Yahoo Finance 17 Simple Home Repairs That Will Save You Cash
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Homeowners fantasize about making fabulous changes to their homes: adding rooms, beautifying the grounds and remodeling kitchens and baths. In reality, however, these dream projects may not be financially possible.
Don’t let that stop you, however, from taking good care of the home you have. By keeping up with small repairs, you’ll both save money by heading off the big expensive fixes and maintain your home’s resale value.
Here are 17 small jobs you can tackle to hold down household costs:
1. Change HVAC filters
Your furnace and air conditioner system filters trap airborne allergens and dust so you breathe cleaner air. These filters need changing every few months while you’re using the furnace or air conditioning. Changing filters regularly also can lower utility bills, since dirty filters force HVAC systems to run harder and use more energy.
For more details, see “8 Air Conditioner Parts You Can’t Afford to Neglect.”
2. Fix leaky faucets
A dripping faucet means money down the drain, literally. A faucet that drips just once a minute wastes 34 gallons of water a year, according to this fun drip calculator from the U.S. Geological Survey.
This Old House shows how to fix a leaky faucet.
3. Caulk the tub and shower
A tube of caulk costs a few dollars. Replacing mold-infested bathroom tile and drywall can cost thousands of dollars. To prevent water from reaching walls and floors where it can cause mold and rot, keep the seams around fixtures, tubs and showers tightly sealed.
Latex caulk is easier to apply, but silicone caulk lasts longer. Lowe’s Caulk Buying Guide explains the pros and cons of different types of caulk. Consider using a product with a fungicide in bathrooms to discourage mold.
Before you start to work on your bathroom, practice applying a nice bead of caulk. It doesn’t take long to learn to use a caulk gun and apply caulk neatly.
4. Inspect the sump pump
Sump pumps keep water out of areas like your basement or crawl space. That protects you from water damage that could cost thousands of dollars in lost possessions and cleanup.
Check and replace your pump regularly, and replace it every 10 years or sooner if it has failed to start promptly.
5. Update light bulbs
If you are annoyed by buzzing from compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), you’ve got old bulbs. “Most CFLs today — and all Energy Star-certified CFLs — use electronic ballasts, which do not buzz or hum,” the federal government’s Energy Star program website says.
Upgrade from incandescent bulbs to more energy-efficient bulbs as your budget allows. Put them first in lights you use most. Our article “5 Simple Rules for Choosing the Right Money-Saving LED Bulbs” explains how to buy and where to use them.
6. Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat helps save money by allowing you to set and automatically maintain a comfortable temperature for when you’re home, and to keep a more conservative temperature when you’re away or asleep.
Programmable thermostats can save you up to $180 a year in energy costs, according to Consumer Reports’ Thermostat Buying Guide. For the best savings, choose a simple device you can install yourself.
For more energy-saving tips like this, check out “It’s Heating Up — 17 Ways to Bring Down the Cost of Keeping Cool.”
7. Inspect electrical outlets and cords
Electrical wiring problems pose a fire hazard. Tour your home to inspect light switches, cords and outlets. Signs of danger include:
Exposed wire
Spliced wire that’s connected with electrical tape
Multiple extension cords or overloaded power strips
Hire a licensed electrician to inspect for potentially hazardous wiring problems if you have issues with flickering lights, warm fixtures or switches, or outlets that sometimes don’t work.
8. Replace smoke detector batteries
Smoke detectors save lives. Detectors and batteries are cheap, so it’s just a matter of remembering to test each detector monthly and install new batteries every six months.
9. Fix running toilets
A running toilet wastes water, adding to your water bill and squandering a precious resource. Fortunately, running toilets are easy to fix.
Several things can go wrong with the simple mechanism in the tank that regulates water flow. You can often diagnose the problem by taking the lid off the tank, flushing a few times and watching.
Snap a photo of your toilet’s internal assembly. Take the picture and the failed part along to the hardware store when shopping for replacements. Ask a store expert for help in making sure you’re buying the correct replacement part.
10. Wrap the water heater
Energy.gov estimates you’ll save about 7 to 16 percent in water heating costs by wrapping the hot water heater in an insulating blanket. The project costs about $30 and takes about an hour and a half. It should pay for itself in about a year.
You’ll find ready-made insulating water heater jackets in home improvement stores and online.
Newer tanks may already be insulated, but nevertheless check whether the insulation is sufficient. Look for an R-value of at least 24, Energy.gov says.
11. Seal leaky doors and windows
Small cracks around windows and doors suck your pricey heated or cooled air into the great outdoors.
Inspect your home’s interior to check for leaks. As you do so, bring along:
A pencil and paper to note areas you’ll need to return to
A tube of caulk for filling cracks
A can of spray insulating foam sealer for filling larger leaks
A digital thermometer or a candle
Use the thermometer to check for temperature differences that signal a leak. Or hold the lighted candle up and down and around the front of windows and doors. The flame’s flicker will point you to air leaks. Also, check for leaks where appliance vents, hoses, plumbing fixtures and furnace ducts meet outside walls.
12. Flush the hot water heater
Sediment can accumulate at the bottom of a hot water heater. Keep it running smoothly by giving it an annual cleaning or hiring someone to do it.
13. Beef up attic insulation
You should enjoy a great payback for this job, both from lower fuel bills and from increased comfort. Attic insulation usually has the most potential for energy savings, according to Energy.gov.
Tip: Be sure to seal air leaks before you start insulating.
See the U.S. Department of Energy’s guide to insulating to learn more and the DOE-funded Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for rebates and other programs that might help pay for the job.
14. Install weatherstripping
Seal air leaks around doors by installing weatherstripping. It comes in a variety of forms, like felt and foam. Attach door sweeps to the lower edge of a door. Energy.gov’s weatherstripping guide tells which products to use for the job and how to apply them.
If you have weatherstripping already, check it for cracks and brittleness, as it occasionally needs replacing.
15. String a clothesline
Putting a clothesline up in your backyard is another way to reduce your fuel consumption — good for your budget and for the environment. If you can’t run a clothesline outdoors, a basement clothesline is an alternative, as is an inexpensive collapsible drying rack that can be used indoors or out.
16. Tour your home’s perimeter — twice
Take one more look around your home, this time on the outside. In fact, do this twice. On the first round, look for plants touching or brushing against the house or foundation. Trim them back and pull back soil or mulch that touches the siding: It could carry moisture or insects into the house.
For your next tour, wait until immediately after a heavy rain. Look for and fix any areas of lawn or garden that are channeling water toward your home or that trap it at the foundation. Fixing these areas may be as easy as grabbing a shovel and reshaping the ground a bit. Or, you may need to invest in landscaping repairs or new drainage.
Also, make certain gutters and downspouts direct water away from structures.
17. Give your siding some TLC
Brighten your home’s siding and protect it from wear with an annual cleaning. To remove dirt, moss, leaves and debris, HouseLogic recommends scrubbing the outside of the house with warm, soapy water with a half-cup of trisodium phosphate per gallon of water, and a soft-bristled brush attached to a long handle.
Cleaning also gives you the chance to see any siding problems that need repair, including stucco holes, crumbling mortar, mildew, cracks and rot.
Which household repair and maintenance jobs help save you money? Tell us by posting a comment below or on Money Talks News’ Facebook page.
This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as '17 Simple Home Repairs That Will Save You Cash'.
