The start of the New Year ushered in a cold snap that brought below freezing temperatures, leaving many households screaming for more heat.

And with the winter here to stay a few more months, home and garden experts encourage residents to winterize their homes — especially the parts that cool air can seep through easily, such as a window or door.

Writer Danny Wong said there are simple tips to keeping open areas sealed from winter’s frosty howl.

“To winterize your doors, you need to figure out ways to make sure your door isn’t letting any cold air into the house or warm air out,” Wong said. “Simple tips for winterizing your doors include checking alignment, adding a draft snake … and weatherstripping, to plug up any leaks your doors may have.”

Selma Hardware and Supply owner Will Summerlin agrees.

“Put a new weather strip on it (the door),” Summerlin said. “It comes on a little roll with an adhesive back to it; it usually comes in 17 feet so you can do both sides and across the top. You can glue on or nail on a door sweep (which) goes at the bottom of the door to cover any crack where air can come in.”

Summerlin also said the use of caulk, or a white paste that dries to keep air out, can also be useful.

“For any holes in the wall, you might want to use caulk,” Summerlin said. “If you have wood windows you can use it too, but I prefer heat shrink.”

Heat shrink, Summerlin said, is plastic that can be placed on windows and can be sealed airtight with a blow dryer.

Wong gave additional tips on how to keep your doors, windows and home, winterproof.

Check alignment. A crooked door can create a lot of open spaces for air to get in and be released from your home. Make sure hinges are on right, that the door was installed properly and that it closes well. If a door is not fixed, it will compromise your home’s warmth.

Add a draft snake. To cover up the gap between the bottom of your door and the floor so you don’t get a draft coming into the home, add a draft snake on the inside of your door for some extra protection. You can make your own draft snake out of scrap fabric, towels or recycled clothes. A draft snake can add another layer of protection for your home from the bad weather outside.

Caulk and Weatherstripping. Caulk cracks and holes and weatherstrip the sides and top of your door so heat can’t escape and cold air can’t get in. Cracks and holes need to be closed with caulk to prevent warm air leakage and to eliminate cold air entry points.