Finding time, much less the money to make home repairs isn't high on most people's summertime to-do lists. But if you want to save money, keeping up with the small things is exactly what you need to do. Costly home repairs normally stem from an ignored problem.
You can save yourself a ton of money and make your home more energy efficient by keeping up with simple repairs.
A few examples, make sure your air filter is clean. This can force your cooling bill up by hundreds of dollars a year and you'll also breathe cleaner air.
Another huge money drain is a leaky plumbing, especially leaky toilets. “A good way to check to see if you have a toilet that runs all the time, is put in a couple of drops of food color in the tank, if it comes through to the toilet bowl, you know you have a problem, said Angie Hicks, Consumer Expert."
Also, check your attic to make sure the insulation is rated between R-30 and R-60. P roper insulation will lower your cooling costs.
Service your air conditioner and inspect filters monthly. Keep the unit serviced yearly by a professional. Power washing your house, decking and sidewalks can keep away costly mold removal, as well as extending the life of each.
Clean gutters seems simple but many homeowners ignore this regular maintenance task. Backed up gutters can cause water damage to the interior and exterior of your home and that will definitely cost you.
Leaky faucets cost you money, but those little drops can end up costing you hundreds of dollars a year. Make sure you keep your faucets tight.
Changing your filters about every month or so, especially, if you have shedding pets or kids running in and outside can save you right at a hundred dollars a year in energy savings.
You also want to check all of your electrical outlets to make sure cords fit snuggly. Emergency electrical repairs will cost you big bucks.
The largest area for air transfer in a home would be the windows and the doors. You want to inspect both to make sure the caulking isn't shrunken of cracked so air gets in and out.
http://www.angieslist.com/Angieslist/Press/1361/Summer_Checklist.aspx
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