As the summer approaches, you are probably attempting to find ways to cut your home’s energy usage. After all, the cost of cooling your home is likely one of the greatest expenses you will face during the summer months. The following are three easy tips to help you reduce your home’s energy usage this summer:

Replace windows:

If your home has older windows, replacing them with new energy-efficient versions could save you a substantial amount of money on your energy bill. During the summer, heat enters a home most often through the windows. New energy-efficient windows cut down on the heat allowed into the home thus reducing cooling costs. If you are unable to replace windows, consider covering them to procure some savings. Blinds, curtains or shades work nicely as they all reduce the amount of light entering the home thus making it easier to cool. As a side note, try to limit the amount of artificial lighting within the home during the heat of the day, or consider changing over regular bulbs to LED versions. Regular light bulbs emit a great deal of heat and will increase the home’s overall temperature. However, LEDs are much cooler and emit much less heat.

Install a programmable thermostat:

Another way to reduce your home’s energy costs this summer is installing a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat will allow you to set the temperature higher when you are away from home and lower the temperature shortly before you return. This will yield a great savings in energy costs by simply not running the HVAC unit as much when no one is home. In addition, many programmable thermostats are now coming in smart variations, meaning you can access them from a remote location via a smart phone app. In addition, these innovative thermostats also learn your schedule and will begin adjusting temperatures accordingly even taking local weather forecasts into consideration. If you implement technology such as smart programmable thermostats, you will surely see a reduction in your home’s energy costs.

Have your HVAC unit serviced:

Just as regular oil changes and tune-ups will keep your car running efficiently, regular maintenance and cleanings on your HVAC unit will ensure it is in prime working order. Most companies will examine the ducts in and effort to make sure they are all still intact and in good condition. In most cases, HVAC servicing companies will then clean the unit and ensure everything is working as designed. In addition to hiring a HVAC servicing company, you must also make sure your indoor returns have clean air filters. To accomplish this, regularly change the air filters to ensure the proper air flow is being allowed within your home. When a unit is well taken care of and clean, it will operate more efficiently thus reducing its energy usage and your overall energy costs.

The three tips above are great ways to reduce your home’s energy usage this summer. Of course, there are other tips such as unplugging unused appliances and investing in energy-efficient appliances that will also help reduce a home’s energy usage. Implementing any of the above tips will enable you to reduce the amount of money you spend keeping your home comfortable this summer.

Citations:
Photo by james.thompson
Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source

Peter Wendt is a journalist and homeowner from Austin, Texas. With the Texas summer heat approaching, Wendt decided it was time to make his house more energy efficient and cut down on utilities. Energy efficient windows were his first investment. He bought them on an online store and installed them on his own with the online video tutorial. Watch the video here.

Those who work in the construction industries are well-versed in vital areas such as building codes and have trained for years, often within a specific subset of work.

Just as its best to leave diagnosis to a doctor, there are some projects too complex for the casual DIY-er.

Replacing Windows

When it comes time to look at replacement windows, an expert will be able to assess the existing millwork and determine whether you need a full frame, sash or pocket replacement. A professional will also be able to help you make decisions about what type of glass to install.

A window needs to be installed securely and sealed to prevent weather damage, and poor installation can have lasting effects on energy usage and security.

Considering a window also serves as an exit/entry point to your home, it’s important that you get the best installation possible.

Roofing

The roof is one of the most important parts of a structure, and roofing repair should not be undertaken lightly.

Besides the dangers associated with climbing onto the roof, any mistakes can turn a small patch job into a costly repair. Your roof protects you from the elements, and you want whatever is hanging over your head to be as secure as possible, so look for roof consultants to offer an assessment of the situation.

If your roof has fire, water or wind damage, it may also be unsafe to stay in your home. A consultant will have a greater understanding of the deeper impact damage may have on the overall frame of the building as well as what needs to be done to bring the building back up to code.

Siding

Particularly if dealing with masonry, it’s unlikely the casual homeowner will have the tools necessary to tackle a siding repair project.

A professional can repoint mortar joints to correct damage from weather and time to prevent leakage. Using the wrong kind of mortar in wall repair can result in cracking, and you may wind up having to replace the entire wall.

