Winterize a House Cost: $125 to $200 Tune-Up + Checklist

Winterizing a house cost: task by task

National published figures. Not every house needs every task: skip the chimney sweep with no fireplace, the blowout with no sprinklers.

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Is it an emergency? No heat, a frozen pipe or a CO alarm

Three winter problems cannot wait: a burst pipe, a frozen pipe you cannot thaw, and a CO alarm. State Farm paid an average of more than $30,000 per freeze water damage claim from January 2024 through June 2025, so a pipe is worth a same-day call.

• CO alarm sounding, or headache and dizziness in more than one person: get everyone out and call 911.
• Pipe burst: shut off the main water valve, then call a plumber; see burst pipe repair. Photograph the damage and call your insurer.
• Faucet gives only a trickle: keep it open and warm the pipe with a heating pad, hair dryer or space heater, never an open flame (Red Cross). Call a plumber if you cannot find the frozen section.
• No heat below freezing: call the heating line; see furnace repair.

How to winterize a house: what to do before the first freeze

Do the plumbing steps before the first hard freeze and the heating steps before you need the heat. Most of these steps come from the American Red Cross and CDC:

1. Drain outdoor hoses and faucets. Remove and store hoses, close the inside valve that feeds each outdoor faucet, and leave the outside faucet open so trapped water can expand (Red Cross).
2. Drain sprinkler and pool supply lines following the manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not add antifreeze unless directed (Red Cross).
3. Insulate pipes in unheated spaces such as attics, basements and crawl spaces, with pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat tape (Red Cross).
4. Have the furnace, boiler or water heater serviced. CDC says gas, oil and coal appliances should be serviced by a qualified technician every year.
5. Have the chimney checked or cleaned every year (CDC).
6. Test CO alarms near every sleeping area and replace any older than about 5 years (CDC).
7. Clear the gutters after the leaves fall so meltwater can drain; see gutter repair and cleaning.
8. Plan for time away. Leave the heat on, set no lower than 55°F (Red Cross).

Furnace tune-up cost and what it covers

A furnace tune-up costs $125 to $200, and an inspection alone runs $80 to $100, in HomeAdvisor's June 2026 data. Filters cost $1 to $35 and need changing every 4 to 12 weeks depending on use. If the tech finds a problem, HomeAdvisor puts the average furnace repair at $318, with most paying $133 to $505.

Book it in early fall, before you need the heat. If the furnace is near the end of its 15 to 25 year life, price a furnace replacement or a heat pump while it still runs. Boiler homes need the same yearly service; see boiler repair. For anything else on the heating side, start at HVAC repair.

Prevent frozen pipes: what a burst pipe costs

A frozen pipe is the most expensive thing on this list to skip: State Farm paid an average of more than $30,000 per claim for water damage caused by freezing from January 2024 through June 2025, across more than 20,000 claims and $628 million in losses, according to its claims data reported by Carrier Management. The Insurance Information Institute puts the average water damage and freezing claim at $15,400 for 2019 to 2023.

Insurer figures include the water damage, not just the pipe. State Farm named Illinois, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Tennessee as its top states by claim cost.

Pipe insulation costs about $600 installed in both HomeAdvisor's and Angi's 2026 data, and foam sleeves cost $0.50 to $2 a foot to do yourself. During a cold snap, let cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes, keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night, and open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors (Red Cross).

If a faucet gives only a trickle, suspect a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open and warm the pipe with a heating pad, hair dryer or space heater kept away from anything flammable. The Red Cross says never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or any open flame. If you cannot find or thaw the frozen section, call a plumber. If a pipe has burst, shut off the main water valve first; see burst pipe repair and emergency plumber.

Gutter cleaning and ice dams before winter

Gutter cleaning costs $175 on average, $100 to $250 for most homes, in HomeGuide's data, and HomeGuide recommends it 2 to 3 times a year. In snow country, clogged gutters and attic heat loss feed ice dams. A professionally installed heat cable runs $500 to $4,600 per Angi, while sealing and insulating the attic treats the cause: ENERGY STAR says air sealing and insulation can save up to 10% on annual energy bills. See ice dam removal and attic insulation cost. Do not climb onto an icy roof; use a roof rake from the ground.

Chimney sweep cost and carbon monoxide safety

A chimney sweep costs $150 to $375, $275 on average, in HomeGuide's February 2026 data; a gas fireplace runs $80 to $150, and a Level 1 inspection $100 to $250. HomeGuide says sweep at least once a year. Cracked crowns or loose bricks are a chimney repair job.

Carbon monoxide kills more than 400 Americans a year in poisonings not linked to fires, and sends more than 100,000 to the emergency room, the CDC says. Its prevention list is short: CO alarms near every bedroom, a yearly check of fuel-burning appliances and the chimney, and never running a generator indoors or in a garage. A portable generator belongs outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents; a standby generator avoids the problem.