Mar 10
13 Tips that will reduce the energy and maintenance costs of your home over the long haul.
First-Time Homebuyers , Home Maintenance and Improvement , Money Saving Advice No Comments »Here are 13 Tips that will reduce the energy and maintenance costs of your home over the long haul.
- Check the insulation in your attic. If you purchased an older home with an unfinished attic take a look around up there. You should see at least six inches of insulation everywhere and more if you live in the northern parts of the US. If there’s inadequate insulation or the insulation you have appears damaged then install new insulation.
- Air-seal your home. Look for any places where air may be leaking directly into or out of your home.
- Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to 120 degrees. This is the optimum temperature for your hot water heater. Most people do not utilize water that’s hotter than that, and thus energy used to keep the water that hot isn’t effective.
- Toss a water heater blanket over that hot water heater. While most modern hot water heaters are well-insulated, some are insulated better than others and many older heaters aren’t insulated well at all. An investment in a blanket for your water heater will slowly and gradually save you money on your heating bill over time by keeping the heat in the water instead of letting it out.
- Wrap exposed water pipes with insulation. Exposed hot water pipes lose heat as they move water from your heater to your faucet. Insulating them makes a two to four degree difference in the temperature of the water and also allows hot water to reach your faucet faster. Check the pipes into and out of your hot water heater first, as the first three feet out of the heater (and the last few feet of inlet water) are key. Use good quality pipe insulation for the job.
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