5 Ways You Can Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
The concept of an energy-efficient home has been around for several years now. But the truth is that for older homes it can be quite tricky to achieve that. And this happens because many older constructions weren’t designed with proper insulation approaches.
Still, there are some things you can consider to improve your home’s environment. Read on to discover the top five ways you can use to make your home more energy-efficient, no matter if you have a newer or older home.
1. Upgrade Insulation
The first thing you need to consider is your property’s insulation. Studies show that insulated floors, walls, and ceiling can aid you to save more than 10% of your annual energy costs. So, if you aim to make your home energy efficient, you should start by upgrading insulation. Consider replacing your flooring and insulating your walls according to the area you live in.
2. Upgrade the HVACS System
An outdated cooling and heating equipment can increase your monthly bills while preventing you from having a cozy interior. So, if you aim to make your home energy efficient, you should start by doing HVAC maintenance. Ask the technician about whether or not you need to upgrade your system. A newer HVAC system can significantly boost the comfort in your home while decreasing your monthly expenses.
3. Upgrade Windows and Doors
If you feel like there is too much draft inside your house, it might be a sign, it is time to consider windows and doors replacement. Faulty windows and doors can fail to insulate your home, which can lead to costly expenses and an overall lack of comfort. Today you can find on the market several energy-efficient windows and doors that can insulate your home and prevent exterior conditions from modifying your home’s environment.
4. Use Rugs and Window Blinds
Another way you can make your home more energy efficient is by using rugs and curtains. Tugs can prevent heat loss through the flooring, while window blinds can diminish heat loss through the glass pane. Make sure you close the blinds shortly before the sun goes down. In this way, the heat accumulated during the day won’t escape. Also, blinds are extremely helpful during summer, too. These can prevent exterior heat from entering your home.
5. Use Landscaping
The exterior of your home can help you a lot when it comes to creating an energy-efficient environment. As such, a nicely designed garden layout can aid you in maximizing your home’s warmth. It is best to keep a couple of trees. These can protect the house from extreme temperatures.
So, with these five ways to make your home more energy-efficient, you can start today improving your property. Of course, one of the most efficient approaches is to check whether or not you need windows and doors replacement. These are the major points in your home, where heat loss occurs. Besides, new windows and doors come with top-notch technology that can better comfort and offer fantastic insulation properties.
5 Useful Benefits of Installing Gutter Guards
Gutter guards have become the necessary solution for any home improvement project. And their advantages seem to exceed everyone’s expectations. Still, there are plenty of people that don’t see what useful benefits might come from installing gutter guards.
Rest assured, we’ve got you all covered! Up next, our experts shared their insights on the main advantages of adding to your home gutter guards. Let’s see how such a small home improvement can save you a lot of time and money.
1. You Can Save Time and Money
Gutter guards were created to manage debris and prevent it from accumulating in your gutters. As such, installing those can prevent you from a lot of hassle with a blocked gutter system. And it can save you a lot of time and money, as you won’t have to do frequent maintenance to your system. Thus, installing gutter guards can allow you to clean your property efficiently, without struggling with the difficult task of a blocked gutter system.
2. You Can Prevent Rust and Corrosion
Another benefit of having gutter guards is that it can shield your system in the face of rust and corrosion. Mould can occur in your roof if your gutter system is blocked with debris. This can cause severe home damage and will make you spend a lot of money on maintenance. So, having gutter guards can expand the lifespan of your gutter system and roof.
3. You Can Manage Ice Dams and Gutter Freezing
If you have a faulty gutter system, water won’t flow down properly. This exposes your home during winter and can lead to ice dams and gutter freezing. So, installing gutter dams can prevent such problems, as it aids inadequately managing the water flow down the sides of your home.
4. You Can Prevent Mice and Insect Infestations
Being a homeowner means you should deal with infestations, too. And the best way to do that is to prevent any mice and insect infestation. Hence, a lesser-known advantage of having gutter guards is that it prevents rodents and insects from accessing your home through the gutter system.
5. You Can Protect Your Home Against Fire
No matter if you live in an area prone to bushfires or not, having gutter guards can offer additional protection to your property. If you don’t have them, the leaves and debris accumulated in your system can be easily ignited into fire due to traveling embers. So, if you aim to keep both your family and neighbours safe, it is always best to think ahead and install gutter guards.
Now that you know the top five most useful benefits of installing gutter guards, you can move forward and make some home improvements. These represent a lifetime investment, as they can protect your property and prevent costly damage. So, to shield the structural integrity of your home, it is always best to contact a professional to assess your gutter system. In this way, you will know which gutter guards solutions are best for your home!
