What’s Wrong with Your House?

Sometimes getting one thing done in your house can feel like an impossible task, especially if starting one project leads to another project you didn’t even realize needed to be done. But it is vital to keep your appliances in good working order, if for no other reason than the sake of your wallet. Whether you’re looking at furnace repair, updating your air conditioner, construction projects like expanding or remodeling, or you need plumbing services, waiting until something falls apart is always going to be more costly in the long run. And by keeping things updated, you will likely save more energy and spend less on utilities.

Some ideas to keep your costs down and efficiency up

• Keeping it cool
  One example of updating your appliances for the better would be to take a look at your air conditioning. By changing out an old machine and installing a high-efficiency air conditioner, along with being aware of the amount of time you’re using it and how, you could reduce air conditioning energy use by 20% to 50%, especially if you employ other measures in keeping your house cooler.
• Keeping it warm
  Perhaps even more important than a working air conditioning system is a properly working furnace, particularly if you have long cold winters, as many of the mid and northern States do. Most typical furnaces will remain in working order for about 15 to 18 years, but it is recommended to have them inspected by a professional every year if have already hit the ten year mark. Law dictates that the lowest efficiency for a new gas furnace is 78% but there are some that reach 97% efficiency!
• How about a nice warm shower?
  Another option could be tankless water heaters. If your home uses 41 gallons or less of hot water per day, a tankless water heater could potentially be 24% to 34% more efficient for energy use than traditional water heaters that use a storage tank. Many tankless hot water heaters should last at least 20 years, though they should be checked regularly to insure they are in proper working order.
  You may need plumbing services in order to make the switch, but the end result should be completely worth it.

Keeping up with your home can feel like an insurmountable task at times. But knowing that you are saving energy and money is a good incentive to get things checked out and updated as needed. So think about that tankless water heater and look around while you’re at it to see if you need plumbing services for anything else in your kitchen, bathroom or otherwise. It’s as good a place to start as any!