When looking at your house, you may not know it but it could be sucking money right out of your pocket. There could be things in plain sight that you don’t even realize are causing your bills to increase. Here’s what you can do to make you that money stays where it belongs, in your pocket.
The most common exterior house siding in the United States today is vinyl. Vinyl, itself, is already much cheaper than it’s counterparts. Wood, which is the second most common siding, is 25% more expensive. So it you have vinyl siding on your house, chances are you’ve already saved some money for it. However, the upkeep of your vinyl siding is important. Should a piece of it break off, or even just a crack appear, you could start to lose money from heating and air conditioning seeping out through the walls. There are many local repair companies to help keep your vinyl siding in shape, usually at a far more cheaper price than any other siding. Cheaper to make, cheaper to repair.
Now that you’ve got the siding done, look at your house again. Money all safe, right? Not yet. The other thing that could be causing your bills to skyrocket is your windows. Having windows, skylights or glazed doors that leak can account for upwards of 25% of the average household energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, leading to a less energy efficient house. However, you can cut energy costs by up to 15% by using different types of windows. Double-pane insulated glass, airtight frames, heat resistant coatings of Energy Star windows allow you to keep heat inside during the winter and cold inside during the summer. These windows can also cut noise from the outside way down, leaving your home peaceful and quiet. If a window looks like it’s been in place for 20 years, it’s time to invest in new window installation. The cost of installation now will save you money later.
Now that you’ve done both those things, take a look at your house now. You’ve just given yourself a ten times more energy efficient house. And yout money stays safe in your pocket