Do you know water heating can make 25% of your energy bills?

If your energy bills are through the roof, it’s possible that one of your appliances needs replacement. Water Heater System is among the most important devices, and they do get cranky. But if it’s more of a headache than convenience, then better replace it.

Following, we are mentioning some common mistakes people make when replacing their water heater!

Not Comparing

Don’t always rely on your plumber’s word, do your search.

Plumbers tend to suggest a similar replacement because they are easy to install. They don’t care whether another system will serve you better or not.

Therefore, take your time, and independently view different hot water systems. Carefully review their specs and price. Compare their advantages and disadvantages. It will help you make a well-informed decision. Look for these three things:

• Type
• Energy Source
• Price

These things dominate your upfront and ongoing costs. Remember, hot water consumes 25% of your energy budget. So, focus on low ongoing costs.

Avoid Overpaying

Most of us buy our hot water system through the plumber.

It sounds good, but we end up overpaying. Therefore, it’s important to compare prices ourselves and keep the labour charge separate. Fortunately, you can now compare prices of different hot water systems online.

This will give you a better idea.

Buying the Wrong Hot Water System

Hot water makes up 25% of your energy bill.

You can save on it if you buy a smaller hot water system. You don’t need a big water system because it will only increase the ongoing costs.

Learn about hot water sizing; every manufacturer has different specs. Learn them because the wrong system will charge you higher than your actual use. Learn about WELS. Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards helps to save energy and water. This ultimately saves your ongoing costs.

The common issue is, most people tend to buy larger hot water system than they need. This costs them extra on-front and down the road. If something breaks, you pay a fortune to fix it.

Therefore, choosing the right system is important. It helps you to save money even when you need to replace your hot water system in Sydney.

 Not Knowing When to Replace Your System

Most people don’t recognise when they need to replace their water heater system.

It costs them a lot in the end. Therefore, following we are going to mention the signs you should look for:

Every product or device today has an age limit.

Nothing is built to last forever, so there will be a time you will need to replace all of your appliances. The issue is, people don’t know when their appliances near expiration date.

Majority of water heaters last between 8-10 years. You should replace the heater after ten years. After such time, the heater will show following sighs

• Rusting
• Leakage
• Noise
• Failing to Heat Water

Remember, not all heaters last ten years, especially gas water heaters. Therefore, read the specs, manual and look for these signs.

Ask These Questions

Before you buy a water heater system, consider the following questions:

• What is better for me, Tankless Water Heater, or Traditional Water Heater?
• What Size works for me?
• Is the device Energy efficient?
• How long will the installation Take?
• How can I get rid of the old water heater?
• What brand should I buy from?
• Does the new heater come with a warranty?
• How much am I going to pay?

These questions will help you get a clear mindset. It will help you choose a better product according to your needs, and avoid overpaying the plumber. Find the answer to these questions, and you will be fine.

When it comes to undertaking home renovation projects, the one thing that you will not want to do and will need to avoid at all costs is breaking your budget! No matter what the size of your budget is, renovation work can quickly get out of control and become more and more expensive by the minute without you even really realising it. However, there are plenty of ways in which you can save money on your home renovation and keep your costs low and within budget. If you want to know how to avoid spending money unnecessarily and what our top tips are to save money on home renovation, make sure to keep on reading for all the information that you need.

Reusing Items

An easy way to save yourself some cash when undertaking home renovations is to reuse items that you already have. Take a look at what you already own and you may just see a way in which you can use them to create something entirely new. So, if your old dining room set up had some od wooden chairs, why not transform them into little stools that you can paint in any other that you so desire! This can save you a whole lot of money that you can then use to invest in some quality pieces for your home.

Get A Home Improvement Loan

If your house badly needs upgrading but you don’t have the money quite saved up yet to do everything that you want to do, why not get a home improvement loan? A small loan will help you to undertake the home improvements that you want to do without worry about cash flow. You can then pay back this money in monthly instalments whilst enjoying your fantastic improved home. Please see Best Home Improvement Loans (Our Top 3 Picks for 2018) and let us know on our comment section your opinion. 

