You’ve just moved into your nice new home. The boxes are unloaded and you’re finally settling into your home and your new life. While you’re settling in, is the perfect time to make up that checklist of home maintenance jobs that will save you money for years to come.
- Check/Install Attic Insulation
If you have an attic, whether finished or unfinished, pop your head up into it and take a look around. You should be able to see the insulation between the beams in the attic space, and there should be plenty of it. Six inches is said to be the average, but it could be more if you live in colder climates. If you don’t see enough or it looks damaged you need to schedule attic insulation installation with a local company as soon as possible.
- Clean and Organize
It may be tempting to put those boxes in the corner or to put off cleaning that spare room, but it’s not a good idea. Go ahead and clean, organize, and put away everything from books to dishes, so you don’t have to do it later on. Cleaning and organizing can add years to the life of everything from carpeting and wood floors to counters and walls.
- Adjust the Hot Water Heater Settings
If you want to save money on your electric bills, then checking your hot water heater settings is a good idea as well. The optimum temperature for the heater to be on is 120-degrees Farhenheit. Not only will the water be cooler, which can help prevent people from being scalded, but it will also save you money in the long run.
- Air Seal Your Home
While this isn’t much of a problem in new homes, older homes have a ton of cracks that air can seep into. Walk around your house and see where you feel drafts coming in, and then work to air-seal the home against them. The most common places to check for drafts are outlets, around windows, and around your doors. If any of these spots are drafty, it can end up costing you quite a bit of money in the long run — they also make good entryways for pests who want to invade your home.
- Plant a Few Shade Trees
While this isn’t a short-term fix, planting shade trees will save you money no your utility bills in the future because they’ll help keep your home cool in the summer. You want trees that are leafy during the hot weather to shade your home from the direct sunlight, but trees that lose their leaves in the winter season, so that the direct sunlight can warm your home. On top of that, trees will add to your property value as they grow, as long as they are taken care of properly.
- Invest in a SmartStrip/Surge Protector or Two
When you’re hooking up your TV, gaming consoles, and DVD players, you can save energy and protect them from surges by investing in a SmartStrip or two. It just makes good common and financial sense to get a surge protector, especially if you live in an area that is plagued by thunderstorms during the spring and summer months.
These are just a few of the top maintenance tips you can follow when moving into a new home to help you save some money in the long run. From insulating the attic properly to turning down the hot water heater, these tips can save you money and keep you and your family safe and cozy in your new home.
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