Make a difference by making a small change. Pelacing just the top 3 most used incandescent light bulbs in your home with Energy Star labeled compact flourescent lights can cut your annual lighting bill by a third. Although they may cost more to purchase, thay can save enough energy to pay for themselves twice.
Get at least three written estimates from contractors who have come to your home to evaluate what needs to be done. Be sure the estimates are based on the same work so that you can make meaningful comparisons.
In painting, holidays are areas which were not covered by paint. These missed areas will haunt most people for years to come. So don’t rush. Watch it dry Latex paint takes between one to six hours to dry. Oil requires eight to 24 hours to cure. The time depends on the climate and moisture in the area you are painting.
You should inspect your roof at least once a year. Nothing beats getting up close, but a good pair of binoculars can give you the next best thing. Look for curling or buckling shingles, shingle granules in your gutters, and other signs of wear.
If the area you are building in has a steep slope, build terraces or steps made of logs or old railroad ties across the slope to divert water away from slopes and prevent soil erosion. Between the steps, spread a thick layer of wood chips to protect the soil. If the slope is gentle, seeding grass may be enough. Use splash guards on gutter outlets to help reduce erosion at the foundation of your home.
Conventional mortgage loans usually can’t be assumed by new buyers, but FHA and VA loans can be. The borrower must qualify for the loan and come up with a large enough down payment to cover the purchase, but for buyers able to clear those hurdles, the lower overall origination costs can make this an attractive option.
Turn the air conditioner thermostat up to at least 78° or higher or use a programmable thermostat. Close doors to unused rooms. Turn air conditioners off when no one is home.
Mild winters mean more chimney fires! It’s true. People choke back their woodstoves in mild weather – leading to more creosote accumulation – but many don’t realize this, so they skip getting it cleaned, thinking it doesn’t need it as bad as it would after a cold winter.
Depressurize your home to help detect leaks. On a cool, very windy day, turn off the furnace. Shut all windows and doors. Turn on all fans that blow air outside, such as bathroom fans or stove vents. Then light an incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak sites. Wherever the smoke is sucked out of or blown into the room, there’s a draft.
Designers recommend placing seats back at least twice the width of your screen, but also a few feet away from the back wall, so you can savor your surround sound. If you don’t want the rest of the house to shake, invest in heavy carpet and padding to absorb sounds. Don’t automatically assume basements are the best place for a home theater (they’re prone to flooding). But if the basement is your only option, don’t run wires or cables along the floor.
