Your Home is your most valued possession. It is where you make memories, hear laughter, and mend broken hearts. It is also where you sleep, eat, and unwind. As 2016 draws to a close, consider some New Year’s resolutions to improve your home.
1. Decrease Your Home’s Energy Use.
- Sill plate and the foundation
- Venting ducts that connect to the outdoors
- Water drain pipes
- Holes for wires
Start by filling in all the larger holes first as they will produce the biggest benefits.
2. Breathe Easy.
If you haven’t changed the filter in your HVAC system in the last 3 months, now is a perfect time. During peak heating and cooling seasons, a general rule of thumb is to change your air filter monthly. Here are a few additional tips for eliminating harmful lung irritants in your home:
- Clean all kitchen and bathroom ventilation screens with mild soap and water.
- Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide alarms. If you don’t have both, consider adding them as a wise investment in your health and safety.
- When utilizing a fire place, burn natural firewood as formaldehyde can be found in many pressed wood products.
- If you warm up your car on cold mornings, don’t let the car idle in the garage.
- Clean up after your pets to reduce the number of pet allergens. Washing your pets should not be your only remedy.
3. Consider your insulation.
When was the last time you inspected your insulation? Making sure your insulation is not soiled or damaged by pest presence or below the minimum recommendations by the U.S. Department of Energy is wise. Consider replacing your current insulation with a green insulation and pesticide in one or adding insulation directly on top of your existing insulation to increase the home’s thermal envelope. The annual savings on your heating and cooling costs will be an added bonus to your comfortable home.
Life moves fast. Case in point, 2017 is just a few days away. Take a proactive, preventative approach to your home’s health and your family’s comfort with these simple New Year’s resolutions. Begin 2017 focused on your most valued possession… your home.