Homes cost a lot to maintain. But are you spending extra money unnecessarily on upkeep? Here are the 10 most expensive mistakes you could be making in your home.
1. Using Traditional Light bulbs
In recent years, technology has brought us bulbs — namely, CFLs and LEDs — that put incandescent lighting to shame. Not only are these new options more energy efficient, they can also last years, or even decades, longer than standard incandescent light bulbs. This is largely why incandescent light bulbs are being phased out: An almost complete ban on their sale started in 2014 and will take full effect in 2020. Simply put, they waste a lot of energy and don’t last very long.
If you’re still using incandescent light bulbs in your home, you’re throwing money away every month on inflated electric bills. Over its life span, an incandescent bulb can use $180 worth of electricity. A CFL will only use $41 worth of electricity over the same time period. Even better are LED light bulbs, which only uses $30 per bulb. Think what replacing every light bulb in your home could do to your home’s bottom line.
We personally recommend LED Light Bulbs and those in the color range of 2700K which is the color range closest to traditional light bulbs. We like these Philips Soft White LED Bulbs but another less expensive option are these Sylvania Soft White LED Bulbs.
2. Ignoring a Leaky Faucet
A leaky faucet that drips one drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, which is enough water to take more than 180 showers. While some of us live in areas where water is plentiful, for those in areas plagued with drought, this could be costing you a fortune. Fix or replace your leaky faucet and reap the savings on your water bill.
If you require assistance with this type of repair, and/or need to replace the faucet itself we’d recommend you contact EveryTrade Home Services at 614.943.4933.
3. Waiting to Replace Your Air Filter & Using The Wrong Size Filter
Energy Star suggests changing your air filter every month, especially during the winter and summer months, when your HVAC unit gets the most use. At the bare minimum, don’t let three months go by without swapping your dirty one out for a new one.
The most common reason a heating and air conditioning system breaks down is because of a dirty filter. As dirt accumulates, air can’t pass, or worse, the system overheats. The motor then has to work harder. When that clogged air filter is working harder, more energy is being used. And when it requires more energy to make your heating and air conditioning to work, it causes your energy bill to skyrocket. The Department of Energy says the average household spends about $2,200 a year on its energy bill. When you consistently change your air filter, you can save from 5 to 15 percent on your utility costs.
Using the wrong filter can increase your power bill and cause expensive problems for your furnace as well. Use the correct filters for your system, and set a reminder to change them after the recommended amount of time. Visit QualityAirFilters.com to purchase quality filters at discount prices and with auto-delivery to serve as your reminder.
4. Not Customizing Temperature
Invest in a learning thermostat. If you’re away at the office all day, you can program your heater to shift down a few degrees while you’re gone and then shift back up shortly before you return home. Heating or cooling an empty home wastes a lot of money in energy costs. We recommend the Nest Learning Thermostat.
5. Not Adjusting Air Vents Properly
Is one room in your home hot, while the others are cold? Oftentimes homeowners will crank up the air conditioning in the whole house to combat hot temperatures in one area. Instead, adjust air vents to distribute the flow of air more evenly throughout your entire home. Professionals will come regulate this to ensure that your entire home is receiving the appropriate amount of air conditioning or heating.
6. Over Watering Lawn
Many homeowners have their sprinkler systems programmed to come on in the early morning hours for optimum lawn health. This can become a problem, however, if you’re never around to see what you’re actually watering. A broken sprinkler head could be causing a fountain, or the trajectory of your sprinkler may be directed at a fence instead of your lawn. Periodically run your sprinklers during the day so you can see how they are performing when you’re not around.
7. Water Heater Temperature Set Too High
Unless you have a tankless water heater, your water heater is keeping the water in its tank hot 24/7. If you don’t keep an eye on the temperature as each season changes, you may be paying too much to heat your water. Decrease the temperature in the summer, and bump it back up when winter comes. Insulating your water tank can reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45% and save you about 7%–16% in water heating costs—and should pay for itself in about a year.
8. Leaky Windows and Doors
Leaky windows and doors are great places for cold, winter winds to enter your home. Many homeowners simply ignore them and crank up their heaters. Caulk leaky windows and put rubber seal around doors to keep winter winds out and warmth in.
9. Paying a Handyman
Don’t pay a handyman for a job that is simple enough to do yourself. If you’re unsure of how to do something, look up video tutorials online. Doing simple tasks yourself can save you a lot of money.
10. Ignoring Curled Shingles
It may be easy to ignore problems on your roof, but it will only lead to bigger problems later. If you see any possible issues with your roof, repair them as soon as possible, as this will save you from larger and more significant costs down the road. For roof replacements and repairs we recommend Insured Roofing, 614.754.7638.
Use these 10 tips to cut maintenance costs on your home today.
The Opland Group Specializes in Real Estate Sales, Luxury Home Sales, Short Sales in; Bexley 43209 Columbus 43201 43206 43214 43215 Delaware 43015 Dublin 43016 43017 Gahanna 43219 43230 Grandview Heights 43212 Hilliard 43026 Lewis Center 43035 Marysville 43040 43041 New Albany 43054 Pickerington 43147 Powell 43065 Upper Arlington 43220 43221 Westerville 43081 43082 Worthington 43235
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