How To Tell If You Need New Windows?
If you’re wondering about the lifespan of your home windows, you should know this depends on various factors. These include the quality of the installation, the materials used for your windows, or the distributor of a brand. Still, several ways allow you to determine whether or not it is time to consider window replacement. Let’s see up next when it’s time to get new windows for your home.
1. Condensation
A meaningful sign that you need window replacement is condensation. This is a serious issue that can significantly decrease the comfort in your household. So, if your window is closed and ice, frost, or fog happens on it, you should know this is a sign your windows exceeded their lifespan.
Also, condensation that occurs between window panes of glass indicates your windows fail to seal the interior tightly. As soon as you experience such problems, window replacement is more than necessary so that you can properly insulate your home again.
2. Noise
Another way to determine whether or not you need window replacement is by assessing the noise. If your interior appears to be noisier than before, your windows might be the issue. Older models don’t come with noise-canceling properties. Thus, upgrading to triple-pane windows can offer noise-canceling features, which in turn will increase the comfort of your home.
3. Drafts
When your home seems to experience sudden drafts, you should look at your windows. Windows that do not close correctly can lead to improper insulation. This can increase your energy expenses while compromising comfort in your household. So, if you have drafts in your home, it might be an indicator you need new windows.
4. Faults
If you’re having, issues opening or closing your windows, can tell you there is something wrong with your window. There are plenty of causes that can lead to a faulty window system, including a warped frame, foundation problems, or old windows. So, if you experience this issue, you can always ask a professional to assess your home’s windows. He or she will advise you if you need window replacement or a simple window frame repair.
5. Deterioration
Another sign is time to change your windows is deterioration. Chips, breaks, or rotten areas can tell you need window replacement. In most cases, it is more cost-effective to replace your windows, rather than to repair such damage. Besides, old and broken windows can lack the security features you might need for your property. These are easier to break in, which can lead to additional problems for your property.
So, with these signs in mind, you are ready to determine if you need new windows. Our advice is always to take such issues seriously, as it can lead to expensive energy bills and a not so welcoming interior. Anyway, window replacement can save you a lot of trouble, mainly because newer window models come with additional insulation and sound-proofing features.
How Can I Make My House Brighter?
Being a house owner can be a fantastic experience. But at the same time, you find yourself battling all sorts of issues. And this might include a dark interior. Some people feel discouraged when they observe their houses are not as bright as they expected.
Still, before you decide there is nothing you can do to brighten your home, you should read this article! Up next, we’ve shared interesting ideas on how to make your house brighter starting today! Let’s see how to bring in more light!
1. Use White to Your Favor
When it comes to brightening a home, many people opt for adding as many mirrors as possible. Of course, this can turn out to be helpful for small spaces, such as condominiums. Still, if you own a house with larger rooms, you will soon discover mirrors won’t offer you the expected brightness.
Instead, you can use white in your favor. Painting your walls in white helps bounce around the room the light. But you can always include some white accessories in your décors, such as art, furniture, curtains or bedding.
2. Use Warm light Sources
Another interesting idea on how to brighten a house is to add as many warm light sources as possible. Warm lights have the power to create a welcoming environment, which in turn will make the interior brighter. Our advice is to hang the light source as high as possible. In this way, it will simulate natural light.
3. Avoid Positioning Tall Items Next to Your Windows
If you have a big plant, a bookshelf, or any other furniture item next to your windows, it is best to move it from that location. These can block the natural light and can make the interior seem darker than it is. Our advice is to position tall items on the opposite end of the area where your windows are. The effect will be amazing!
4. Use Plants to Your Advantage
You will be amazed by how different a room will appear after you add a plant in its décor. Decorating with plants adds vibrancy to any interior, which in turn will create the sense that the room is brighter than it actually is. Make sure you place your plant pots close to the window without blocking the natural light.
5. And When Nothing Works, Consider Window Replacement
Still, if you try anything possible to brighten your home and you don’t manage to achieve the desired result, you might need another solution. The main sign that tells you that you need window replacement is a dull and dark interior. So, if you feel like your home is not as bright as it should be, consider asking a professional to assess the state of your windows. Newer windows allow plenty of natural light to enter the home, so window replacement might solve your problem.
The bottom line is that there are plenty of design approaches you can take to brighten your home. Still, if the problem is with your windows, the efforts might not prove as efficient as you might expect. Window replacement can increase both brightness and energy efficiency for a home.