Top 8 Tips for Reducing HVAC Energy Costs and Lowering Your Energy Bill

You should never have to worry about keeping warm in the cold months or staying cool in the summertime while also trying to keep down your energy expenses. If you know how to manage your HVAC system, you won't have to worry about the weather and your energy bill. 

While you may think smart energy management is reserved only for professionals, there are actually various things that you can do to help reduce consumption in your home. Behavioral changes and home improvements are just some examples. An efficient heating system is also important, so scheduling an appointment with your HVAC specialist at least once a year or every six months, if possible.    

However, you should also do your part by finding simple ways to cut costs by following practical energy-saving tips. 

What to Do to Reduce HVAC Energy Costs and Energy Bills 

1. Take advantage of a free energy audit. 

Some utility companies make free energy audits a part of their service package. Take advantage of this offer as this is an excellent opportunity to find out which areas of your house use up a lot of energy. It will also give you an idea of what you need to do to improve your HVAC’s efficiency. 

If your utility company does not give out free energy audits, you can do it on your own. You’ll find a lot of practical how-to tips online. You can also ask your HVAC specialist to help you out. 

2. Use a programmable thermostat to reduce cooling and heating automatically. 

When you turn down the thermostat while you are asleep, in the office, or away from home, you save on costs because you do not waste energy. You don’t have to set it every day if you use a programmable model; all you’ll have to do is set it to automatically turn down to several degrees from its normal setting at certain times of the day. 

Another advantage of using programmable thermostats is their capability to determine when the air filters need cleaning or replacement and if your HVAC system has some issues. 

3. Seal or weatherize your home. Insulate the attic.

Regularly check your windows, vents, doors, and walls for air leaks. Make sure that all openings and cracks in your home, particularly between vents and walls or windows and walls, are sealed right away. Caulking is ideal for air leaks found between two unmoving objects, while weathering is the best technique for leaks or cracks involving two movie objects (i.e., doors and windows). 

Also, it is vital to regularly check your attic (if you have one) as air can leak out from there, too, especially if it has small openings. As such, you have to ensure that your attic is properly insulated. If air keeps leaking from the attic, expect an increase in your energy bill. 

4. Insulate other parts of your home as well. 

Proper insulation helps keep the heat in during the winter season and keep it out in the hot summer months. So, you should insulate not just your attic but other parts of your house as well. 

The areas that you should pay attention to are your crawlspace, floors, walls, and basement. Specific insulation recommendations are dependent on the kind of home you have and your location. Check out the Department of Energy website or find an HVAC specialist who can help you out. 

5. Use energy-efficient light bulbs. 

If you are using the traditional incandescent light bulbs, you shouldn’t be surprised that your utility bill is high. This type of light bulb eats up more electricity than LEDs (light-emitting diode bulbs), halogen incandescent bulbs, and compact fluorescent lights or CFLs. These energy-efficient bulbs have a longer service life and consume significantly lesser electricity than the traditional ones. 

6. