[This article was first published in November 2020 and has been revised and expanded.]

Walking in a winter wonderland may be nostalgic or even romantic, but a cold house or frozen water pipes can ruin the mood. Winterizing your home can prevent that.

As a homeowner living in an environment with harsh winters, one of the tasks you probably dread the most is getting your home ready for winter weather. While those living in the more temperate areas of the country such as California, the Southeast, and in the Southwestern states may not have to deal with as much snow and ice, hard winters can still wreak havoc.