Sharing Bills

Another way in which you can save money on home improvements that you may not have previously thought of is to share the bills. Some projects can be carried out for both you and your neighbour, so why not get them on board and persuade them to carry out a similar project as this could save you a tonne of cash.

Quality Over Quantity

When you are carrying out home renovations, while it is important to keep costs low, there are instances where it is better to go for materials that are higher-quality, good value for money and will last you a very long time. For example, we would recommend that you opt for oak doors in your home as these are sturdy, look fantastic, and have amazing durability so they will last you for a very long time. What’s more, you can find them for fantastic prices which means that you still don’t have to break the bank to enjoy amazing quality!

Watch Out for Replicas

When you pass a very expensive store, it can be difficult not to go in and pick up some furniture with a heavy price tag. However, instead of making this impulse buy, it is a good idea to wait and see if any other cheaper stores make their own version of this piece of furniture for a better price! Just like clothing, most designs and new trends start off being very expensive until other duplicates from other stores come onto the market and offer a cheaper alternative. Shop around and you will definitely find a piece that is similar but with a much smaller price tag!

Visit the Wholesalers

If you are looking to seriously slash the cost of your home renovations, a great way to do this is to go to a wholesaler or the manufacturer as they will be able to offer you fantastic quality but for a seriously low price. You may even find that by doing this, materials that were once out of your budget are now more affordable and that you can include them in your house upgrades.

Wait for Sales

Another great money saving tip to help you cut costs with your home renovations is to wait for the sales. Why pay full price when you could pay a fraction of that later in the sales? For example, if you are looking to purchase electronic goods, we would recommend that you wait until the Black Friday sales as this is normally your best opportunity to get what you are looking for but at a fraction of the cost. Or, if you are looking to make improvements to your garden space, it is best to wait for the end of summer sales as most outdoor furniture, tools and lawnmowers will be massively reduced! Essentially, being impatient can make you spend a lot more money than you really need to, so just hold out and wait to get the very best deal that you can.

Improving a house can be extremely costly if you don’t make the right choices. This is why you should get informed before making any decision that you might regret in the future.

Some investments can be cheaper but can make a bigger impact in the long run compared to others. This article contains a list with home improvements that are worth a shot, as they can increase the house’s value without making the owner spend a fortune on it. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, continue reading.

Kitchen remodeling

A kitchen remodeling could increase the home’s value tremendously. If you make the right choices, you won’t have to spend a fortune on it. The furniture can be either replaced or reconditioned, depending on its state. A simple repaint can entirely change the look of the kitchen. Replacing the appliances can cost you a considerable amount, but it is a long-time investment that is surely worth it. By repainting the walls, reconditioning the furniture and changing the appliances, your kitchen can become a modern one, following the latest requirements in terms of design. This will add a generous amount to the final price of the house, in case you were thinking to sell it.

Siding replacement

The siding of a house says something about it. The first thing that people notice when they enter a house is its exterior. The way the siding of a house looks can dictate the building’s value, even though it might not seem as important at first. Changing or reconditioning the siding while adding insulation is an upgrade that can impact the whole building positively in a visible manner. Insulation solves many issues that homeowners struggle with, from reducing the electricity bills to better living conditions inside the house. If the building looks good on the outside, chances are it looks just as good on the inside. Invest in siding and insulation for the best result.

Changing the windows and doors

Next, you might want to replace the windows and doors. Replacing them should be done if the energy bill is quite expensive at the end of the month. The appropriate heating and cooling services along with new windows and doors should lead to the desired outcome. This might be the costliest change you are going to make. Before deciding to change all the windows and doors of the house, make sure that you check them first, to see if they can be fixed before.

Considering all of the ideas mentioned above, decide which one suits your project the best. Keep in mind that each building has individual features, and some upgrades will need to be prioritized. You can opt to remodel it for the looks or you can invest in upgrades that make one’s life easier while living in it. You can make a bigger investment to reduce the maintenance costs of the house in the long-run. The decision is yours, but get informed thoroughly before starting the process.

