How Much Does It Cost to Winterize a House? [2026 Data]

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.

Winterizing a House Cost Factors

Determine how much it costs to winterize a house based on these essential factors. 

Types

Keep in mind that you’ll likely only perform some of these winterization projects each year.

Insulate Windows

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. 

Replace Furnace Filters

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.  

Inspect HVAC

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

Insulate Pipes

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. 

Clean Gutters

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. 

Winterize Sprinkler System

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.

Inspect Chimney

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. 

Trim Branches

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.

Close the Pool

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. 

Install New Thermostat

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. 

Install Insulated Curtains

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. 

Drain and Flush Boiler

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. 

Change Humidifier Evaporator Pad

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. 

Put Up Storm Windows

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. 

Inspect Roof

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.

Home Size

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.  

Labor

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. 

Location

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.

Winterizing a House Ongoing Expenses

Maintenance

You can expect to pay yearly, ongoing maintenance fees to service your HVAC, furnace, boiler, and air ducts:

Repairs

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.

Why You Should Hire a Handyperson

You can DIY many winterizing tasks, but it’s a time-consuming process, so hiring a local handyperson can save you a lot of time and hassle. Some tasks should be left to specialized contractors—hire an HVAC company near you for heating needs and a licensed roofer for a roof inspection and repairs. 

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a handyperson

If you have a long list of winterizing tasks, hiring a handyperson is the way to go—here’s why:

• A pro will have all the tools needed for a variety of winterizing projects.

• A handyperson is used to tackling a wide range of tasks, so you won’t need to hire a separate pro for each item on your list.

• Pros have plenty of experience safely working on ladders for projects like clearing gutters.

If you want to DIY winterizing your house

Handy homeowners may be able to DIY many winterizing tasks—here’s what you should know:

• Always take safety precautions when working on a ladder to clear gutters or trim branches.

• Set reminders to replace furnace and HVAC filters.

• Follow manufacturer instructions for winterizing sprinklers.

• Check for drafts or condensation when insulating windows.

• Hire pros for roofing, HVAC, furnace, boiler, and air duct inspections and repairs.

Tips to Reduce Cost While Winterizing a House

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.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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