Have you made your Champaign County home winter-proof yet? If not, now is the time to make sure you get through the rest of the cold months without major issues.

One of the main things to check for in a home is leaks. Heat loves to escape from leaks, and that can really cost you in the end.

Here's a handy checklist of items to shore up for the winter to help you save money and protect your home and family.

Visually inspect:

• All exterior corners
• Outdoor water faucets
• Where siding and chimneys meet
• Areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet.

Next, take the inspection inside. Look for drafts and gaps around:

• Electrical outlets
• Switch plates
• Door and window frames
• Electrical and gas service entrances
• Baseboards
• Weather stripping around doors
• Fireplace dampers
• Attic hatches
• Wall - or window - mounted air conditioners.
• Cable TV and phone lines
• Where dryer vents pass through walls
• Vents and fans.

Additional home winter tips:

• Stock up on a survival kit and supplies
• Consider purchasing a generator if you live in an area prone to power outages
• Take out and inspect your shovels and snow blowers
• Inspect outdoor lighting
• Use rugs inside rooms for trapping heat and to keep your home warmer
• Clear window weep holes of debris
• Stock up on enough fuel for your motors and appliances
• Maintain an average room temperature of no less than 55 degrees to keep the inside of the walls and pipes warm
• Leave doors of unoccupied rooms open for even flow of heat
• Protect outdoor furniture or consider storing them inside
• Know how to shut off the water supply and where your pipes are located
• Have a list of phone numbers for emergencies and repairs

After filling gaps and repairing cracks, you should consider upgrading your insulation. Insulation is literally your defense against cold air and Winter elements. Older homes in Champaign County are usually in need of upgraded insulation, as many of today's products were simply not available when those homes were built. If you have an old home, especially one that has not been updated or been subject to today's building codes, it's time to see where improvements can be made.

Several options are available. If you're a green-minded homeowner, then be sure to check out the latest advances in recycle paper, cellulose, and denim insulations. Yes, you can insulation your home with "old jeans"!

Recycled denim insulation is VOC and formaldehyde free, as well as 100% recyclable. Cellulose is made from at least 75 percent post-consumer recycled content (newspaper), and takes as much as thirty percent less energy to make than traditional insulation. Cellulose also has no effect on indoor air quality.

If you take these steps now, you can make sure this winter in Champaign County doesn't eat away at your comfort and pocketbook.

Visit our blog twice a week for more helpful real state articles and local Champaign County news. Follow us on Facebook! Rose Price can help you find the ideal home in Champaign - Urbana! Start your home search now with our powerful home search feature.