4 Home Improvement Resolutions for the New Year

It’s the beginning of a new year, with so much excitement and enthusiasm about self-improvement and positive change. It’s also a great time to think about home improvement, so I recorded a Facebook Live on the topic the other day.

As you work to take better care of your body and mind, here are a few ways that you can take better care of your home. As is the case with most things in life, a little prevention goes a long way in saving you time and money. 

1. Have your Heating and Cooling System Serviced

You should be doing this at least once a year, twice a year is even better! Find a good service provider before your heating or cooling system breaks and you get stuck using whatever company can get there first. Along these same lines, buy filters in bulk and change them regularly - for less than $10 you can improve the efficiency of your system and keep it working well for longer.

2. Grading and drainage. 

We’ve had a ton of rain this year and that means a lot of wet basements. One of the biggest (and most fixable) reasons why water enters your home is due to grading and drainage. The dirt around the foundation of your house needs to slope away from the home so that the water will run away, not towards, your house. The technical rule of thumb is 1 inch per foot for 6 feet, but it doesn’t need to be exact. If you pour water on the ground where does it go?

3. Clean your gutters

Clogged gutters is another top reason for water getting into your house, both above and below ground. You may also need to have your downspout extensions cleaned out if they are underground and it seems like they are not draining properly. The more efficiently you can route water away from your home the less likely it is to end up inside.

4. Insulation

Many homes do not have enough insulation in the attic, walls, and floors. A good rule of thumb is that you can never have too much insulation! More insulation means better energy efficiency, which means lower heating and cooling costs. You don’t need to bring in an energy audit company or professional to improve the energy efficiency of your home.