Turning the key in a lock that no landlord has access to, playing football in your own backyard and painting your living room bright yellow— what could be more exciting than making the jump from renter to first-time homeowner? Getting swept up in all the excitement is a wonderful feeling but then comes the scare of “what should I do now?”
Right now is the perfect time to walk through a checklist of ways to make your home (and wallet!) comfortable right from the get go. Veteran contractor and home expert, Danny Lipford, has teamed up with Honeywell to offer added comfort and money savings tips for new homeowners.
Here are few tips:
DIY Safety
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are harmful gases that can be emitted by some paints, solvents, cleaners, adhesives, furniture, and shelving. When using products that contain high levels of VOCs, open windows or, better yet, turn on an air purifier that has a VOC pre-filter to help remove VOCs from the air that passes through the unit.
Things Are Heating Up!
Set back your thermostat about 10 degrees when you’re away from home for 8 hours or more. You could shave as much as 10 percent off of your energy bill without sacrificing comfort. When you are at home, try turning down the thermostat a few degrees and use a portable heater in the rooms you are in the most. You’ll save money and stay warm!
Quench Your Thirst
Don’t forget homes need water too—that’s where humidifiers help. Humidifiers offer solutions during the dry winter months to help protect valuable wood furniture from drying out and cracking and prevent wood floors from buckling and separating.
Dormant Dust?
Pollutants like dust and mold that settle in the home can be attributed to poor air circulation. A whole room fan should be used to ventilate the home properly.
To connect with expert Danny Lipford and get more tips, visit him on Facebook.
Source: Honeywell
