Purchasing a home is a major financial investment. Owning a home is equally as financially impactful.
Ever feel like there is always something that needs to be done to your house? And just when you think you are done, something else pops up.
To make sure that your budget is safe, it is important to set up an emergency fund if something unexpected happens to the house. But, there are also some things that you can do right now to save money in your home.
Insulation Security
It is so imperative that you have solid insulation all around the house. If you don’t have adequate insulation, this will be severely affecting your utility bills. Check your attic and your basement as those are two key places where air could be travelling in and out of your house that you weren’t aware of. Many states have financial incentives that people can take advantage of to better insulate their homes. Do your research and you could be saving a ton of money in a short amount of time.
Keep an Eye on Your Hot Water Heater
You want to make sure that your hot water heater is being serviced once a year to prevent any catastrophic damage. It is also recommended that you set your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a good temperature to keep it at because it won’t be scalding hot or cold, thus keeping your utility bills lower once more.
It may also be in your best interest to check out Macomb heating and cooling to see services they offer as well as new heating and cooling systems that are more energy efficient.
Importance of Ceiling Fans
Many people don’t like adding ceiling fans to their home decor, but it is a great way to keep air circulation in the house moving. This will allow you the opportunity to set your thermostats at temperatures a little higher or lower than normal because the air is always circulating. A lot of people also don’t know that there is a reversal switch on their ceiling fans. The fan should be blowing down in the summer and up in the winter. This will maximize the air circulation in your house.
Replace Air Filters
This is an area that is often overlooked when owning a house. You will need to look at your air filters that are located on your furnace or AC unit. There are many tutorials online that you can view to help you with the changing procedures. It is very fast and simple. If your air filters are not cleaned properly, it will require the unit that is using them to work harder, which requires more energy, and will raise your bills. The goal is to make sure the units in your house are not working harder than they need to.
Use an Old-Fashioned Clothesline
Yes, this will take a little bit longer for your clothes to dry, but you will be saving money by not using your dryer all the time. You can buy a clothes rack for inside or hang a clothesline outside and hang your apparel. Use simple clothing items like underwear, t-shirts, pillow cases, and towels. This will reduce the number of loads that you need to dry and save some energy costs.
Unnecessary Water Usage
It is extremely important to make sure that water isn’t running when it doesn’t need to. You should check your toilets and under the sink plumbing to make sure that there are no leaks or running water. Some toilets tend to run longer than they need to and that is something you will need to fix. Fixing a running toilet is a lot easier than you think with just a few simple steps. These simple steps will simplify your water bill payments in the future!
Energy Efficient Lights
As with the insulation mentioned above, many states offer energy efficiency programs where they will help you set your house up with the most energy efficient solutions as possible. One of their first suggestions will be to replace those old incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. They have much longer lasting lives than regular bulbs and are more efficient. These bulbs were really expensive when they first came out, but the pricing has come down over the years.
Plant Trees Around the House
In addition to helping the environment, planting trees around your house will help you in the winter and the summer. They will provide shade in the summer to help your house stay cool and will block cold winds from hitting the house in the winter. These trees will also be an added effect to your landscaping design.
Purchase Energy Efficient Appliances
If you are buying a new home or replacing old appliances, be sure to shop around for energy efficient appliances. These appliances will cost you more upfront but will save you a bundle in the long run. Energy efficient appliances also last longer than regular appliances; you won’t have to run out to the store sooner to replace them.
Programmable Thermostat
It may seem a little daunting at first but purchasing a programmable thermostat will be a great investment in the home. This will give you the opportunity to adjust the temperature throughout the day. Your house should not be using this energy as much while you are sleeping or gone for the day. Save it for when you are enjoying the comforts of your home. Many of these thermostats can also be adjusted right on your cell phone. It is worth taking the time to figure out how to fully use it.
Being proactive instead of reactive with your house will save you a lot of time, headaches, and money in the long run. Taking care of a house is not an easy task but finding ways to stay on top of things and help out your budget is a win-win for all. Make sure that there is no place like home!
