Consider any home improvements you do as an investment in your home as it usually will increase your home’s value. An entire industry has arisen around the concept of increasing the value of homes through home improvements. House flipping is the name of this new industry and it has made many people very rich. To get started, familiarize yourself with the different classification of home improvement projects that you can choose from. A project that can help lower your utility bills is a good area place to start. Another perspective concerns personal health and safety, and we will talk about both aspects in this article.
Your hot water system is a good place to start lowering your utility bills. It affects your whole home. The first step is to do some exploration and find all the spots where your hot water pipes are exposed. This is an easy, inexpensive project. Just purchase some low-cost insulation and wrap it around the exposed pipes. This will prevent the hot-water pipes from losing heat as they do when they are exposed. You need to stop this heat loss and, by wrapping the pipes, you will have accomplished this task. The net result is your hot water heater will be used less, and the water that is heated will stay hot for longer periods, thus saving you money.
For now, take a look in your attic, if you have one, and what you want to find are seams that are open to the outside. Attics are also legendary for having a cold draft, and that is another sure sign.
Once you have identified all the sources of exposure to the elements, then you have options for how you want to seal them. Maybe you are aware of the type of aerosol foam that comes in a can, and that is one thing you can use. What will happen is you fill the seams and various cracks you want to seal, but remember that the foam will expand as it drys, so you do not want to use too much.
Attic fans can really make a huge difference with keeping things cool during the hot summer months. This can be a fun project to do, and you can get help if you need it or are not comfortable with what is involved. Attic fans can really be helpful, and you will not need to operate your air conditioner so much and can save. If you want to get a contractor, then be sure to shop around and get bids on it. Also, make sure the seams around your fan are very well insulated and sealed to keep rain water out. Home improvement does not necessarily mean you have to engage in large and costly projects. Of course it is a smart idea to do something that will prevent a situation from getting worse. None of what we mentioned above are difficult to do, and you just need to take your time with them. Plus, you are making your home more efficient, so it is a very good thing to do. We are talking about ROI, or return on your investment, and besides we have to be concerned about energy conservation.
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