There is no doubt about it – the winter seasons truly test your home when it comes to determining its level of energy-efficiency. Unfortunately, having a home that isn’t energy efficient is not only bad for the environment, it is bad for your pocketbook as well. Therefore, you might want to consider implementing these 5 tips to make your home energy-efficient this winter before the temperatures start to drop.

Tip #1: Insulate Your Water Heater

One of the simplest steps you can take for making your home more energy efficient is to insulate your water heater. You might also want to consider lowering the temperature of your water heater; just make sure you do not lower it below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Or, you might want to consider putting a timer on your water heater so it does not unnecessarily heat your water throughout the day while you are not at home.

Tip #2: Wrap Your Pipes

Another way to make your home more energy efficient is to wrap your pipes. Not only will this help prevent your pipes from freezing and subsequently bursting, it will also help the water that is being transported maintain its heat. When the water loses heat, your water heater has to work even harder to heat the water for you to use.

Tip #3: Replace Your Furnace Filters

Furnace filters are inexpensive and easy to replace. Yet, many people ignore this simple maintenance step. When your filters are clogged, the air is unable to properly flow through the heating and cooling system and your heating unit is forced to work harder. If the filters become severely clogged, it can cause your heating unit to overheat. You should check your furnace filters once per month throughout the winter season. If you cannot easily see light come through the filter, it is time to replace it.

Tip #4: Cover Your Windows

Before winter rolls around, it is time to take out your window screens and to replace them with storm windows. If you don’t have storm windows or if your windows do not have a good seal, you should seal any leaks you have or even consider replacing the windows. If this is not an option, you should put clear plastic over your windows so you don’t lose so much heat. The reality is that the majority of heat lost during the winter is through windows and doors, with many experts estimating that up to 35% of winter heating bills are caused by heat lost through windows. Therefore, paying close attention to your windows is an essential step in making your home more energy-efficient.

Tip #5: Install a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are relatively inexpensive, but they go a long way toward helping to reduce energy costs when properly implemented. By programming your thermostat to turn down the heat at night but to turn it back up shortly before you wake up, you will save energy during the night without having to wake up to a cold house. Similarly, programming your thermostat to turn down during the day and to go back up before you come home from work helps prevent wasting energy throughout the day without forcing you to come home to a cold house.

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5 Tips to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient this Winter

If you have a deck or patio, it is essential for you to take a few steps to properly prepare it for the winter. By taking a few precautionary measures now, you can potentially save yourself a great deal of heartache and expenses once spring rolls around.

Tip #1: Clean it Thoroughly

The first thing you need to do to prepare your deck or patio for winter is to simply clean it thoroughly. Be sure to remove all of the fungus, dirt, mildew, algae, rust stains and anything else that has accumulated on the deck or patio. Use a formulated deck cleaner to thoroughly remove the grime before doing anything else to prep your deck or patio.

Tip #2: Strip Away Unwanted Finish

After cleaning the deck or patio thoroughly, you should strip away any finish that is deteriorated or otherwise unwanted. Again, there are products available that you can use to remove oil or latex paints as well as semi-transparent stains and clear finishes that might need to be removed.

Tip #3: Reapply Finish and Stain

If you had to remove finish that was deteriorating, you will need to replace it in order to protect the wood and to keep your deck or patio looking great.

Tip #4: Seal it Up

Finally, you should seal your deck or patio with a water repellant. This way, it will be able to withstand all of the moisture, snow and ice that it will endure throughout the winter months. If you do not seal your deck or patio, the wood surface may start to crack and become warped.

Although it will take you a bit of time to prepare your deck or patio for winter and it will certainly cost you a little money to purchase the products needed to properly clean and seal your deck or patio, the time and money you spend will be well worth it when your deck or patio looks great in the spring!