When dealing with major components of your home like the siding, it’s best to call in an expert.

Entry Doors

There are legal requirements for entry doors, and the last thing you want is a citation for failing to conform to code.

An expert will know the code requirements for your area so that your entry conforms to both safety and energy standards. A professional will also be able to help you choose a door that is secure, attractive and energy-efficient for your home.

While it may be tempting to try major renovations yourself, you could wind up doing more damage in the long run.

The tools alone for these projects can be cost-prohibitive and leave you with something you have little use for after.

A professional knows the field and will be able to ensure that your home repairs are completed according to established standards and will be able to fix it right the first time.

Featured images:

License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

Adam Bressler is the Head of Marketing for Minneapolis-based Builders & Remodelers, Inc. By offering high-quality home improvement services to discerning homeowners for over 60 years, we’ve seen it all – and we know what it takes to do a job right.

I bet you’re starting to get a little excited now. Every time you look out of the window you probably see the sun. It’s been a long winter and it won’t be much longer until the warm weather hits us. You will soon be able to let your hair down and relax for the next few months and you deserve it, but first you have got some work to do. You still need to prepare your home for summer and we’re going to look at what you need to do in order to get it ready.

Clean your air filters

Go around your home and clean out your air filters. If you have a screwdriver you can take the face off the ducts and get rid of the dust properly. You need to remember that everything has to work harder when it’s clogged up with dust and you end up using a lot more electricity. It should only take you an hour to go around cleaning everywhere out.

Dust the fans

If you haven’t used your ceiling fans for months there is a good chance there is a nice layer of dust on top of the blades. I’m sure you don’t want it flying all over your room as soon as you switch them on. It’s even worse when the dust lands in your face. If your blades are uneven you can also try to straighten them out and your fan will make less noise.

Inspect the air-con unit

The air-conditioning unit is where you will be spending the big bucks this summer, especially if it’s really hot outside and you need to keep it on at all times. Get someone out to have a look at it and they will tune it up. It will cost you more money up-front, but when you have an old air-con unit and it’s not running efficiently it will send your energy bill through the roof.

Shut off the fireplace

If you have a fire in the living room you are probably not going to use it this summer. You should think about closing it off until winter rolls around. If you don’t close it off you will have a huge hole inside your room where heat can escape from. Even if you’re not going to burn wood at night you still don’t want your room to be cold because all of the heat is getting away.

Get the barbeque ready

It’s not very often we get a chance to use the barbeque in winter because it’s usually too cold. It just sits in the garden waiting until it’s brought back to life. You better go outside and start cleaning it so it’d ready to use. If you cook a lot of food on your barbeque it means you won’t need to use your oven as often and it will stop the inside of your home from heating up too much.

Clean your windows

The windows are going to become your best friend in summer because they will keep the cool air inside, plus they will do their best to keep the warm air out. Make sure you check around the window seals to see if they need replaced. You will also want to look out of the windows more when it’s sunny outside and you won’t be able to do that unless they are clean.

Swap over the curtains

If you have big thick curtains you should definitely replace them with lighter ones. If you don’t replace them it’s going to feel like a sauna inside your living room when you’re watching TV. You could always leave the curtains open, but when the sun is bright you might need to close them in order to stay in the shade.

Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

About the author: Jack Russel is a retired interior decorator. He started his career working for a company which used to be one of the leading suppliers of windows & doors in Toronto.

Look At Me!

If you are working on a tight budget, there is no need to worry. You do not have to get in those who are experts in designing and building kitchens to make a difference. A few obvious but handy tips and tricks can get you on the way to completely transforming your space. Firstly, think about re-painting.  It may not seem like an impressive option, but choosing a fresh colour scheme instantly updates the room and makes it feel new. If you are working with a smaller space than you would like, opt for neutral colours. This helps to make the kitchen feel bigger and brighter than it is, providing an optical illusion. If you do not want to paint all the walls, then why not have a try at creating one feature wall? Select a vivid colour that requires a bit of daring or a strong wallpaper pattern and go for it. Creating a focal point like this detracts attention from the areas of the kitchen you would rather guests did not notice! It is not just the walls that may need attention, but the units too.  If you cannot afford a complete overhaul, then try replacing the handles or doors. Changing the design in such a manner instantly updates the room, without all the added expense!

