Keeping your home in good shape helps it retain its value but also helps you ensure that your family is comfortable and safe at all times. This is the main reason why you need to be proactive in addressing the problems you spot. Addressing problems when you spot them helps to avoid these issues causing greater problems and helps you spend less in the long run. If you’d like some tips about how you can do this, have a look at the ones outlined below.
Ensure Your Home Is Safe from Flooding
If your home is in an area that’s prone to flooding, it’s crucial to take all possible steps to improve its safety. This is because flooding can cost you a lot and even put you and your family’s lives in danger. According to ABC News, a whopping 14.6 million properties in the United States are at risk of flooding. This makes it even more important to ensure that you’re safe rather than sorry when all is said and done.
Some measures that you should take in this regard include raising the level of your home on piers or stilts and installing foundation vents. You can also look for the right sealants and coatings to secure your home a bit more. These steps can save you from spending a tidy sum the next time there’s a flood in your area.
Check for Pests and Rodents Frequently
According to PestWorld, every single winter mice and other rodents invade about 21 million homes in the United States. These can lead to property damage and even cause diseases and other health issues for your family. Clearly, it’s a good idea for you to make sure that your home isn’t at risk of a pest or rodent invasion.
Keep the signs of potential invasions in mind, including the presence of droppings and strange smells and sounds in and around your home. When you know these, you’re better prepared to stop an invasion in its tracks and maintain the integrity and comfort of your home. Be sure to talk with a professional pest removal company to learn more about what you can do to reduce your risk of an infestation.
Improve the Energy Efficiency
Improving your home’s energy efficiency is not just going to benefit the environment, but it will benefit your home as well. This is because the less energy you need, the less you’ll have to pay at the end of every month. You can improve energy efficiency by developing better habits where your home’s energy needs are concerned. These include turning off lights when they’re not in use and keeping your appliances functioning well with frequent service.
According to Loving Air, you can actually improve the energy consumption in your home by between 15% and 20% every single month if you simply change your HVAC filter. This is one of a few steps you can take that are just as impactful and effective. Contacting professional contractors for your major home systems can help you understand what other maintenance tasks can help to reduce your energy consumption costs even further, so it’s imperative to call them as soon as possible.
Clean and Inspect Your Roof Frequently
Finally, your roof is one of the biggest elements of your home. This means that if something goes wrong with it, you might end up spending a lot of money to remedy it. Lower your odds of this by inspecting your roof regularly and keeping it clean. This will enable you to find any issues that it might be having and address them appropriately. When you do, you’ll give your roof a reasonably longer lifespan and may also end up avoiding massive repairs.
Taking the measures suggested above will help you keep your home in great shape and save you a good amount of money over time. Home expenses might be some of the biggest that you’ll have to deal with in life. This is why it pays to try and stop things from going wrong in the first place.
Thanks for mentioning the importance of air filter replacement. But there’s one more thing to remember – air duct cleaning. Homeowners should clean air ducts regularly for a better HVAC efficiency and also indoor air quality.
Air ducts need cleaning at least every 2 to 3 years. However, those who own pets or have children with allergies may need to have their air ducts cleaned more frequently.
If you are on this blog, then I must say you are a Family Tree Maker lover. You love to make your family tree maker chart and showcase your family history among your family and friends.
Creating your family chart and organizing it is fun to do. Managing and organizing FTM charts is never easy, but FTM makes it easier for family tree maker users. However, it is not easy to create these charts manually on paper.
Yes, clean filters are crucial for energy-efficient HVAC performance. However, other things like cleaning the coils, clearing the clutter around air vents, and unclogging the condensate drain tube should also be kept in mind.
As for HVAC filter replacement, it’s also important to mention that there are higher quality filters that require less maintenance and could be better for your household.
Fiberglass air vent filters, while more affordable, don’t last as long, and may need to be replaced every month. Pleated air filters may cost a little more but they trap smaller particles of debris in the air and last up to three months.
When it comes to ways to increase a home’s energy efficiency, I highly recommend installing a smart thermostat. According to real-world data gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency, smart thermostats that meet Energy Star criteria save users an average of 8% on their utility bills.
Good news: smart thermostats are pretty easy to install. However, if you feel not experienced enough in these matters, you can always have your HVAC expert show you.
Also, consider upgrading to a high-SEER air conditioner for improved energy efficiency, lower utility bills, and reduced carbon footprint. Overall, these models provide a more sustainable and comfortable home environment.
Before buying an AC, please remember to check new efficiency standards for HVAC systems in 2023 — these changes are legally effective from January 1 this year.
Thank you for the reminder! I only want to add that new minimum efficiency requirements differ in northern and southern states.
Let me add one more thing related to improving a home’s energy efficiency. If you have a central air conditioning system, remember to inspect your ductwork for leaks and eliminate them when needed. Leaky ducts can cause a decline of up to 40% in your home’s heating and cooling efficiency.
Additionally, keeping your ducts clean is essential for preventing pests in your home. When your ducts are dirty, pests can find a cozy place to live and breed. Fixing any leaks and making sure your ducts are clean not only saves energy but also keeps pests out, making your home healthier and pest-free.