Managing Home Maintenance Costs

Last month we did a post on Heating with Electric Ceramic Space Heaters and we wanted to follow up with another post because we just saw this same heater at a reduced price at Cosco for $39, down from $69! This particular heater has not only a thermostat on it, it also has a built in timer so that you can set the start time and the finish time. They are perfect for bedrooms when you want your room to be warm when you go to bed and then turn off sometime during the night. My wife just loves this heater, since our bedroom has always been cold and now she finds it far more comfortable. Before we purchased this heater, we had to crank up the thermostat so that downstairs was too hot , just to get a bedroom to a proper temperature. You can read more from the original post at the following link: http://rhucs.com/heating-with-electric-ceramic-space-heaters/

We are very happy so far with this particular space heater. Set the thermostat, set the time and plug it in, your done. It is that easy and the only time you really have to check on it is if the power goes off and the internal clock must be reset. It is also on wheels so if you need to change the position of the space heater, it is very easy to do. Simply unplug it and mover it to another location and plug it in again.

Regarding positioning of the space heater, the instruction booklets indicates that it should be placed under a window. cold air from the window is descending to the floor and moving across the floor normally. With this heater in place, the air is heated as it falls and begins to rise again. No more cold drafts with the heater placed in the correct position!

I almost purchased a second space heater of this type to go in one of the bathrooms. Wouldn’t it be nice to walk into a really warm comfortable bath room in the morning? At $39 we are seriously thinking about buying one more just for the bathroom. I have a second smaller ceramic space heater for my den to keep my legs warm in the morning. Now before you think I am some kind of softy, this is all about comfort while saving some money at the same time which is what this web site is all about.

Reduce your overall heating costs, while at the same time remaining comfortable in the rooms you work in most of the day. Why heat the entire home, when you are only in one room?

We love to hear from readers about other ideas for saving money and staying warm in the winter time. Leave us your comments and if they are constructive and informational we will be happy to post them. If you leave a constructive well written related  comment, we will even give you a link back as well.

As we prepare this post, the days are getting longer and depending were you live the snow may beginning to melt which indicates that spring is just around the corner. It is time to take stock of your home and note any damage that might have occurred around your home during the winter months. Winter can be hard on a home, your plants and out buildings, so this is a good time to plan all of your spring home maintenance tasks.

Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices is the best way to protect your investment in your home. If you do not feel comfortable performing some of the home maintenance tasks listed below, or do not have the necessary equipment, for example a ladder, you may want to consider hiring a qualified any person to help you. Even if you are going to do some of the more minor spring maintenance activities always complete your work with safety in mind.

Here is our checklist of items you may want to look at:

• If you have central air conditioning, make sure the drain pan under the cooling coil mounted in the furnace is draining properly and is clean.
• Lubricate circulating pump on a hot water heating system.
• Bleed air from hot water radiators.
• Disconnect the power to the furnace and examine the forced air furnace fan belt, if installed, for wear, looseness and noise. Clean fan blades of any dirt buildup.
• Vacuum return vents and cold air return vents to remove any dust buildup
• Remove the grills on forced air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
• Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the cooling and  heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters  should be checked every two months.
• Check to see that the duct work leading to and from the heat recovery ventilator is in good shape, the joints are tightly sealed in any depth installation of plastic duct wrap is free of tears and holes.
• Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.
• Clean portable de-humidifier, if one is used.
• Clean humidifier, if one is used and turn off the water supply
• Check to see that the bathroom exhaust fans and arrangements are operating properly. If possible, confirm that you are getting good airflow by observing the outside vent exterior damper which should be held open by the airflow.
• Check sump pump  and line to ensure proper operation, and to ascertain that there no line obstructions or visible leaks.
• Replace  storm windows with window screens
• Ensure windows and skylights close tightly; repair or replace weatherstripping as needed.
• Insure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use. Replace your weatherstripping if required.
• If there is a door between your house and garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely.
• Remove cover from the air-conditioning units and turn on power.
• Insure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall, so that water does not enter into your basement.
• Clean leaves from the eaves trough and roof and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.
• Install outdoor hoses and turn on indoor valves.
• Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.
• If you have a septic tank, measure the slide and scum to determine if the tank needs to be emptied during the summer. Tanks should be pumped at least once every three years.
• Remove winterizing landscaping material, for example, prepared gardens and if necessary protect young trees or bushes for winter.
• Set up all lawn furniture, inspect fences and gates for damages or movement due to frost
• Rake the lawn, remove all debris from the winter and add fertilizer once the ground is unfrozen
• Plant flowers, shrubs etc at the appropriate time for your area and climate.