From Plant to Plate

If a fresh lick of paint does not quite do the trick, then move onto accessories. Treating yourself to some contemporary kitchen furniture or blinds allows you to experiment with fabrics and colours, giving the space a personality without spending a lot of money. One tip is to splurge on appliances.  Purchasing a kettle, teapot or a selection of jars in a bright colour has more impact on the room than you may have first thought. In fact, all kitchens will look a whole lot better with a few tweaks.  If you consider yourself to have green fingers, why not try your hand at cultivating your very own herb garden? Herbs can be grown on a windowsill and they may just come in handy when cooking up a meal. To get started, simply fill a plant pot or tray with soil and plant a selection of seeds, before placing the pot on a windowsill that gets plenty of sunlight. Ensure that the herbs get the light, water and nourishment they need and it will not be long before they are making their way onto your plate!

Treading the Boards

Yet, there are also slightly more expensive options to consider when it comes to transforming a kitchen. Replacing kitchen flooring may be a bit pricey, but it is likely to last for years once installed. There are many options, from vinyl, to slate and ceramic tiles, which means there is likely to be one that fits within your price range. Additionally, you might want to consider replacing the lights in the room. With so many options to choose from, this is one way to influence how the room feels. Purchasing a mixture of task lighting for when you are cooking is a must, so that work surfaces are lit up properly. Try supplementing this with lower hanging lights over the table and strategically place lamps next to particularly interesting objects or even that newly painted focal wall. When you are finished, you may not recognise the place!

About the author: Aimee Coppock is a writer who believes that small changes can alter the look of a kitchen massively. If you are interested in how designers change and improve elements of kitchens, Bristol retailers and experts can offer you tips and advice on how to freshen up a room like the kitchen.

Look around the room you’re in right now – try and think how much all of its contents worth. A few hundred? Several thousand? Perhaps even more? If all of the possessions in your home were cash instead of TVs, laptops and mobile phones then you wouldn’t be lax on keeping such a large amount under lock and key.

But the truth is that for potential burglars, they don’t see your personal possessions – they see potential mounds of cash, just waiting to be slipped out from right under your nose. These five essential home security tips will help you keep everything you hold dear safe – whether it’s your iPad, or just a pot of money you were saving for a holiday.

1. Install CCTV Surveillance In Or Around Your Home
Far from being an expensive luxury that is reserved purely for business, home CCTV systems are becoming incredibly affordable with web-based storage systems offering the lowest costs. A really high end system might cost a few hundred, but will obviously offer the best surveillance for in or around your home.

Alternatively, cheap wireless IP cameras can be found for roughly a tenth of the cost of a fully-fledged home CCTV system. Connected to your home’s wireless internet, they can be hooked up to motion sensors and placed around your front or back doors to capture criminals in the act and store the footage securely online.

2. Keep Some Valuables In Your Kitchen
Research has shown that the kitchen is the last place burglars will typically go, as there’s rarely anything of worth in this room; they’re tight on time and your George Foreman Grill is hardly going to be worth stealing over cash or jewellery. Store car keys or pots of cash in washed-out soup cans or old cereal boxes to avoid detection, and keep them inside a cupboard rather than a shelf.

Chances are that, even if your home is broken into, valuables kept in your kitchen will escape the criminal’s clutches.

3. Ensure Entrances Are Fully Secure
Every door and window in your home is an access point for criminals looking to rummage through your home and take away whatever they fancy. Poorly installed doors or windows, as well as cheap, ineffective locks, are all chinks in your home security’s armour.

When it comes to new doors and windows in your home, or upgrading the locks, this is an area where you simply can’t skimp on quality. Premium locks or window designs might cost more in the short term, but they can prevent thieves getting easy access to your home and will save you the cost of replacing all your possessions.

