4 Ways Your Home Is Secretly Losing You Money & How to Prevent It
Owning a home is always going to be somewhat expensive, but you may be losing more money than you realize.
Relatively minor issues around your home could be costing you thousands of dollars a year.
Here is a look at a few ways your home might be secretly losing you money and some steps that you can take to lower your bills.
Inefficient Pilot Lights
Keeping one or two pilot lights constantly lit could cost you well over $150 a year.
That amount is going to be much higher if your pilot lights aren’t burning efficiently.
As a general rule, a natural gas pilot light should produce a steady blue flame.
If you have a gas furnace, then you might want to consider turning the pilot light off during the summer months.
Before putting out a pilot light, you must cut all gas to that appliance with a shutoff valve.
Inadequate Insulation
Many homeowners are surprised to hear that residential insulation doesn’t last forever. In certain climates, homes need to be reinsulated as often as once every two or three years.
When it comes time to reinsulate your attic, you should consider upgrading to blow-in insulation.
That type of insulation could drastically lower your heating and cooling costs, and it is much more affordable when bought in bulk.
It is also easier to install as long as you can access your entire attic.
Old Lights
Older incandescent bulbs have become quite trendy over the last few years, but they use more energy than most people realize.
They also give off a tremendous amount of heat, and that could increase your energy bills during the summer. CFL and LED bulbs use a fraction of the electricity and only cost a few cents more.
Replacing all of the incandescent bulbs in your home with high-efficiency LED bulbs could save you a few hundred dollars a year.
Leaky Faucets
A slow leak might not seem like a big problem, but a few drips a minute could waste hundreds of gallons of water a month.
Leaky faucets are also going to increase your risk of mold, mildew, pest infestations, and other unwanted problems.
Luckily, pipe repair services are relatively inexpensive, and most leaks can easily be fixed in a matter of minutes.
You should also have a plumber check your sewage line once or twice a year for any signs of damages.
When it comes to saving money, a few simple projects can make a big difference.
In addition to lowering your monthly bills, these upgrades and fixes are also going to reduce your impact on the environment.
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Category: Housing