Since your house is probably the biggest investment you’ll be making in your lifetime, protecting it from falling victim to fire and short circuits and other issues of the like is a must. Homeowners who are more aware of the details that go into construction always end up with fewer problems compared to those who are not.

Keeping that in mind, give these commonly made mistakes by housebuilders a quick read to save yourself some hassle in the future.

1. No Fire Proofing

With 4.5 millions house in the U.S alone marked at high risk of wildfire, fireproofing the house right should definitely be your top priority. Fire protection shields fall into both passive and active categories and while both serve the same purpose, we recommend having both present in the house.

From poor electrical connections to poor fireproofing, there are only so many things you can look out for when constructing your house, which is why it is imperative to have fireproof roofs, windows and doors. Protecting home vents is equally crucial since that’s where flames can enter a room.

As far as active fireproofing is concerned, fire safety devices like sprinklers, fire extinguishers and smoke alarms should certainly be checked off from your checklist.

2. Wrong Sized Heating/Cooling System

Your HVAC system defines the comfort level of your house and while it’s common to get an oversized system, it’s not the right thing to do. The fact that so many people have oversized systems is majorly because of two reasons: lack of low load options in these models, monetary incentive on selling bigger sizes.

Don’t let your HVAC contractors get you a system without doing a load test of your house first. If your HVAC contractor isn’t equipped to do so, you can always seek help from a mechanical engineer or an energy consultant since an undersized system would crash under the load while an oversized one will definitely cause a spike in your bills.

3. Problems with Ductwork

How your HVAC system performs depends entirely how well your ductwork has been done. If your ducts have not been installed correctly or are not insulated well, they are bound to lose all the cooling/heating your HVAC system has been doing.

Make sure that you check for leaks and airflow before you make the payment. A lot of homeowners face trouble with flex duct and loose seams and joints. Check that all seams and joints are tightly pulled, well insulated and sealed properly.

A close look and basic reading into the matter will give you a fair idea of parameters that need to be looked out for, when testing your home’s duct work.

4. Small Mechanical Room

Though this room might be the least visited room in the house, it has to be the backbone of all the mechanical work that undergoes in your house, which is reason enough to make the room a little bigger than you were planning to. That’s because you’ll be fitting in your HVAC system, water heater, pressure tank and HRV in it.

How big your mechanical room should be depends on how many systems you’re planning on fitting in there, for example, many houses require two furnaces for upper floors as one may fall short.

While designing the floor space for this room, also bear in mind the new HRV building codes which require an addition of ducted HRVs that will be requiring more space.

5. Insufficient Attic Insulation

While the local building codes call for minimum insulation requirements, trust us when we say you’ll be requiring more than that. Secondly, it’s always better to have additional insulation installed during the construction phase, rather than having it retrofitted later.

Attics are the most left out places when it comes to insulation. Signs for this include high energy bills and wet insulation, which is a result of weather change. If you find any signs of squirrels, rat or mice in there, it could be a possible sign of bad insulation as well.

Installing a combination of insulation for the entire house may cost you a little amount momentarily, but will pay off big time in the future. Its best to go for products that provide both, insulation and structural support to the house.

6. Connecting Galvanized and Copper Pipes

Among the thousands of errors plumbers make during construction, one can lead to massive destruction, ultimately requiring re-doing the entire process. This is when galvanized and copper pipes are assembled in a way that they are in contact with each other.

As a result of a chemical reaction, corrosion may occur and your pipes would start to leak. In order to avoid that, a dielectric union is used to keep the two pipes from coming into contact with each other. It does so with the help of a plastic sleeve and a rubber washer.

Another way is to insert a small brass nipple between the two pipes, since brass doesn’t react with either of the two materials.

7. Doing Unpermitted Housework

Whether the nature of unpermitted housework belongs to the plumbing, insulation or electrical department, it puts one at personal risk and also devalues your property. Abiding to safety standards is key to safe and profitable house-building.

