stressful emergencies later. If your windows, roof, or siding need replacing, doing it before winter is always better than waiting. Schedule your free pre-winter assessment →
A ten-minute walk around the house
Twice a year, walk the outside slowly. Look up at the roof edges for lifted shingles and sagging gutters. Look at the siding for cracks, gaps and soft spots near the ground. Check caulk around windows and doors. Look down at the foundation for soil that has settled toward the house and downspouts that have come loose. Photograph anything that has changed since last time. Small problems caught in a walk-around are cheap; the same problems found by a leak are not.
What to schedule early
Exterior contractors book up before each season. Windows and doors are built to order and take weeks to arrive, and roofing calendars fill after every storm. If you want work finished before winter, start the estimates in late summer; for spring work, start in winter. Planning ahead also gives you time to compare products instead of taking whatever is available.
Where exterior money goes furthest
For how a house looks from the street, the front door, garage door and siding color do the most. For comfort, windows and air sealing. For protecting the building, roof, gutters and flashing. For resale, national cost-versus-value surveys consistently put entry doors, siding and windows near the top for the share of cost recovered. A good plan fixes anything leaking first, then spends on what you will see and feel every day.
Plan the whole house, then phase it
Even if you will do one project a year, decide the end result first: roof color, siding color, trim and window finish. Then each phase fits the next and nothing has to be redone. Tell your contractor the full plan. We keep measurements, product lines and colors on file so that the windows installed next year match the ones installed this year.
Common questions
Ready to Get Started?
Free consultation, transparent pricing, no pressure.
Free Consultation →Or call (331) 250-3726