Whether you are buying a home or selling a home in Central Florida, or even if you just need a guide for your home, here are some important tips to home maintenance.
There is more to fall than Halloween festivities and leaves falling. Now that summer is over, it’s time to prepare your home for the fall and winter months, even here in Central Florida! By following these tips to maintain your home, you will save energy, prevent problems and unwanted costs, as well as help save the environment!
Home Maintenance
· Examine Your Roof & Gutters - It’s best to inspect and clean the gutters a few times during the fall, especially if there are many leafy trees surrounding your home. Clear away leaves, dirt, and pine needles from your gutters. Align gutters and downspouts to direct water away from your home, as well as walkways and driveways, so that they do not become slippery or icy in the cold winters.
· Drain Your Hot Water Heater - If you live in an area with hard water, extra amounts of sediments could be building up in your tank. Fall is the perfect time to drain and make sure rust is not developing in your tank as well. If your hot water heater is extremely old or rusting, consider investing in a new one that will be more cost effective and energy efficient.
· Clean Outdoor Furniture - Summer is over which means it’s time to wash outdoor furniture and cushions. Even though in Central Florida we use our outdoor furniture all year long, a schedule to clean our furniture will go a long way in being able to keep it around for many years.
· Check Out Your Chimney - Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected before using your fireplace. It’s important to remove built up soot, nests, and other materials that could present a fire hazard. Repairing your chimney can prevent heat loss and keep your fireplace working as efficiently as possible.
· Check for Gaps - To test for gaps, insert a dollar bill in the gaps around your windows and doors. If the dollar bill goes in, then you know your money is going out the window due to energy loss. Easily fix the gaps by caulking or installing a variety of inexpensive door/window insulating strips or plastic sheeting.
· Clean Your refrigerator - Refrigerators use a lot of electricity, but by maintaining your refrigerator, you can reduce these energy costs. Vacuum the coils on the back of the fridge, and make sure the temperature is sufficient. The temperature shouldn’t be too cold to waste electricity, but cold enough to keep your food fresh.
Go Green with These Energy Saving Tips
· Turn Down Your Thermostat - Cooling and Heating accounts for approximately 70% of a home's energy bill. The simple act of adjusting thermostat at night or while you are gone during the day will go a long way to reducing your energy bills. If you have trouble remembering to adjust the thermostat, consider installing a programmable thermostat to do the work for you.
· Save On Your Water Bill - Using less water and on the cold setting will still clean your clothes as well as using warm or hot water, and you'll save money by not heating water to wash clothes. Costs are an average of 11¢ per load using warm water and 26¢ per load using hot water, which can add up in the long run!
Save even more by lowering your water heater temperature will still provide you with sufficient amounts of hot water. By reducing your water heater temperature you can decrease your energy costs. It’s estimated that for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower the temperature setting, you can reduce your bill 3% to 5%.
· Check Outlets - Did you know you can lose heat through your electrical outlets, light switches and lighting fixtures? Consider installing foam gaskets behind these outlets and switches or install plastic security caps to reduce cooling and heat loss.
· Don’t Block Your Vents - Place your furniture and drapes so that all output vents and cold air return vents are free from obstruction. This will reduce the cooling and heating load on your system.
· Compost in the Fall - Compost is a rich, organic soil conditioner for your lawn and garden. Put raked leaves and other yard wastes in a compost bin and keep these materials out of landfills. Don't forget to add any organic materials cleaned out of your gutters, too!
· Go Green in the Garage - Here in Central Florida we have about 2 months of dormant outdoor foliage. Empty out unused fuel from any gas-powered equipment stores in the garage, such as a lawnmower, because sediment can build up and clog the fuel lines. If you have children, store gasoline in tanks out of their reach.
· Let There Be Fresh Air - During the fall, as our days get cooler, and our nights are downright comfortable, open the windows and let the fresh air in. You will love the savings on your electric bill and your home will have a fresh clean smell.
· Use Your Ceiling Fans - Ceiling fans aren’t just for summer. The truth is ceiling fans are helpful no matter what the season. Also, make sure to clean your ceiling fan blades and reverse fan flow to spin clockwise. This will push air up to the ceiling and then back down to create warmth, resulting in energy savings!
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