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4 Tips to Care for Your Deck and Patio Before Winter

When it comes to your home and your family, safety is always your number one priority. This is particularly true when it comes to fire, as a house fire can destroy everything that you hold dear. Luckily, there are many things that you can do in order to make your house more fireproof and to reduce the chances of a fire getting out of control.

#1: Invest in a Fire Extinguisher

Perhaps the single most important thing you can do to make your house more fireproof is to simply invest in a fire extinguisher. Ideally, you should have at least one fire extinguisher in every room of your home, including your basement. In addition, you should have one in your kitchen and anywhere else where fire is used regularly, such as in a den with a fireplace.

#2: Install and Check Smoke Alarms

Another important step you can take in order to make your home safe from fire is to install smoke alarms in your home and to check the batteries in the alarms at least twice per year. This way, you will be alerted quickly if a fire does occur.

#3: Remove Old Clothes and Other Flammable Items

Allowing old flammable items such as clothes, boxes, newspapers and magazines to pile up is a definite fire hazard. So, get rid of these old piles of items in order to reduce your chances of a fire.

#4: Install Fireproof Carpeting

Installing fireproof carpeting will also help reduce the chances of a fire occurring and will slow down the progress of a fire if one does start to develop.

#5: Purchase Fireproof Furniture

If your furniture isn’t already fireproof, ask the store to coat it with fireproof chemicals. Although this may cost you a couple hundred dollars, the investment will be worth it. In many cases, getting a fireproof coating will also involve making your furniture stain resistant, which is a nice added bonus.

#6: Never Leave Candles Unattended

This may seem like a no-brainer, but candles are one of the top causes of house fires. It is far too easy to become comfortable with candles and to think nothing bad could happen if you leave a candle unattended for even a short period of time. But, the reality is that it quite easy for a candle to get accidentally knocked over or to otherwise lead to a house fire.

#7: Maintain Your Furnace Properly

Proper maintenance of your furnace is also an essential part of keeping fires at bay. Failure to change out your filter can lead to overheating and other damage to your furnace that can ultimately lead to a fire.

#8: Clean Out Your Lint Trap

It is also essential for you to clean out your lint trap every time you use your dryer. If you do not remove the lint that has accumulated, your dryer can become overheated and can lead to a fire.

#9: Don’t Overload Your Electrical Wires

You should also take care to avoid overloading your electrical wires and making sure your wiring is installed properly, as overloaded wires can quickly lead to an electrical fire.

#10: Perform Regular Checks

Finally, be sure to regularly check your appliances and electrical cords in order to make sure they are not becoming worn out and frayed. If wires are damaged or if appliances are becoming worn out, repair or replace them as necessary.

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10 Ways to Make Your Home More Fireproof

It is no secret that the attic is one place where a significant amount of heat can be lost each winter. Therefore, in order to make sure you are not losing heat through your attic and in order to make certain you do not experience an unexpected leaks during the summer, it is important to inspect your attic before winter hits. In fact, by implementing these 5 helpful tips, you can potentially save a significant amount of energy while keeping your roof and attic in good shape throughout the winter.

Tip #1: Make Sure it is Properly Insulated

Heat rises, which means the heat in your home ultimately works its way up to your attic. If your attic is not well-insulated, this heat will continue to move up and out of your home. As a general rule of thumb, you should have at least 12 inches of insulation in your attic and you should not be able to see your ceiling joists. If you do not have enough insulation, add some more so your attic will be more energy-efficient.

Tip #2: Check Your Gutters

If your gutters are full of debris or otherwise dirty, water will not be able to flow properly during the winter. If water flow is restricted, it will freeze and lead to ice dams. This, in turn, can cause leaks to occur in your attack. So, by taking care of your gutters, you can help ensure your attic stays in good shape throughout the winter.

Tip #3: Check Your Flashing

If flashing is damaged or is missing from your home, water from melting snow and winter rainstorms will find its way beneath the flashing and will freeze. This can also result in attic leaks, so replace any missing or damaged flashing in order to prevent this from happening.

Tip #4: Inspect Roof Shingles and Tiles

Worn out roof tiles and shingles are also a source of potential wintertime water leaks. So, before the temperature starts dipping below zero, check the condition of your roof and replace worn out shingles and tiles in order to stave off potential leaks.

Tip #5: Inspect the Interior

Finally, you need to inspect the interior of your attic in order to make sure it is in good shape. After a storm, go up into your attic and look for any obvious leaks and seal them up if you find any. This way, you can keep moisture at bay while also preventing heat from escaping.

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5 Helpful Tips to Ensure Your Attic is Ready for Winter

Although it is always fulfilling to do a project yourself, there are certainly times when hiring a contractor to do the job makes more sense. If you are considering hiring a contractor to help you with your home improvement projects, however, it is essential to be aware of a few of the most common contractor scams. This way, you can be certain you will not be taken advantage of by a scam artist.

Scam #1: “I Have Extra Materials”

If you are ever approached by a supposed contractor who offers to do a job at a great price because or she has “extra materials,” this should send up red flags. This scam is most often employed by con artists who claim to have just completed a driveway repaving project down the road. The scammer offers to repave your driveway with the “leftovers” at a reduce cost. Usually, the person offering to do the job isn’t even the same contractor who did the job down the road!

Scam #2: “I Was in the Neighborhood”

If a contractor comes to your home and claims he or she was in the neighborhood and thought you might be interested in his or her services, you should politely turn that person away. Legitimate contractors don’t act like door-to-door salesmen looking for homeowners to rescue. Simply put – if a contractor comes to you looking for work, he or she is most likely a scam artist.

Scam #3: Your Insurance Will Pay for It

Many con artists will talk you into getting a job done because your insurance company will pay for the repairs. If there is no real basis for your insurance claim, you could be facing insurance fraud charges if you turn the bill into your insurance company.

Scam #4: I Only Accept Cash

If your contractor insists that you pay for the job with cash, you should look for someone else to do the job. This is particularly true if the contractor wants you to pay in cash before the job even starts. Many of these scammers will offer you a big discount if you pay in cash, but paying in cash is a sure way to lose out on a whole lot of money by a con artist who will just take your money and run.

Scam #5: I Can Help You Get Financing

If you are taking on a costly project and the contractor offers to help you obtain financing if you sign over your deed, you should contact your local police department instead. With this scam, the supposed contractor is only trying to get you to sign over your deed so he or she can assume ownership. If you fall for this one, you won’t need to worry about the cost of your remodeling project because you will no longer be the owner of the home.

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Top 5 Contractor Scams to be Aware Of

Are you looking for ways to make your home a little more energy-efficient this winter? Or, perhaps you simply want to do whatever it takes to make sure your home is safe and as worry-free as possible throughout the winter. Either way, if you are ready to winterize your home, here are the five basic steps you need to take.

Step #1: Add Insulation to Your Attic

If you do not already have at least 12 inches of insulation in your attic, you should spend a little money and add some insulation before winter rolls around. As a general rule of thumb, your attic needs more insulation if you can see the ceiling joists. When adding more insulation to existing insulation, however, you should not use insulation with a paper backing. If you do, the backing will act like a vapor barrier and will cause moisture problems to develop.

Step #2: Wrap Your Pipes

Wrapping your pipes will help prevent them from freezing, which is important because frozen pipes have a tendency to burst. Obviously, the last thing you want to deal with in the winter is a burst pipe spraying water everywhere. Any pipe that is not insulated or that runs through an unheated space, such as a basement, crawlspace or garage, should be wrapped with fiberglass insulation, a foam rubber sleeve or heating tape.

Step #3: Clean Your Gutters

Don’t wait until spring to clean out your gutters, as the thawing snow will need someplace to drain during the wintertime. If it doesn’t have anywhere to go, the water will back up, form ice dams and eventually cause water to seep into your house. So, once your leaves have fallen, clean out all of the debris and then rinse your gutters out with the hose. This way, everything will be able to flow without a problem.

