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What an Energy Audit Can Do for You

March 7, 2022

The average household spends over $2,000 a year on energy expenses. If you fall into the average, or even find yourself surpassing it), you’re ready to start saving money. One way that you can decrease your usage and spending is by having an energy audit performed. Benefits of an Energy Audit You probably already know the biggest benefit of an energy audit– saving yourself money. But there are other positives you may not have thought of. You’ll also be able to save your appliances, mainly your HVAC system, from wearing out as quickly. You may even find yourself living more comfortably without having to constantly fight your HVAC. What Kinds of Homes Should Get an Audit? It’s a given that most older homes don’t hold up as well as when they were first built, so it’s no surprise they can eventually become an energy sinkhole. Older frames tend to split, and this can allow for a higher amount of intrusion from the outside air. Even if your house is brand new or recently remodeled, there can still be defects within the construction that hinder its efficiency. That’s why it pays to have an energy audit so that you can catch

How to Easily Clean Your Showerhead

February 28, 2022

There are lots of little things that can get overlooked when you clean your home. One item you may not have touched in a while is your showerhead. Here’s how you can clean your showerheads this weekend in just a few minutes. Importance of a Clean Showerhead There are a few good reasons that you should regularly clean your showerhead. Cleaning will help keep your showerhead working for longer. Over time, showerheads can succumb to mineral buildup, especially if you have hard water. This not only looks unpleasant, but can limit the effectiveness of the head. Mold and grime can also start to collect inside the head and on the nozzles, which can be harmful to your health. When You Should Replace Your Showerhead You may find that even a deep cleaning won’t fix your dirty showerhead. In this case, it’s best to just go ahead and buy a new one. You should be replacing your showerhead every seven months anyway, but not everyone remembers to. It can also be time to replace if the nozzles get damaged and the water is plugged. Scrub the Nozzles First, you’ll want to scrape off whatever gunk has accumulated on the nozzles. This

Caring for Your Leather Furniture

February 21, 2022

Leather furniture can be the perfect piece to tie any room together. And while leather is usually more durable, it can get worn down from excessive use. Luckily, a little bit of TLC will keep your couch or chair looking great even longer! Cuts and Scratches If you have pets or small children, your furniture may have lots of small cuts in it. The good news is that they’re fairly easy to repair. If the scratch hasn’t completely punctured the material, all you need is some high quality leather conditioner. Start by cleaning the surface and then wait for it to dry. Then continually apply the conditioner until the leather can’t absorb it. Let the last coat sit until it’s dry, and most of the cuts should disappear. Peeling or Flaking It’s not uncommon for blended leather to start flaking off after a while. Although you might opt to just replace the piece, you can get a few more years out of it. First, remove any loose flakes that are on the furniture. Then use either a leather paint or leather filler to fill in the area left behind. Seal it off with a coat of finish and let it

Easy Decor Tips to “Grow” a Small Room

February 14, 2022

Decorating your home can sometimes require a bit of a magic touch. For those smaller spaces, you may need a bit more magic than normal. Here are some tricks to make that otherwise cramped part of your home grow big! Go with one color scheme. Picking the right paint combination for your room makes all the difference. When deciding, try to avoid using multiple colors of varying shades. Instead, just stick with two colors of stark contrast like white and a dark blue. The difference in hues will create better depth and give the illusion that the room has more space. Also try to avoid using different patterns and wallpapers, as they have the opposite effect and make it seem smaller. Limit the amount of clutter. The key to making a room seem like it has a lot of space is to actually keep the floor open. Having multiple pieces of large furniture or even a lot of smaller pieces quickly clutters things up. Try to keep your design simple and only use one or two larger items and a handful of smaller accent pieces. You’ll also need to get creative with your storage space. Using built-in hidden cabinets and

Planning a Romantic At-Home Valentine’s Day Date

February 7, 2022

Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and you may be feeling the pressure to put on the perfect evening for your special someone. However, that perfect evening can be a mess if you fail to snag dinner reservations in time or you’re stressing about outdoing yourself from last year. If you want to save yourself from scrambling around at the last minute and still give a gift from the heart, here’s how you can have the perfect date night without ever leaving your home! Put on your chef’s hat and apron. There’s nothing quite like a full heart (and stomach) that comes from a delicious home-cooked meal. Recreate a meal from one of your favorite restaurants, or try out something new. You definitely don’t have to be the most skilled cook either. You might be surprised at how fun it can be to sharpen your culinary skills and make a meal for the person you love. Channel your inner Bob Ross. From showcasing your artistry in the kitchen to showing it on the canvas, go ahead and break out the paint brushes and easels. There are tons of tutorials on YouTube that you can follow to create a masterpiece. You can

Is Solar Worth It?

