Being a new homeowner, and especially a new first-time homeowner can be scary. We have put together a new homeowner checklist to help with making your transition into your new property a little smoother.
Insulation
One of the leading causes of energy loss in a home comes from poorly insulated walls, floors, and ceilings. Be sure that you have ample insulating material in place in your attic. To help you understand how much insulation you should have, here is a helpful guide from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Water heater
The ideal temperature setting for a water heater is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is any warmer than this, you run the risk of children accidentally scalding themselves. Lower temperature settings could potentially help you to save money on your energy bills, too.
Exposed pipes in the basement or crawl space
If you do not have a finished basement or crawl space, then you likely have exposed pipes underneath the floor boards. When the pipes aren’t insulated, you run the risk of the water losing heat as it travels from the water heater to your sink, washing machine, dishwasher, or shower. Properly insulating the pipes could result in a 2-4 degree Fahrenheit temperature difference.
Programmable thermostats
A programmable thermostat will allow you to set a heating and cooling schedule for the inside of your home. This could help your heating and cooling systems to work less, thus leading to lower energy bills – especially during the peak heating and cooling seasons.
Vents
Check all rooms of your home to be sure that the vents are clear of any obstructions. When you are just getting used to a new home, you may not think about that couch you just set in front of a vent, or that long drape that is now covering the vents in the living room. However, if the vents inside your home are obstructed, warm and cool air can’t effectively get out to condition your rooms.
Air filters
Replace air filters regularly. A new air filter guarantees that you and your family will be breathing in cleaner, fresher, less allergen-filled air than what you would be breathing in if you left the old filter in place.
Replace light bulbs
If the home you have moved into has incandescent bulbs, replace them with a more energy-efficient style. Today, the most popular bulbs available are LEDs, CFLs or fluorescent varieties.
Upgrade your appliances
Today’s refrigerators, microwaves, cooktops, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers are much more energy-efficient than the models sold even just a few years ago. Save energy and save money.
Create a home maintenance checklist
A checklist will help you to keep track of all the jobs you still need to get finished around the house. Prioritize the more important tasks, such as scheduling AC or furnace maintenance, taking care of weather-stripping around window and door frames or making note of foundation cracks or seepage.
Congratulations on your new home! If you would like more information about protecting your new investment, consider enrolling in one of our valuable home warranty plans. To see if a brand is available in your area, visit our homepage and enter your zip code into the search bar at the top of the screen. Our brand(s) in your area will appear on the search results page.