From the homeowners insurance premiums you pay each month to the repair technicians you hire, you do a lot to protect your property. As winter approaches, there are plenty of ways to keep your home safe from the plummeting temperatures. To preserve your investments, use the following guide to winterize your house.

3 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

1. Switch Out Your Window Treatments 

To take the strain off of your heating system, bulk up your window treatments for the wintertime. Switch out any blinds or unlined linen curtains for thick velvet or blackout ones.

During the day, open the window treatments to allow infrared heat into your home. In the evening, close them to provide a substantial buffer between the cold panes and your indoor air.

2. Cover Your Outdoor Unit

When you switch from cooling to heating, your HVAC system will no longer have to rely on the outdoor compressor unit. This component needs open air to work properly in the warmer months, but you’ll want to slip a cover over it for the winter when it’s not in use. This way, twigs, snow, and other debris won’t fall into the top, and pests won’t sneak in looking for shelter. In the spring, you can remove the cover and prepare to switch back to cooling again.

3. Arrange for Chimney Sweeping

During the holidays, a roaring fireplace is the perfect place to spend time with friends and family members. To ensure yours is ready for the festivities, call a chimney sweeper to clean the soot and creosote out of your flue, as these can be harmful to inhale.

You’ll also want these professionals to check for pests that may have taken shelter inside. Also, and leaving it in a neat pile at least 20 feet away from your home’s exterior. Otherwise, you could be inviting ants or termites into your property.

Throughout the year, Grachek Insurance is happy to help Kalispell, MT, residents take care of their dwellings with homeowners insurance. Since 1986, they’ve been operating as an independent agency, offering policies from the country’s top providers. Whether you need auto, boat, or workers’ compensation insurance, visit the website to learn more about their selection. You can also call (406) 755-4000 to request a free homeowners insurance quote.