We hope that this list helps you in the maintenance of your home. Doing some or all of the above will help to prevent serious problems from occurring which will cost you much more money and time. If any of our readers have comments or additional ideas, please feel free to leave a comment.

In our last post we said we would provide more detail about closing your swimming pool for the season. Here it is. Please note that we are going to assume that the weather during the winter will below freezing and therefore you need to take special precautions when closing your pool. These instructions are also for an in ground swimming pool, however for above ground pools you can follow many of the same steps.

We have added a some details to the steps in our previous post. If they do not apply, just ignore them. Of course we cannot be responsible for your pool, since every installation is a bit different. Above all use these instructions along with the detailed instructions you received from the pool company you deal with.

• Clean the pool and make sure that the water is clear, that there is no debris or dirt in the pool
• Bask wash your filter in the usual manner to make sure it is also clean
• Using the attachments that come with the pool, lower the water level below the return lines
• Once the water is below the return lines, shut the pump off and disconnect the hoses you used to lower the water
• If you have a main drain, plug the line coming from the main drain in your pool. Usually you place an 18 inch long foam rod into the line at the skimmer and screw in the plug
• Make sure you use plumbers tape on the plug so that it provides a water tight seal
• Blow the lines using a shop vac to get all of the water out of the lines
• Make sure every drop of water is removed from the lines to the pump and the lines back to the pool.
• Plug the lines so water cannot get back in and freeze using the plugs provided and plumbers tape
• Drain all water out of the pump and the filter
• Remove all plugs from the pump and the filter, the pressure gauge and the glass water observer attached to the filter
• Place the filter control in the winter position
• Cover the pump and filter to protect them from the elements if they are not enclosed in a shed
• Place styrofoam in the skimmer to absorb the expansion of the ice and in the pool around the skimmer
• Place chlorine and algacide  in the water to prevent build up of algae
• Remove ladders, diving board and any other attachments and store them for the winter
• Cover the pool to protect the liner from UV rays, dirt and leaves
• Fill your water bags and place them around the pool on the cover to hold it in place
• Shut the power off to the pump to avoid it accidentally being turned on

This is a pretty good list for most pools. However if you have heaters such as a gas heater or a solar heater, you will need to ensure that they are also drained properly and prepared for winter storage.

It is really important that all of these steps are completed properly. The most important of course is to ensure that all of the water is drained from the lines, the filter and the pump to avoid freezing and cracking of any of these things. Also you want to make sure that water cannot get into the lines during the winter. This will be equally bad and cause you a major headache next spring when you try to open your pool.

Doing this work yourself can save you a lot of money, which is the point of this blog, however if you are unsure or uncomfortable with closing your swimming pool, hire a professional and book early since everyone wants their pool closed at the same time.

We welcome comments and hints about closing pools for the winter. Spam comments will be deleted.

I just closed my swimming pool for the season. For some readers this may seem early, however I live in eastern Ontario, Canada and the season ends pretty quickly around the beginning of Sept. The weather is still nice, but really it is not fun swimming when the air temperature is starting to cool off. If you live in the southern US or even in Southern Ontario, you can get another month of swimming in.

Consumers can save a lot of money if they maintain their own swimming pools and open & close the pool each season. However it is important to do it right, because if you don’t a lot of damage can be done to your pool over the winter months. If you are going to do it, close your pool properly.

Closing the pool is a sad day, since it means winter is coming with cold and snow. We still have a few months before that happens and we must enjoy the fall as much as we can. I am digressing here so back to the main point.

In our next post, we will explain in detail how to close a pool, however there are a few points we want to emphasize here to ensure that your pool is not damaged during the winter. If the temperature never gets below freezing then you really do not have to be as concerned. With temperatures well below freezing in Canada during the winter, we have to take extra care in closing the pool.

Here is our list.

• Lower the water level below the return lines
• Blow the lines to get all of the water out of the lines
• Plug the lines so water cannot get back in and freeze
• Drain all water out of the skimmer, the pump and the filter
• Place styrofoam in the skimmer to absorb the expansion of the ice
• Cover the pool to protect the liner from UV rays
• Place chlorine and algacide  in the water to prevent build up of algae
• Shut the power off

This is a basic list, however if you plan to this yourself to save money, after all this is what this web side is all about, check for our next post for a detailed list of steps to follow in closing your pool!

Comments are welcome and appreciated as long as they benefit our readers. Spam comments will be deleted.