To cover your HVAC ducts and air vents during construction, use plastic sheets or drop cloths secured with painter's tape. Be sure to cover all supply vents on your floors and walls, as well as the larger HVAC return vent, which is typically on the ceiling. While canvas drop cloths can also be used, they may not catch all the fine dust. It is crucial to shut off your HVAC system or at least the zone where construction is happening. Running the system with vents sealed can put significant strain on the blower motor and air handler. For additional dust containment, you can also hang plastic sheets over doorways to separate the construction area from the rest of your home.

No, you should avoid using antifreeze in your outdoor spigot to prevent freezing. Antifreeze can contaminate your water supply and harm the environment. Instead, employ safer and more effective methods for winterizing your spigot, such as draining the spigot and using insulation, to protect it from freezing temperatures.

Insulating windows without plastic is usually the better method. Outside of simply replacing your windows, you could buy cellular shades, which trap air between the window and the home, add a window film that blocks UV rays and traps heat, or cover your windows with a low-emissivity coating called “low-E.”

The amount of insulation you need will vary depending on where you live. Energy Star recommends certain minimum insulation values in different geographic regions. In most cases, however, even adding a little insulation is better than not adding any.