Expensive Mistakes Homeowners Often Make

Maintaining your home is extremely costly and there are a ton of ways to save on the smaller projects that don't need as much attention. Are you spending extra money on unnecessary upkeep?  Here are the ten most expensive mistakes you could be making in your home. 

1. Using Traditional Light Bulbs

If you still have incandescent light bulbs in your home you could be throwing away a lot of money on an inflated electric bill. In its lifetime, an incandescent light bulb can use about $180, whereas as a CFL light bulb will only use $41 in the same time frame. If you really want to get cost savvy, go down to a LED bulb that will go down to $30 a month. 

2. Ignoring a leaky faucet

A leaky faucet is not a minor detail that you want to put on the back burner. A leaky faucet that drips one drop of water per second can waste up to 3,000 gallons a year. Replacing or fixing your faucet can save you a fortune on your water bill.  

3. Using the wrong air filter size

Forgetting to change or using the wrong size filter for your HVAC system can be a costly issue that can also lead to extensive furnace problems down the road. It is important to use the right size filter that is regularly exchanged on a schedule. 

4. Utilizing a customizable thermostat

Having the ability to adjust your thermostat throughout the day can save you a ton on your electric bill. Heating or cooling an empty home wastes a ton of energy costs. 

5. Unadjusted Air Vents

Is one of your rooms in your home super hot while the others are ice cold? Your thermostat may not be the answer, it is most likely unadjusted air vents. A lot of time homeowners will crank up the air when one room in the home isn't receiving air and this results in more energy being used. Staying on top of the air vents and circulating throughout the whole home is key to maintaining a stable flow of air and energy costs. 

6. Over Watering your Lawn

It is so easy to set up an automatic sprinkler system that waters the lawn at the early hours of the day seems like a great idea, except this eliminates the ability to keep an eye on broken spouts. It wouldn't hurt to run your sprinklers during the day or on a weekend so that you are around to check things out and be sure your money isn't going to waste, resulting in an amazing lawn. 

7. High Water Heater Temperature

Unless you have a tankless water heater, your system is continuously heating the water in your tank year round. Keeping an eye on the temperature throughout the changing seasons is key to maintaining your water bill. 

8. Leaky Windows and Doors

Leaky window and doors are great places for cold, winter air to seep into your home. It is important to caulk leaky windows and put a rubber seal around doors to keep the air out and your desired temperature in. 

9. Paying a Handyman

When it comes to simple tasks around the home you may think that paying a handyman to do the work for you may be the best route, although, it could be a costly burden in the end. Doing your research on possibly fixing it yourself prior to calling in a handyman could save you a few bucks.

10. Ignoring Curled Shingles

Although it may be easy to look past roof issues, it is definitely something that should not go unnoticed nor fixed. Repairing your roof as soon as possible in order to save you in the long run. 

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