Protect your home from pipe bursting in cold

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts inside the home can waste up to 30 percent of energy use. There are several ways to protect homes from the elements inside and out as well as letting owners keep a little extra money in their pockets through the winter.

"Having your furnace inspected in the fall should be a major factor for winterizing your home," said Mike Brown, owner of JDS Mechanical LLC. "Having your ducts cleaned out and your filters changed are recommended once a month, and consider having your thermostat switched out for a programmable one."

Brown said the key to saving money during the winter is to keep the heat in and the cold out. He also suggested placing insulated wrap around water heater and the exposed hot water pipes nearby. Even by using caulk to seal cracks and the places where pipes, cables and other utilities enter the home is effective in keeping cool air out.

"Seal and weather strip doors and windows to ensure a tight fit and reduce drafts," Brown said. "There are kits available at retail stores available already made for your door and window sizes. Adding extra insulation in attics and crawl spaces and sealing up any entry points to keep small animals from getting into the house works."

The majority of mobile homes have an access door on the outside to get to the water heater. This area isn't protected by the heat from the rest of the home.

Wrapping an insulated blanket around the heater and applying heat resistant tape around the pipes will prevent heat from escaping.

"It's important that you detach all water hoses from the external hookups on the outside of your house," said Fred Elias, owner of Elias Ace Hardware in Cape Girardeau. "I've seen it several times before where people would leave the hoses hooked up all winter, then turn it on in the spring and it would flood their whole basement. It isn't pretty."

"It's also important that you have a preparedness kit for your family," Elias said. "You should have a good working flashlight with extra batteries in case of power outages. Spare food to last for a month, ice melt, a snow shovel, gloves and sleds are all a must."

There are a few outside tips that can lower energy bills. In a home with a basement, cover the window wells with plastic.

The same plastic can be used as window coverage in other rooms around the house to keep the air out. Also, if there is a fireplace, make sure the damper opens and closes properly before the first time it's used. If the chimney hasn't been cleaned in a while, call a professional.

Make sure to replace any worn roof shingles and to clean out the gutters. These few preventive maintenance tips can save money and the hassle of having to make midseason repairs.