4. Be Careful What You Throw Away
Not all thieves are opportunists – career criminals, whether amateurs or pros, will often ‘case’ a property to ensure that it’s worth breaking into. Casually throwing away the box for your new cooker or that big 40” flatscreen TV might not seem like a risk, but it’s a huge advert to potential burglars letting them know that you’ve got some really great, expensive equipment in your home – and there’s likely to be more inside.

Pack down boxes into recycling bins or make sure you recycle the packaging yourself, rather than leaving it on the street by your bins.

5. Timers Are Your Friend
Timer switches are a great, affordable way to improve your home’s security without spending loads of money. For the same price as the cheapest IP surveillance camera you can buy around 10 timer switches to place throughout your home.

These can be set to power devices on and off at set times of the day to make it appear like someone is home – something that potential thieves will hate. You can use them for everything from lamps to radios and TVs – whatever devices will make your home look occupied. Be sure to change the times on a regular basis so it’s hard to spot a timed pattern. Unable to tell the difference between a timed lamp and someone manually turning, intruders will be deterred and leave your house alone.

Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source

This post was written by Tom McShane – an overly-paranoid home owner with watertight home security. And a guard robot, just in case any intruders are reading. When looking for quality windows for his home to ensure maximum security, Tom turns to Abco Windows for help.

Ants

Ants seem to be the most common insect people encounter. They are attracted to crumbs as well as sweet, sticky messes on your countertop and it doesn’t take long before your kitchen is infested. The best step to avoid ants is to keep your countertops and other kitchen surfaces clean at all times. However, that is not always possible, and sometimes ants find their way in anyway. There are all organic ant sprays out there, but there are a couple things you may already have in your home that could prevent ants from wanting in. For example, most ants do not like cucumber, so setting out cucumber slices where your ant problem is or anywhere in the kitchen can be an effective way to keep ants away.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes aren’t often found in the home, but they can swarm right outside your door on those hot summer evenings. They are especially annoying because they bite and leave itchy sores on your body. In order to deter them away from your home, make sure that you don’t have any standing water around. Things like wading pools, bird baths, and pet water dishes can be an attractive area for mosquitoes. Another step is to plant marigolds around your home. Insects do not like the aroma of these flowers so this is a great way to repel mosquitoes and other unwanted insects.

Flies

Flies are another common insect found in and around homes. They are attracted to our food as well as pet food. Keeping food put away can keep flies from being attracted to your home. If you are still having a problem, then try using mint to repel the flies. Placing mint around your home should keep the flies away. Another option is eucalyptus oil. Flies do not like the scent and will stay away from your home.Taking these simple steps will keep insects away from your home without bringing any unnecessary and dangerous poisons into your home.

Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source

Jason Baker and Ant Eater Exterminating, a pest control company located in Phoenix have teamed up to help folks better understand the types of pests they may see in their homes and how best to combat them correctly.

Spending Your Hard Earn Money for Nothing

Why do we make improvements to our home in the first place? First and foremost, it is because there is something about your home that you feel is lacking and you want to change it up to better your life as you are living in the house now. Then there is the future. You need to think about the potential that you may want to one-day sell the home you are living in. Even if you have lived there for a short amount of time, and do not have to take into account a major change in the housing market, you want to at least make back the money you spent, if not make a profit. TLC’s How Stuff Works explains that not all home improvements are created equal and that while all of them cost money, not all of them will raise the selling price of your home later.

TLC explained that one of the biggest considerations when making improvements with return on investment in mind is aesthetic. People like things that look good, and a great aesthetic appeal always sells. They explained that something as simple as updating the lighting in the home can make a major impact on aesthetics.

The Big Guns of Remodeling

Of course, the biggest crowd pleasers of home improvements are always kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, and unique aesthetic pieces, according to the National Association of Realtors. If you have the money to completely update your kitchen or bathroom, by all means do so and you can rest assured that this will significantly impact the value of your home, especially if these rooms were outdated. If you do not have an unlimited budget, you wouldn’t even believe how affordable spiral staircase prices are. Pieces like spiral staircases can become a major feature of a room and give the right balance of aesthetic appeal and uniqueness that will set your home apart from a sea of homes with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances—that little something special.