Step #4: Check Your Furnace

You certainly don’t want your furnace to quit on you in the middle of winter, so you should test it before the cold weather hits. Ideally, you should have your furnace inspected and cleaned before you fire it up. This way, you can be sure it is in good shape and is ready to warm your home properly throughout the season.

Step #5: Put Up Storm Windows

Finally, you should take down your window screens and replace them with storm windows. This way, your windows will be more energy efficient. If you don’t already have storm windows, you should consider purchasing them – even if you only purchase one or two per year and slowly get them for all of your windows. In the meantime, you should purchase a window insulator kit and use it to add plastic sheeting to the inside of your windows. Although it may not be the most attractive look, it is highly effective at preventing energy loss and the sheets can be easily removed once winter is offer.

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5 Basic Steps to Winterize Your House

In the past, homeowners didn’t give much thought to their basements. After all, they were primarily there in order to provide easy access to household systems as well as provide a space for storing belongings. Today’s homeowners, however, are more interested in using their basement as livable space. If you aren’t certain whether or not you should make some changes to your space, consider these top 5 signs you need to remodel your basement using basement contractors.

Sign #1: You Can’t Easily Walk Through Your Basement

If you cannot easily walk through your basement, that is a sign that it has become a magnet for clutter. Even if you want to use your basement primarily for storage, you can still remodel it in order to make it a more effective storage area.

Sign #2: You Are Getting Moisture in Your Basement

Moisture in your basement is a sign that you need to do more than remodel – you need to make repairs. If you are having moisture problems, it could be a sign of a faulty foundation, so getting it repaired is very important.

Sign #3: Your Kids are Afraid to Go Down There

If you have a creepy basement that scares away children – and maybe even a few adults – it is time to look at finding ways to brighten up the space and make it more inviting and useful.

Sign #4: You Need More Livable Space

If you are getting crowded out in your house, you might want to consider remodeling your basement in order to add more livable space for your family. A basement is a great place to put all of the kids’ toys so they can stay downstairs and out of your way in the house.

Sign #5: You are Ready for a Change

If you are tired of the way your basement looks and you are simply ready for a change, there is certainly nothing wrong with adding some fresh paint or making other changes that will liven up your basement and make it more interesting to you.

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5 Signs You Need to Remodel Your Basement

After your drywall is up, the next decision you will need to make is how you are going to finish the wall. Not only do you need to worry about the color and style of your wall finish, you also need to decide upon the type of material you will use to cover your walls. By learning as much as you can about the various options available to you, you can effectively learn how to pick the best kind of wall finish for you when hiring painting contractors.

Paint

One option for finishing your walls is to use paint. You may be surprised, however, to learn about the many different types of paint you can select from. From textured paint to high-gloss paint, the number of options available can be overwhelming. Therefore, it is a good idea to take your time and explore your available paint options from a variety of different stores.

One of the advantages of using paint is that it is relatively easy to put on the wall and to change later if you decide you want a new look. Unlike other types of wall finish, you don’t have to worry about taking the paint off in order to put something new on your walls.

Fabric Backed Vinyl

Fabric backed vinyl wallpaper is a good choice if you are trying to hide imperfections in your wall, such as seems from where your drywall comes together. This type of wallpaper is extremely durable and is a good choice for rooms such as the bathroom and the kitchen where steam and grease can be problematic for other types of wallpaper. It is also easy to remove this type of wallpaper, so long as you primed the wall before you installed it. Unfortunately, you won’t find as many available options when it comes to fabric backed vinyl, as it is difficult to get delicate prints on this material.

Plain Paper

Plain paper wallpaper is quite beautiful, but it is very delicate. This paper doesn’t have any kind of protection from staining and, in fact, even the paste can stain it from behind if proper care isn’t taken in the installation process.

