Being a new homeowner can be overwhelming. After moving into your new place, you may feel as though the money keeps slipping out of your pocket for more expenses. There are ways of reducing the cost of a few things around the house. Not only will these tips help your funds now but they might also lower the cost of home maintenance in the long run.
1.Install a ceiling fan in each room.
Ceiling fans are an easy way of keeping your rooms cool while not costing you a fortune. Having a ceiling fan in every room will reduce energy. A window air conditioner unit runs on 1.2 kilowatts and costs about 14 cents per hour versus a ceiling fan that runs on only 30 watts and costs only 1 cent per hour. If you do wish to have an air conditioner or if you have central air, having a ceiling fan installed will still save you money! Ceiling fans can move around the cool air from the air conditioner unit, reducing the amount of time the air conditioner needs to be on.
2.Switch to a programmable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat is one of my favorite homeowner saving tips. Having the thermostat to automatically increase and decrease during the day is an easy and effective way of saving money. For days that no one is home or at night while you are sleeping, lowering the temperature a few degrees can vastly save money. Then once you are home and back from work, the temperature can increase to your preferred temperature. A programmable thermostat is a perfect and easy way to lower your utility bill.
3.Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient ones.
Installing energy efficient lights throughout your house can save you an immense amount of money. LED or low-energy light bulbs and CFL or compact florescent lights are two types of light bulbs that can save homeowners some cash. Both light bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs but in the long run these bulbs will save you money by lasting longer. CFL lights will last approximately 10,000 to 15,000 hours, which is 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. LED lights will last about 25,000 to 35,000 hours, which is 2 to 4 times longer than a CFL and 25 to 35 times longer than an incandescent bulb. These light bulbs may cost more now but they will save you money in the long run!
4.Go green and plant a shade tree.
Keeping your house cool with nature is a very effective way to save money. Planting some trees that will shade your house from natural light will reduce the need to crank up your air conditioner unit. Choosing a deciduous tree- a tree that loses their leaves in the fall- will keep the house cool in the summer with its leaves and then keep the house warm in the winter due to the loss of leaves and more direct sun. Buying a tree will be a one time cost yet reduce energy costs in the future.
5.No Leak Zone! Check all plumbing.
Make a note to check the sinks and toilets in your new home before you get settled in and a few times during the year. If you can stop a leak before it happens or before it becomes a bigger issue, it can save you a large amount of money. If the faucet is constantly dripping, then that can result in amounting to a big cost. Doing a regular check-up on your plumbing is a homeowner saving must.
For more information on saving money as a new homeowner go to http://www.hansbrings.com/home.asp
