Preparing Your Home for Winter: Energy-Saving Tips for Wichita & South-Central Kansas
At Larry Cook Companies, we help homeowners across Wichita and surrounding communities strengthen their homes before winter sets in. Here are practical construction upgrades and maintenance tips that can help your home stay warm, efficient, and ready for the cold season.
Start with an Energy Audit
Before you make any changes, it helps to know exactly where your home is losing energy. A professional energy audit identifies air leaks, insulation gaps, and inefficiencies in your home’s construction.
Many local energy providers in Kansas offer rebates or discounts for energy audits.
Improve Insulation and Air Sealing
Insulation is your home’s best defense against the Kansas cold. Check your attic, crawl space, and walls to ensure you have the right level of insulation. Adding or replacing insulation can help reduce heating costs by an average of 15%.
Air sealing is also important. Sealing around your attic access, foundation, and wall penetrations keeps warm air inside and cold air out. This helps your home stay comfortable and energy-efficient throughout the winter.
Construction Tip: Larry Cook Construction can help you with achieving insulation upgrades and air-sealing solutions designed for Kansas homes of all ages and styles.
Seal Windows and Doors
Even small gaps around windows and doors can make your home feel drafty. Apply weatherstripping, install door sweeps, and use caulk or foam sealant around trim.
When it is time to replace old windows, look for ENERGY STAR®-rated models, which can save up to 13% on your annual energy bill.
Maintain a Tight Building Envelope
Your home’s outer shell — the roof, siding, and foundation — does a lot of heavy lifting to keep you warm. When it’s worn or cracked, cold air and moisture can sneak in. Check these areas before winter hits, and take care of any issues early to help save money and stress down the road.
Upgrade Windows and Shades
If new windows are not in your budget this year, there are still ways to make your home more efficient. Add thermal curtains or insulated cellular shades to reduce drafts and trap heat inside. These small upgrades are especially helpful for older Kansas homes with single-pane glass.
Is Your Furnace Working Overtime?
If your heating system seems to run nonstop, it may be working harder than it should.
Learn the common causes, what to check, and when to call a professional.
Optimize Your Heating Efficiency
Construction improvements can help keep heat inside, but your heating system still does most of the work. Partner with Larry Cook HVAC for seasonal tune-ups that keep your system running efficiently and help prevent unexpected breakdowns during the coldest months.
Insulate and Seal Ductwork
In a typical home, about 20-30% of the air moving through the duct system can be lost due to leaks, holes and poor connections before it ever reaches the living spaces. Properly sealing and insulating ducts improves your home’s overall efficiency and helps maintain consistent comfort throughout your house.
Exterior Upgrades That Add Comfort
Small exterior improvements can make a noticeable difference during the winter months.
Add door sweeps and storm doors for extra insulation.
Choose light-colored roofing to reflect sunlight and regulate attic temperature year-round.
Encapsulate crawl spaces to prevent cold air from seeping into your floors.
Each of these construction details protects your home’s structure while improving comfort and energy performance.
Light and Appliance Efficiency
Energy savings don’t stop at your furnace or insulation—small, daily choices add up. Replace older bulbs with LEDs, which use a fraction of the energy and last years longer. Add motion sensors, dimmers, or smart plugs to cut lighting use in unoccupied rooms. And when possible, unplug chargers and electronics that draw standby, or “phantom,” power even when switched off. These low-effort habits support your bigger home upgrades and trim your utility bills month after month.
Landscape with Energy Efficiency in Mind
Your yard can help manage indoor comfort, too. Thoughtful landscaping shields your home from extreme temperatures year-round. Evergreens placed on the north and west sides act as windbreaks that soften cold winter gusts. On the south and east sides, deciduous trees—like maples or oaks—provide shade through the summer but let sunlight warm your home after the leaves fall. In short, nature becomes part of your energy plan, working alongside your home’s mechanical systems to maintain steady comfort naturally.
Partner with Local Experts Who Know Kansas Homes
At Larry Cook Construction, we understand the unique weather challenges that Kansas homeowners face. Whether you are sealing an older farmhouse or improving a newer build, our team can help you strengthen your home’s envelope, improve insulation, and reduce seasonal energy waste.
Ready to Prepare Your Home for Winter?
Even a few simple upgrades—like sealing air leaks or adding insulation—can make a big difference in your home’s comfort and energy costs.
Contact Larry Cook Construction today to schedule your energy-efficient home improvement estimate.
📞 Call (316) 260-4456
🌐 Visit larrycookcompanies.com
U.S. Department of Energy – Home Energy Assessments
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-energy-assessments