Costly but necessary home improvements
With holiday spending now behind us, the last thing most want to hear about is how they should spend more money. But smart investments now could help rack up big savings down the road.Consumer Reports says the new year is a good time to turn attention toward something a little less flashy but no less important — home maintenance and improvement. Firstly, CR recommends you check your current heating system.“Heating your house can actually account for as much as thirty percent of your utility bills, so it’s really important that everything run at peak efficiency,” says Consumer Reports’ Paul Hope.One way to keep your home warm is to check for air leaks. A lit stick of incense held next to doors or windows can reveal any air leaks. If the smoke blow’s horizontally, the closure likely isn’t airtight.Inexpensive fixes include door snakes, weather stripping, and caulking.“If you’ve tried all of these little fixes and it’s still not cutting it, it might be time to replace your windows,” says Hope. “Not only will you save on your energy bill, but a lot of modern windows are easier to clean, and they will help cut down on drafts and noise inside the house.”In Consumer Reports’ wind and weather tests, the Preservation Window Series earned top scores, while the Pella 150 vinyl windows resisted wind as well as windows that cost twice as much.CR also says installing a storm door can give an additional buffer between the cold air and your home. They recommend the Anderson 400 Series Retractable Aluminum Storm Door.Consumer Reports also recommends monitoring your roof for cracks, missing or curled shingles, or leaks.
With holiday spending now behind us, the last thing most want to hear about is how they should spend more money. But smart investments now could help rack up big savings down the road.
Consumer Reports says the new year is a good time to turn attention toward something a little less flashy but no less important — home maintenance and improvement.
Firstly, CR recommends you check your current heating system.
“Heating your house can actually account for as much as thirty percent of your utility bills, so it’s really important that everything run at peak efficiency,” says Consumer Reports’ Paul Hope.
One way to keep your home warm is to check for air leaks. A lit stick of incense held next to doors or windows can reveal any air leaks. If the smoke blow’s horizontally, the closure likely isn’t airtight.
Inexpensive fixes include door snakes, weather stripping, and caulking.
“If you’ve tried all of these little fixes and it’s still not cutting it, it might be time to replace your windows,” says Hope. “Not only will you save on your energy bill, but a lot of modern windows are easier to clean, and they will help cut down on drafts and noise inside the house.”
In Consumer Reports’ wind and weather tests, the Preservation Window Series earned top scores, while the Pella 150 vinyl windows resisted wind as well as windows that cost twice as much.
CR also says installing a storm door can give an additional buffer between the cold air and your home. They recommend the Anderson 400 Series Retractable Aluminum Storm Door.
Consumer Reports also recommends monitoring your roof for cracks, missing or curled shingles, or leaks.
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