Note: This DIY article is provided as a general guide only and is not intended to take the place of product-specific installation procedures; always follow applicable manufacturers’ instructions. Depending on your home’s age and condition, location within the home, and other potential factors, repairs and/or upgrades or other services may be necessary prior to the beginning and/or completion of your project that may involve the services of a home improvement professional. This article does not include advice pertaining to local building codes and/or any related inspections.
Completing home maintenance before winter is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to strengthen your home against drafts, heat loss, and seasonal wear. While many homeowners winterize their windows, doors, and roofs, numerous spaces are often overlooked. This home maintenance guide highlights the hidden gaps that tend to develop slowly and quietly over time, enabling you to identify and address them before the cold air seeps inside.
When temperatures fluctuate, materials contract and expand, weakening the seals of older structures. This transition into winter is the perfect time to replace or reinforce them, especially in the rooms and corners that don’t get as much attention.
Why year-end sealing matters
Before diving into the locations you should inspect, it helps to understand why these tasks are so impactful. Silicone sealant and insulating foam serve two essential roles in home maintenance:
- Air sealing: This blocks cold drafts and prevents conditioned air from escaping.
- Moisture control: This helps prevent water from entering joints, cracks, and gaps, where it can cause rot, mold, or long-term structural damage.
When temperatures fluctuate, materials contract and expand, weakening the seals of older structures. This transition into winter is the perfect time to replace or reinforce them, especially in the rooms and corners that don’t get as much attention.
Year-end home maintenance: don’t forget to reseal these spots
While you’re inspecting the usual culprits like windows and doors, don’t miss these seven areas.
1. Laundry room
Laundry rooms are notorious for small, unsealed gaps, mainly because the house pipes, vents, and utility hookups pass directly through the wall. Even tiny openings can allow cold exterior air to infiltrate and moisture to accumulate, especially when warm, humid laundry air comes into contact with cold surfaces.
What to inspect:
- Gaps around dryer vents
- Openings where water supply lines enter the wall
- Cracks between baseboards and flooring
- Spaces around utility electrical boxes
What to use:
- Silicone sealant: This is ideal for sealing around baseboards, trim, and any area prone to moisture exposure. Its flexibility allows it to withstand the heat and humidity of laundry appliances. We recommend GE All Purpose Silicone Sealant, available in white or clear.
- Insulating foam: Foam is ideal for filling irregular holes around dryer vents or pipe penetrations, where an airtight seal is required. GE Gaps & Cracks is an excellent choice.
2. Sliding doors
Sliding doors are beautiful, but notoriously draft-prone. Beyond worn weatherstripping, the trim and frame surrounding the door can develop slight separations as seasons change. These gaps allow cold air to seep in, making your HVAC system work harder and reducing overall comfort.
What to inspect:
- Cracks where trim meets drywall or flooring
- Separation along the exterior siding around the sliding door frame
What to use:
- Silicone sealant: GE Supreme Silicone Window & Door Sealant is ideal for interior trim gaps and exterior perimeter joints that require water resistance and flexibility. It adheres well to vinyl siding, maintaining integrity even in extreme temperature changes.
3. Garage
The garage is often the least insulated area of the home, and because garages have direct exposure to outdoor air, they can quickly become cold zones that influence interior temperature. Without proper garage sealing, air gaps can allow fumes and dust to drift into the house.
What to inspect:
- Gaps along the garage-to-house entry door frame
- Cracks around the electrical conduit or water pipes running along the garage walls
- Openings near the foundation
- Spaces around attic hatches located in the garage ceiling
What to use:
- Insulating foam: GE Gaps & Cracks expands to fill irregular holes around conduits or pipes.
- Silicone sealant: For minor cracks around trim, door frames, or interior connections where a clean finish is essential, opt for GE Supreme Silicone Window & Door Sealant.
4. Utility sink counters
Homeowners often overlook the utility sink area in basements, garages, or laundry rooms. Utility sinks are exposed to splashing, humidity, and frequent temperature changes, making proper sealing essential for preventing water damage and mold growth.
What to inspect:
- Gaps where the sink meets the countertop
- Cracks where the backsplash or wall meets the counter
- Openings around plumbing penetrations behind or beneath the sink
What to use:
- Silicone sealant: GE Supreme Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant is a top choice for any water-exposed joint. It resists mold, stays flexible, and provides a long-lasting waterproof bond.
5. Basements and crawl spaces
These areas often serve as the frontline between outdoor cold and indoor warmth. Over time, gaps around sill plates, rim joists, vents, or pipe penetrations can widen, creating significant heat loss.
What to inspect:
- Openings where electrical lines, water pipes, or HVAC ducts pass through exterior walls
- Cracks along the foundation
- Gaps around basement windows
- Rim joist cavities that allow cold drafts
What to use:
- Insulating foam: GE Gaps & Cracks is essential for sealing structural penetrations and rim joist cavities. It provides insulation and air sealing simultaneously.
6. Kitchen and bathroom plumbing penetrations
Even indoors, plumbing penetrations behind sinks, dishwashers, and toilets can create opportunities for cold air infiltration, especially if those walls connect to the exterior of your home.
What to inspect:
- Gaps around pipes behind sinks
- Where vent pipes exit the roof or upper exterior walls
- Cracks around baseboards and trim behind appliances
What to use:
- Silicone sealant: GE Supreme Silicone Kitchen & Bath Sealant is ideal for visible areas where a neat finish is required and moisture is prevalent.
- Insulating foam: Use GE Gaps & Cracks behind walls or in non-visible spaces where gaps are larger.
7. Attics and attic access panels
If your home has attic access through a hallway, bedroom, or garage, inspect the panel or staircase frame for gaps. Warm air rises, making this a central escape point, so air sealing is a must.
What to inspect:
- Gaps around the attic access frame
- Cracks along the flooring edges where HVAC or electrical lines run
- Visible openings around recessed light fixtures (if not already sealed)
What to use:
- Insulating foam: GE Big Gaps & Cracks is effective for larger, hidden gaps in attic cavities.
- Silicone sealant: For smaller joints around the access frame, try GE All Purpose Silicone Sealant.
Choosing the right product for each job
When evaluating whether you need silicone sealant or insulating foam, use this guideline:
- Use silicone sealant for joints that are exposed to moisture, movement, or temperature fluctuations. It provides a flexible, durable, and waterproof finish, making it perfect for trim, interior joints, kitchens, bathrooms, and exterior siding connections.
- Use insulating foam for larger penetrations, voids, and structural gaps where air or pest infiltration is the primary concern. Foam expands to fill irregular spaces, creating a strong insulating barrier.
Both products serve complementary roles in comprehensive home maintenance.
Home maintenance before winter: practical tips you can use
Here are a few additional tips you can use to protect your home from the cold:
- Walk the perimeter of your home on a cool, windy day. Drafts are easier to detect this way.
- Check both inside and outside wherever pipes, vents, or wires pass through walls.
- Look for discoloration, which often indicates moisture infiltration and failing sealant.
- Replace older or cracked sealant, even if gaps look minimal. Winter weather will worsen them.
Want to make sure your home is protected this winter? GE sealants and foams will get the job done. Find our products in a store near you in the U.S. or Canada.
