This New Year, make some resolutions for your most valued asset – your home! Make a fresh start in 2018 with these easy home maintenance tips.
Go Energy Efficient
There are some easy ways to make your home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and put some dollars back in your pocket at the same time. Set your hot water heater to 120 or 130 degrees. Don’t reduce it below 120 degrees, as lower temperatures may promote bacteria growth and provide insufficient sanitization. Installing low-flow shower heads is another easy way to conserve water and save on costs. In addition, consider replacing halogen or CFL lighting with LED bulbs. LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy, last for years, and are cooler to the touch, making it a safer option for table lamps and other exposed fixtures. These small investments will more than pay for themselves in water and energy costs you will save.
Secure Yourself
Gone are the days of bulky security systems that require tons of wiring and long-term contracts. There are now several DIY security systems on the market that allow you to monitor your home 24/7. With the Nest cam, you can simply plug the camera into an electric outlet, download the app, and monitor indoors or outdoors from the convenience of your smartphone! The Ring Doorbell is a great way to ward off potential lurkers – when someone rings the doorbell, your smartphone notifies you – you can see and speak to them from the inside of your home or from anywhere with a cellular or wifi connection!
Maintain Your Home
Blustery winter days are the perfect time to do some routine maintenance that is often ignored during warmer weather. Monitor the weather – if the temperature is forecast to drop below freezing, wrap your pipes in insulation to ensure they don’t crack or burst. Make sure you’ve turned off the water to all outdoor spigots as well. This is also the perfect time to check and replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. You should have a carbon monoxide alarm for each level of your home and near any gas appliances, such as furnaces or dryers.
RHG builds beautiful new homes in Atlanta. For more information on our new home communities in Gwinnett, Jackson, Barrow and DeKalb Counties, including available homes, photos, floorplans, and more, visit us online at www.RHGHomes.com. To keep up-to-date on the latest news and offerings by RHG Homes, check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RHG.homes. You can also catch up with us on Twitter and see footage of our beautiful new homes and communities on YouTube!
Image Source: Clipart-Library.com