FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - You probably already have your winter boots and coat, but how ready is your home for winter?  Cold drafts, gaps, and cracks can keep you feeling icy and could be expensive.   FOX 21's Maya Holmes talks with experts about tips and tricks to gear up your home for winter.

"There's definitely things you can do as a homeowner that can save you money and it's not hard to do," Denny’s Ace Hardware Owner Mark Moran said.

Moran says you don't have to buy new windows to stop those icy drafts because at-home insulation kits will get the job done.

"You apply tape around the border and then you put the clear wrap to it and then you warm it up with a blow dryer and it pulls nice and tight," said Moran.

Applying caulk will remedy window cracks as well.

"It does a great seal and it's removable," said Moran.

Door sweeps and adhesive foam tape can block those chilly drafts that creep in from underneath the door.

"You can put it around the border of your door if you have an older door that leaks," said Moran.

Foam filler can be used for gaps and holes all around your home.

"You can spray it and it kind of expands and seals up any bigger holes," said Moran.

Moran also recommends changing out those clogged-up furnace filters.

"It cleans the air and also saves the components," said Moran.

While sealing up those leaky cracks and fixing up those furnaces are important, experts say make sure you don't forget about those chimneys.

Experts say you should get your chimney inspected and cleaned so it doesn't cause health issues or a fire.

"Make sure that its functioning properly, make sure that the chimneys in good condition," Black Goose Chimney and Duct President Jim Suttie said.

Suttie also recommends buying a chimney cover.

"You can save a lot of damage on the inside of the chimney and it also helps prevent animal entry."

Experts say if you can't afford to get your chimney professionally cleaned you can rent brushes and rods to clean it yourself.