Always keep in mind the future when making changes to your home. Even if you are not planning on going anywhere right now, you will be happy you did so come the day you do attempt to sell your home.

Featured images: image source

Mike has been in the business of flipping houses and selling them for maximized profit. He knows what it takes to get the most out of a flipped home.

Imagine you’re driving through a neighborhood and you see a relatively nice house with a ‘For Sale’ sign in the front yard. From what you can tell at the curb, the place looks nice and the lawn is well kept. Based only these things, would you sign the deed and buy the home right there on the spot without looking any further? Not a chance!

This is an important lesson that realtors know can be applied in any home selling or buying situation, however you’d be surprised at just how common it is for people to judge homes from the curb.

Let’s go over the principles surrounding the notion of how we perceive a house from the street, whether cruising by slowly or parked at the curb. We need to know how much we can rely on what we’re seeing from the outside for a first impression, as well as recognizing the impact of what we can’t see.

What Can We See From the Curb?
First, let’s take a quick look at what we can usually deduce by looking at a home from the street as we build our initial impressions of the house. Here’s a quick list of those elements and what they mean.

*Front of the House: The condition of the home’s exterior is of course the most visible feature. You can determine the overall wear on the exterior, the condition of doors and windows, paint quality (and color appeal) and sometimes interior draperies or blinds.

*The Front Lawn: One good rule of thumb that helps us out here is that the back yard often resembles the front yard. If the front yard is overgrown and untended, chances are the back is no different. In any case, look at landscaping quality, the type of grass and how well the yard is maintained.

*Sidewalks and Driveway: The quality of the pavement can help you with your first impressions. Is it just standard concrete, brick or inlaid stone? Are there a lot of cracks? Can you see grass or weeds growing from the cracks? The home might also earn bonus points for accent lighting alongside them.

*The Garage: Make sure the garage is in good shape, structurally sound and has no broken windows

*The Mailbox: Usually this only matters if it’s an especially expensive or high quality mailbox. Home owners who install a “luxury” mailbox tend to take good care of the home as well.

What Can’t We See From the Curb?
*The Home’s Interior: The inside of the home is obviously the biggest setback to the limited visibility we have from the curb. There’s no way to properly appraise a home without going inside, and a pristine exterior tells us nothing about what could conditions are like on the inside.

*The Back Yard: While you can sometimes get a good idea of how well the back yard is kept by looking at the front yard, you still can’t get the whole picture. For example, there could be a nice patio or deck, it could be filled with trees and shrubbery, not mention even a swimming pool. Or it could be hiding eyesores like tree stumps and rubbish piles. Can’t tell from the curb!

*The Foundation: One of the most important determining factors of the value, condition and quality of a home is the foundation – and you can’t see it from the curb. You might be able to make out a few subtle features that indicate foundation quality, but not enough to truly make an appraisal.

*The Basement: It’s pretty much impossible to see the basement from the road, but it needs to be seen for a proper evaluation. You’ll want to know whether it’s finished or not, whether it is structurally sound, whether it’s prone to flooding (which could lead you to the back yard or foundation), and how much room is available for storage, etc.

*Utility Installations:  Another crucial aspect of the home are the utility installations. This includes the water heater, furnace, air conditioning, plumbing and drainage, electrical boxes, washer/dryer units and any other large, critical appliances and hardware related to your utilities. These things can’t be seen from the curb, but if any of these items are missing or damaged, the costs will be sizable.

*The Roof: It’s possible to see a portion of the roof from the curb in most cases, which can occasionally offer a glimpse at the quality of the roof. But in order to make an accurate appraisal of a home, and to pinpoint any potential problems or repair opportunities, someone will eventually need to hoist up a ladder (preferably someone who isn’t afraid of heights).

Kamiel Moore is a seasoned real estate expert, writing about home investing and franchising for ‘We Buy Ugly Houses‘

Is hiring a professional worth the cost?

Even if you have some experience with DIY projects, you may want to think twice before getting started with some home repairs yourself. The last thing you would want is to be permanently disabled due to a serious injury.