Non Wovens

Non wovens are relatively new to the market, but this type of wallpaper is more durable than plain paper. It can be easily removed like fabric backed vinyls, yet can hold more delicate designs than fabric backed vinyls.

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How to Pick the Best Kind of Wall Finish

When remodeling your kitchen or even your bathroom, you may need to decide upon the type of counter surface you want to install. If you have laminate counter tops, you will certainly want to upgrade to either solid surface counter tops or natural counter tops such as those made of granite. So, the question then becomes, should you hire granite countertop contractors to upgrade to granite counter tops?

The Benefits of Granite Counter tops

One of the perks to having granite counter tops is the fact that they are quite durable and attractive. There is simply nothing that looks better than granite counter tops and installing them in your home will certainly increase your home’s value. Granite is also useful in the kitchen because you don’t have to worry about having hot pads for your hot pots and pans – just place it directly on the counter top and don’t worry about it harming the surface.

The Drawbacks of Granite Counter tops

In order to answer the question of should you upgrade to granite counter tops, you also need to consider the potential downsides of this material. For example, you will have to get the counter tops sealed on a periodic basis in order to maintain the attractive appearance. In addition, depending upon wear you live and the quality of the surrounding homes, having granite counter tops can actually hurt your resale value because the counter tops may be too high end for homes in your neighborhood.

Granite counter tops are also quite expensive. In fact, it is one of the most expensive materials you can choose to use for your counter. Solid surface counters, which are still fairly expensive, are generally quite a bit less costly than granite. In addition, you can have a sink seamlessly installed in a solid surface counter top. With granite, on the other hand, you can still expect to deal with seams around your sink that can collect germs and grime.

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Should You Upgrade to Granite Counter tops?

Are you getting ready to put your home on the market? If you have any of the top 10 home features home buyers are looking for, you likely won’t have any problem getting your home sold for a great asking price.

#1: Updated Appliances

Your kitchen appliances and appliances such as your furnace and water heater should be modern. It will be even better if they are energy efficient as well.

#2: Solid Surface or Natural Stone Countertops

Solid surface countertops installed by countertop contractors in the kitchen and in the bathroom are both quite popular. Having natural stone countertops, such as granite, can also be plus, though some buyers don’t want the hassle of upkeep associated with natural stone.

#3: Hardwood or Ceramic Tiled Floors

Most buyers do not want a home with vinyl tiles and even carpeting is becoming less popular. Hardwood and ceramic tiling installed by flooring contractors, however, are mainstays that are quite popular among buyers.

#4: A Two-Car Garage

A home without a garage or one with a one-car garage will be more difficult to sell. Not only do buyers want a place for their cars, they also want the storage space that two-car garages provide. Consider getting a new garage built by professional garage contractors to help add more value to your home.

#5: Master Suites

A master bedroom with a connected bathroom will be sure to get the attention of potential buyers. Consider have an addition added by addition contractors to help give your space that complete feeling.

#6: Walk-In Closets

Storage space is important to homebuyers. To that end, walk-in closets are quite popular. Walk-in “his and hers” closets is even better.

#7: Whirlpool Tubs

Even though many homeowners don’t use their whirlpool tubs, they still want to have them in their bathroom!

#8: Finished Basements

Homebuyers didn’t used to give much thought to basements, but today’s buyers want to see a clean, dry finished basement when looking to make a purchase. If your basement could use some help, consider hiring basement contractors to remodel your basement.

#9: Separated Tub and Shower

Many buyers are looking for their tubs and showers to be kept separated. In addition, they want nice, big showers that allow them plenty of room to move around. Hiring bathroom remodeling contractors may be required if there is a lot of demolition required.

#10: New Windows

Windows are important when it comes to maintaining the indoor climate. Therefore, buyers often look for homes with newer, efficient windows that will help them keep their energy costs down. If installing windows isn’t you thing, hire window contractors to install them for you.

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10 Home Features Home Buyers are Looking For