Let’s face it, life seems to get harder each year with a rising economy and everything increasing in price these days. It’s sometimes hard to stay afloat, especially with running a family, and business and simply juggling life.
But there are some upgrades you could do that can increase your home’s value. For instance, a new asphalt shingle roof has an ROI of about 62%. So, here are a few home updates to help you save money on home expenses.
1. Plant Trees in Your Yard for Cooler Energy Savings
Trees are great for many things, including providing much-needed natural shade and coolness from the sun’s heat. If your tree is closer to your windows or doors, it could help create shade and thus cool that area of your house. This will help reduce having to use an HVAC or a fan in this part of your home since it is already less hot than the rest of the house. Did you know that switching to high-efficiency air conditioners and taking other actions to keep your home cool could reduce energy use for air conditioning by 20% to 50%?
2. Use an Insulating Jacket on Your Boiler or Water Heater Tank
Another top energy-saving trick that is handy all year but you will truly appreciate in winter, is getting an insulating cover for your water heater. This will help seal the heat in and you won’t have to turn on the power to heat it each time you use it.
3. Repair Bad Plumbing
Faulty plumbing can really wreak havoc on a home if it isn’t dealt with sooner than later. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 10% of homes in America have leaks somewhere in their plumbing. These “seemingly harmless” problems can substantially raise water utilities and even ruin the items inside the property.
4. Keep Your Refrigerator Stocked to Save Energy
It might sound like a strange thing to do, but the truth is, keeping your refrigerated goods packed snug together is a good way to save energy. This method works because the items stay colder when they are packed closely together.
5. Repurpose Old Furniture
Maybe you’ve looked at that old display cabinet where your mom used to keep her China collection or grandma’s porcelain dolls and go “I need to throw that old thing out.” Throwing the old cabinet out and buying a new one to replace it is money you could’ve saved. Instead, try giving it a creative paint job like sponging or a distressed wood finish. It will cost less for paint, time, and equipment than buying a new one.
6. Rent Over Buying Power Tools
Home updates, especially with DIY work, always require some power tools, but power tools are expensive to buy. Besides costly tools, sometimes you need specialized heavy-duty equipment for the job, and buying such will be pricey. Instead, rent tools so that you spend less rather than a bulky amount to purchase a few. Some tools that are commonly rented are carpet cleaners, pressure washers, and large drilling tools, to name a few.
7. Install a Water Saving Toilet
Some old toilets tend to act like water guzzlers and this can put a dent in your water utility bill. Replacing the toilet with a newer, innovative water-saving type will significantly help. Some people also put a small water bottle filled with water inside the water tank to reduce the amount of water refilling into the tank upon flushing.
8. Change to Energy Saving Lights
You can cut costs on home updates that include swapping out regular light bulbs for energy-saving ones because these will contribute to cutting the energy bill. You can choose from a wide selection of LED light bulbs which also last a very long time.
Which of these home updates have you already added to your home?
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