5 Must Know Winter Tips For Homeowners

5 Must Know Winter Tips For Homeowners

Winter is here and we’re all feeling the winter blues. We’ve been cooped up inside due to frigid temperatures and have only had a small dusting of snow to show for it. Good news- we’ve got a few tips to cheer you up this winter!

Here are our 5 must know winter tips for homeowners:

winter-tips-for-homeowners

  1. Keep an eye on your thermostat. Of course we all love to be nice and toasty when its cold out, but try to achieve that by using methods other than running up the thermostat. Dress in layers and snuggle up under some blankets. If you leave the house, don’t forget to turn the thermostat way down. Also, you can turn it down at night when you go to bed since you’ll be under the covers all night.
  2. Change your fan setting. That’s right, ceiling fans can be useful during the winter as well as the summer. Flip the switch on your ceiling fan to make it run clockwise. This will help force warm air that has risen back down. This is especially useful if you have high, vaulted ceilings.
  3. Check out your windows. Windows need maintenance, too, and most homeowners forget about them! Windows account for most of the heat loss in your home. Having your windows replaced or reglazed can save you tons of money on your utility bill each winter by preventing or lessening heat loss.
  4. Don’t forget about your attic! When was the last time you checked out the insulation in your attic? Many attics are not insulated at all and some haven’t been insulated in years. Insulation can wear out and break down over time and become ineffective. Having your attic properly insulated is another great way to keep heat from leaving your home.
  5. Double check the temperature your hot water heater is set to. A normal setting is generally 120 degrees. If your temperature is set higher than this, you could be spending unnecessary money to heat your water each month.

Make sure you’re following our must know winter tips for homeowners!! If you need a plumber this winter in metro Atlanta, contact us at Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095!

 

Save Money On Your Water Bill

Save Money On Your Water Bill

Who doesn’t like to save money?? I’m sure there isn’t anyone out there who doesn’t. What if its money you can save consistently, each month? Even better, right? A great way to save some money every month is by looking at your utility bills and finding ways to cut back on them. Today we’re going to talk about ways to save money every month on your water bill.

There are several easy ways for you to save money on your water bill each month, without compromising any safety, sanitation, or personal comfort for you or your family.

Low Flow Toilet

Toilets now days are made to be super low flow, meaning they use less water per flush. If you’re doing some updating, renovating, or buying or building a new house consider installing low flow toilets. There are also ways to retro fit your existing toilet to make it use less water per flush. Also, don’t use the toilet as a trash receptacle and flush it each time you throw a piece of trash in it. Flushing the toilet uses approximately 5-7 gallons of water per flush, so less flushes = a great way for you to save money on your water bill.

 

Maintenance/Check for Leaks

We recommend having your plumbing checked yearly by a professional plumber. A professional is more likely to catch tiny plumbing leaks before they turn into large leaks. Catching leaks and repairing them before they get worse is a way to make sure you are consistently saving money on your water bill. Make sure to check your toilets, showers, and sink faucets for any sinks of leaks. Another great way to catch a leak is to check your water meter. Read your meter, then go two hours without using any water in your home. If after two hours your meter reading is different than it was before, then you’ve got a leak somewhere.

 

Consolidate your laundry loads and dishwasher loads

Only run your dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load! Doing small, half loads that aren’t full can use tons of extra water. Also, skipping any pre-rinse cycles or additional rinse cycles can save you around 6 gallons of water per wash cycle. If you do have to run a partial load in your washing machine, make sure you change the settings to reflect the size of the load.

 

Shorter showers

Sometimes nothing beats a good, long, hot shower. However, limiting your shower to around 5 minutes is a good way to save money on your water bill every month. If you just love taking long showers and limiting your shower time isn’t an option for you, consider installing a water efficient shower head. Also remember that taking a shower instead of a bath is saving you approximately 50 gallons of water each day.

 

Be mindful of running water

Its a bad habit that many of us are guilty of- letting the water run. Try to be more mindful of wasting water by just letting the tap run. You may surprise yourself by how much water you are able to save just by turning off the faucet when its not absolutely necessary for it to be on. One great example is doing dishes- instead of letting the hot water run continuously while you’re doing dishes, try plugging up your sink and just filling it with hot, soapy water instead of letting the hot water run the whole time. Another great way to save money on your water bill is by turning off the water while you brush your teeth. Turning off the water while you brush your teeth can save you up to 25 gallons per month!

 

Recycle your water

There are all kinds of creative ways you can recycle your water. For example, collecting rain water to water your house plants can save you money on your water bill each month.

 

Follow these helpful hints to save money on your water bill every month! Don’t forget- if you need a trusted, professional plumber, Masterflo Plumbing is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call (678) 822-7095!