While getting permits may cost you in the short run, it saves you from the massive fine and penalties and even tearing down the affected area in worst cases.

8. Electric Installation Mistakes

Electric installation mistakes can range from basic to real complex in variety and the risk they put you at can not even begin to be calculated. Therefore, its best to check when these installations are being made since you’re not living in the house currently and it can be fixed immediately without causing damage.

Common mistakes include connecting wires outside of electrical boxes, cutting wires too short making wiring connections difficult, leaving cables unprotected and installing three slot outlets without checking for the ground wire.

Not only can these errors cost you a fortune to fix later, but also put your house and life at risk which is why the earlier they’re spotted, the better.

Apart from personal supervision, its best to get your house inspected by an unbiased private third party, a potential buyer may be a good option since they’ll bring out issues that might not have been obvious to you earlier.

Sleep is one of the most important things for our health.

A good night’s sleep not only gives us energy, it also helps reduce stress, prevent obesity, fight depression, and makes us look better.

But, did you know that, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough sleep?

Lack of sleep can be caused by a number of different reasons. But sometimes, poor sleep is simply due to the fact that their bedroom isn’t designed well for a good night’s sleep.

Think you may be one of these people? If so, read on to learn the top 4 tips to design your bedroom for better sleep.

1. Keep the Temps Cool

Sometimes, designing a bedroom for better sleep simply means adjusting the temperature of your room.

While they say 72 degrees is the perfect temperature for rooms, this isn’t the case for when you’re sleeping in your bedroom.

Research actually suggests that the ideal temperature for sleeping is between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit.

To especially allow yourself to fall into a deep slumber, take a hot shower before jumping into your cool bed, as this is a proven way to relax yourself.

2. Pick the Right Sleep System

Many people choose their sleep system (aka their bed and mattress) based on aesthetic appeal first, and comfort second.

However, you should never do this. Comfort should always come first when it comes to choosing the right sleep system.

Your mattress should allow you to stay comfortable and cool throughout the night, and it should support the natural shape of your body. The same rules apply for your pillows as well as your bed frame. You may even want to consider getting a customizable bed for the ultimate comfort.

There are hundreds of different of mattress types out there, so be sure to do your research. Don’t be afraid to opt for ones with a higher price tag.

You spend a third of your life in bed, so a high quality sleeping system is definitely worth the splurge.

3. Check Your Scents and Scenery

A better night’s sleep can be achieved by having the right smells in your room, as well as the right scenery.

When it comes to scenery, we are specifically referring to colors. Colors evoke certain moods in us, so when it comes to designing a bedroom for better sleep, you want to make sure you choose colors that evoke relaxation.

Blue is known to be the best color for this, followed by yellow and green. Colors to stay away from include brown, gray, and purple.

Apart from calming colors, you can also pay attention to what you’re keeping in your room and how they affect your mood. Having beautiful souvenirs or bookshelves with your favorite pieces, crystals, or photographs can also boost your mood. Try to organize your room in a way that can allow you to put your memories somewhere you can see. Crystals, especially the ones having enough power to bring positive energy into your room are also great alternatives. For instance, Blue Fluorite’s healing properties include helping you to focus and be more productive. This soft and ethereal blue stone can be a perfect addition to your room. There are other crystals as well, that you can choose based on your zodiac sign or colors.

In terms of scents, you also want to make sure your bedroom has a soothing smell to it.

Invest in an aromatherapy diffuser and add relaxing scents to it such as lavender or chamomile. Be sure to consistently clean your linens so those have a fresh scent as well.

4. Focus on Lighting

The lighting scheme in your room is very important to your overall quality of sleep.

When getting ready for bed, go for dim lighting, as this will signal to your brain it’s time to start winding down.

Once you are actually asleep, do your best to ensure the room is pitch black. Consider investing in stronger curtains if there are a lot of street lights in your neighborhood.

With these four tips in mind for bedroom design, you should be well on your way to an awesome night’s sleep!