Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category
9 Ways to make your house more eco-friendly
More and more people are making their homes more energy efficient. The ‘Go Green’ movement is bigger and strong than ever. It doesn’t take much to transform your house into an energy efficient home. Let’s look at the steps.
1. Replace your refrigerator. Your refrigerator may be the most energy-guzzling machine in your house. You can drastically cut your energy costs just by replacing your old refrigerator with an Energy Star refrigerator.
2. Programmable thermostat and a water heater timer. There is nothing worse than paying a huge energy bill, especially when you weren’t even there. These thermostats can be programmed to keep your home warmer when you are away during warm months and cooler when you are away during cooler months. It also doesn’t make sense to heat your water when you aren’t going to use it. Install a timer for your water heater in these instances.
3. Solar film or solar shades. If you live in a warmer climate, you need to consider putting something on the outside of your windows to reflect the light. This will keep your home cooler and cut your energy costs.
4. Escaping heat. Make sure that your window panes and door frames are airtight. You don’t want to let the heat in your home escape, so it is important to keep everything insulated properly.
5. Lightbulbs. Replacing your lightbulbs with energy-efficient lightbulbs can really make a difference in making your home more eco-friendly. Swapping out a few light bulbs can save up to $400 a year.
6. Air filters. Changing the air filters in your home is an easy and inexpensive way to cut down on energy costs. You should change the air filters at least monthly. Replacing the air filter can also extend the life of your air conditioner.
7. Plant some trees. Your home won’t get as hot in the summer or as cold in the winter if you plant a few nice, shady trees in your yard. These trees can protect your home from the sun’s hottest rays and from winter’s freezing winds.
8. Attic fans can do wonders when it comes to making your home more eco-friendly. Attic fans are inexpensive and can also extend the life of your home.
9. Upgrade to a latex mattress. Latex mattresses can be made 100% eco-friendly by using natural materials as compared to other mattress including traditional springed mattresses and a memory foam mattress. A latex mattress is also naturally hypoallergenic, dust-mite resistant, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial.
Making your home eco-friendly is not hard or expensive. In fact, you can save a lot of money by making a few simple changes to your home. Start with these simple tips to see how energy efficient your home can be.
Improving Your Home, Quieting Noisy Water Pipes
Water pipes, particularly in older homes, tend to make a variety of different noises that can sometimes be silenced by a little maintenance before major repair becomes necessary. Creaks, rattles, whistles and bangs all have legitimate causes behind them that you may be able to eliminate yourself.
Creaking is caused by expansion and contraction of your pipes due to hot and cold water flow. Insulating your pipes or widening the gaps that they need to run through can prevent this. Rattling is due to loose pipes which can be tightened up where they connect or hung with a more stable mounting. Whistling means that you may need a new valve or washer in one of your fixtures and banging is caused by air pockets which can be removed by shutting your water off and opening all your faucets to release trapped air pockets. You can try any of these preventative measures on your own or call a plumber to assist you.
For other assistance with home repairs, visit our San Diego Plumbing site.