Accidents related to home improvement projects are much more frequent than most realize with reports of over 13 million serious injuries every year. Being safe is crucial and there are some hazards that are simply too risky to undertake.

Here are four home repairs where hiring a professional makes sense.

1. Roofing issues

Serious and even fatal injuries are not uncommon. Roofing problems that require the use of a ladder is best left to a professional. Even if the repairs are minor, it is still in your best interest to contact a roofing specialist. Improper repairs can lead to more damage and the risks involved are simply not worth it.

2. Electrical problems

Most homeowners are able to change their own light bulbs and even turn the power back on in the event of an outage. These issues are extremely minor and one that practically anyone can do with a bit of caution. However, extensive electrical projects require a trained electrician as there is a very real possibility of electrical injuries.

3. Gas and heating systems

Unless you have the expertise and resources at your disposal, anything to do with heating and cooling systems require the attention of a trained professional. One mistake can prove to be fatal especially when dealing with gas appliances. The total cost for hiring help is negligible compared to the risks involved of doing it yourself.

4. Plumbing complications

Plumbing issues can create serious problems as there is always the potential for leaking pipes. These can be caused by faulty fixtures or damaged lines. Water damage is a serious issue that only a plumber will be able to assist with. Even small issues such as fixing your toilet or unclogging your sink can quickly turn into disasters.

It may be tempting to want to keep your expenses down by performing these home repairs yourself but it is in your best interest to hire a professional. Even if you have the expertise, paying to have the repairs done will also help relieve a lot of stress.

Eric Regan is a writer with a keen interest in travel, cars and technology. He has written for blogs covering all of these topics and much more.

Your driveway should provide a useful and eye-pleasing addition to your home, but it can quite easily become an ugly nuisance. If you tend to avoid looking down when leaving your car after parking it, or have tripped up one time too many, perhaps you should read this article for some friendly advice.

First Things First

Before you make a start on laying the new driveway down, you will need to remove the old one first. This is a task that can cause more than a few problems. If you damage the ground whilst hacking away at the old medium, you could have issues when it comes to maintaining your lovely new driveway.

Time For Action

Unless you are a builder by profession, you will probably need to hire some equipment for this task. You will need a decent jackhammer to break up the old floor medium and some kind of suitable transport to shift the debris away. Always use the appropriate ear defenders, goggles, gloves and steel toecap boots when operating such heavy machinery. Ensure that you dispose of the rubble responsibly and do not be tempted to leave it at the side of the road, you will face a hefty fine if you are caught doing this.

The New Driveway

Decide whether you are happy with the present specifications or if you would like to make the new driveway longer or wider. A driveway for a single car family should be around 10 feet wide, if you need to park two side by side, you are looking at about 16 to 24 feet width.

Ground Preparation

After you have altered the width accordingly, you need to flatten the soil surface properly. Use a hand controlled roller barrel to achieve a nice flat surface, you can also utilise a driver controlled rolling machine for an easier operation.

Water Runoff

To construct the water run off feature, you need to allow the land to slope away from the garage and the house. The slope needs to be about a quarter inch for every foot of driveway, if this is exceeded you will risk your car bottoming out before it reaches the gate.

Gravel Bed

Install your gravel bed and make it about eight inches in depth, you can cover this surface with a quality wire mesh product. This will allow the concrete to set correctly after pouring.

Slabs

To design your individual concrete slabs you should start at the garage and ensure that they are about an inch lower than the garage floor height. Make the slabs around 4 inches thick if you drive a car, for trucks they should be about 8 inches in thickness.

Pour

Pour the concrete into your slab forms, use a 2 x 6 border for these forms and smooth the poured concrete with a wooden float device.

Final Stages

Once the concrete has dried you will need to avoid the cracks that sometimes occur. Set some isolation joints by the meeting area of the garage and the path, also where the walkways meet the path and the street area.

Featured images:
License: Creative Commons – image source
License: Creative Commons – image source

Today’s post is contributed by Derek Underwood. He provides tree service in Hamden,CT. When he isn’t busy working, he often blogs about various issues and also reads up a lot on home improvements.