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Household

5 Home Improvements That Help Reduce Energy Usage & Costs

Chances are, there are a couple of times each year when you find yourself looking around certain areas of your home and you think to yourself “This space could definitely use a bit of an upgrade.” While it’s nice to do aesthetic changes such as coloring the walls another color or purchasing some new furniture, did you know that there are some home improvements that can actually help to reduce the amount of energy you use; ones that help to lower the amount of money that you spend each month? If you’re curious to know about what some of those things are, keep reading:

Conduct your own energy audit. Before you do anything, we advise that you conduct your own energy audit in your house. When it comes to monitoring the use of energy in your house, it’s a surefire way to determine what areas of your home are working at optimal levels and which are not. (For more information, go to Energy.gov and put “Do It Yourself Energy Audits” in the search field.)

Put in a couple of more ceiling fans. During extreme hot and cold weather, that is when we tend to rely the most on our central air units. This also means that more times than not, that’s when our electricity bills double or triple the average amount. One way to help to keep them down is to turn on the ceiling fans that you already have and/or to buy a couple of more. In the summer, they help to circulate cool air and in the winter, if you set them to rotate counterclockwise, they pull the warm air down closer to where you and your family are sitting.

May 5, 2013

Household

Repairing Versus Replacing Your Air Conditioning Equipment

As time goes on, it will eventually become necessary to repair or replace your air conditioning equipment. It is an unavoidable event; nothing lasts forever, and new technology is quickly making old appliances inefficient and obsolete. However, it can be difficult to realize when something really needs to be fixed. Deciding whether it is more beneficial to repair or replace air conditioning equipment can be even more difficult. If you’re not a home appliance expert, you’re going to need some help determining the right course of action for your air conditioning.

How can you tell if your air conditioning needs a helping hand? Look for issues with your air conditioning system that didn’t exist when it was first installed, or anything else that seems out of place. Excessive noise coming from your air conditioner is usually a sign that something needs work. A home that is undesirably humid or dusty is probably not getting the circulation it needs, often due to air conditioning problems. If you are experiencing these or other problems, it is time to have your air conditioning equipment evaluated by Comfort Caddies In Naples FL.

April 9, 2013

Household

5 Great Home Improvement Projects Under $5000

One thing about owning a house is that you are the one who is responsible for paying the price that comes with making all of the home improvements. And so, in between paying a mortgage, keeping up with the utility bills and caring for all of your house’s maintenance needs, we totally understand why you would look for how to spend as little money as possible on major home improvement projects. We did a bit of searching around for you and have provided five projects that you can get done for under $5,000. Here goes:

Landscaping. Before someone even begins to set foot into your house, they will notice your lawn. That’s why, especially during the spring and summer months, it’s important to have some landscaping work done. This doesn’t just consist of mowing the lawn, but also trimming hedges and bushes, planting flowers, installing a water feature (if you would like)—in general, coming up with an overall landscaping design for your front and backyard to last you year round. A thorough job will run you approximately $4,000.

March 13, 2013

Household

5 Inexpensive Ways To Crime-Proof Your Home

There are very few affronts that are as heartbreaking as having your home robbed. That’s the one place in the world that is supposed to be safe and secure, and any violation feels personal and seriously wrong. Regrettably, your home will never be 100% impenetrable to crime, unless you sacrifice your view and fresh air to live in an underground bunker. Short of that you can have a security system installed, but those can be quite expensive. Luckily there are some other options that often prove just as valuable. Here are five inexpensive ways to crime-proof your home.

The first step is one you may never have considered, but start your preparations by placing your garbage cans inside of a locked container. This is crucial if you don’t store your cans in the garage. Why start here? The trash you put on the curb is one of the first places a savvy thief will look. It’s chock full of information, with all of your tossed out receipts, statements and bills. And your cans will also contain the boxes from any large purchases you’ve recently made, giving criminals a clear reason to risk capture on your home. Avoid tempting the thieves or giving them the ability to attempt identity theft by simply locking up your garbage cans.

Next, get one of the signs that security companies provide their clients and put it out on the front lawn. You can order these even if you don’t use the service. Buffer it further with stickers from the security company on several of the prominent windows. This alone is often enough to force criminals to reconsider, and perhaps move on to another house. It may only be smoke and mirrors, but it’s cheaper than the security system itself, and quite an effective deterrent.

March 12, 2013

Household

5 Simple And Affordable Home Security Options

When it comes to protecting one’s home and family, most people will go to any length to ensure safety and security, even if it means spending a boatload of money. Of course, this may not be necessary if you live in a relatively safe area to begin with, but even those who purchase property in a gated community may worry that their affluence will bring the unwanted attention of unsavory types looking to capitalize on criminal pursuits that include robbery or kidnapping. And while you can certainly shell out the dough to install surveillance cameras and hire a home security force, this really isn’t necessary for the average household. In fact, there are plenty of desirable options for home security that you can implement on your own without spending major money in the process. Here are just a few you’ll want to consider.

Solar powered flood lights. These lighting fixtures attach to the exterior of your home and soak up the energy of the sun throughout the day. At night, they will flare to life whenever motion is detected, flooding the area with light and hopefully scaring off any would-be intruders. The great thing is that they’re not terribly pricy to begin with and they won’t cost you any extra over the long haul because they pull their power from the sun. Of course, limited sunlight in your area could render them useless and sensitive motion detectors might pick up animal movements, but solar powered flood lights are certainly a simple and affordable option to explore.

March 3, 2013

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