January 31, 2022

Solar panels have started to gain popularity not just for big businesses, but also for individual homeowners. Almost 4 percent of all U.S. homes and 3 percent in Canada are powered or will be powered by solar panels in 2022. The benefits of a lower energy bill and reducing your carbon footprint has made the switch to solar an easy decision. If you’ve thought about changing your energy supply, there are some things you should consider. How does solar power work? Believe it or not, solar power has existed since the 1950s. But its high price point kept most people from purchasing it for personal use. Thanks to scientific advancements the cost has dropped substantially and they’re higher quality as well. Photovoltaic panels are designed specifically for residential use. The cells in the panel collect the sun’s photons, creating an electric field and eventually flowing to the appliances you’re using. How many panels will you need? How much energy a panel can put out is measured in Watts and called the “theoretical output.” While a panel may be rated for a certain wattage, they don’t use all of the energy they collect. The actual output or “capacity factor” is typically

Choosing a Driveway? Here’s What You Should Know

January 24, 2022

A driveway is a key piece to increasing your home’s curb appeal. Especially if you’re thinking about selling in the near future, you want it to look as perfect as possible. But you want to make sure that you choose the right style for your home. A driveway is a major investment, so here’s what you need to know before you make your decision. Picking Your Material Driveways have expanded past the original concrete styles over time. Now, there’s a wide variety of materials you can choose to pave with. Behind concrete, asphalt has become highly popular with homeowners. Brick is another long-time favorite that tends to hold up well. Gravel is a simple look that can still add attractiveness to your house. Lastly, paving stone driveways allow you to mix and match styles for a more unique look. ConcreteThe top choice for homeowners, concrete driveways have a long list of positives. First of all, the cost of most concrete installations is fairly inexpensive. This is a big selling point for first-time homeowners looking to save money where they can. Concrete also tends to be very durable and lasts for a long time in any climate. If you want something

How to Protect Your Hardwood Floors from the Cold

January 17, 2022

Wood floors provide a classic look to your home that really makes it stand out. However, they require special care in order to maintain their uniqueness. As the cold rolls on, it can be the toughest time of the year for your hardwood floors. The good news is with some diligence, your floors will stay looking like new through wintertime. Changing Temperatures As the weather starts to cool off, it can cause your floors to change as well. Major differences in temperature make the wooden planks shrink and create gaps. Then when they warm back up, they can crack. If you like to crank the heat inside your home, consider dropping it back a few degrees. That way the difference in temperature won’t be as extreme. It also helps to use a humidifier to keep some moisture in the air that can be absorbed by your floor. Tracking Things Inside There’s a whole assortment of debris that you track in your home during winter. Sand, salt, and snow all make a mess of your floors and cause lasting damage. The tiny pieces caught in your boots can scratch up the surface, and if you don’t clean the water and de-icer

Downsizing Tips For Seniors: Moving Safely And Comfortably

January 10, 2022

By Harry Cline of the blog NewCaregiver.org Downsizing is often a relief for seniors who find that their current living situation just isn’t sustainable anymore, either due to their financial situation or because their health is failing. However, it comes with many considerations, and it’s important to know what to expect before you make any decisions. The cost of the move itself is one thing to think about. There’s also the actual downsizing — figuring out which items you will take with you to the new house and which ones will need to go — as well as packing and preparing to live in a new neighborhood. It can be overwhelming, but with a solid plan, you can ensure that it all goes smoothly. Find the Right Place Before anything else, you’ll need to find the right place for your needs — as well as decide what to do with the place you already have. For the latter, you might want to begin by scheduling an inspection. A real estate agent is a great advocate in the home search process, and even more so when you work with someone who specializes in senior moves. Interview at least a couple of

Controlling Radon in Your Home During Winter

January 3, 2022

Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in the United States and Canada. The odorless, colorless gas can go undetected in a home for years and only get noticed when it’s too late. During the winter, radon levels can spike indoors and pose even more of a threat to you. With January being Radon Action Month, it’s a great opportunity to lower your radon risk during the colder months. Radon and the Cold As the temperature begins to drop outside, radon levels can start to rise in your home. Winter is almost equal to summertime in terms of radon spikes. Although everyone has minimal exposure to radon at all times, certain factors can contribute to you being exposed to unsafe levels. A few of the causes of higher radon during cold months are: Stuck Inside Winter brings with it chilly temperatures that usually keep us inside. However, being stuck inside for several months can be dangerous. If your home already has above-safe levels of radon, you’re increasing the chances of severe health risks by staying shut in. Especially if you have a below-ground level that you like to spend time in, you’re putting yourself even closer to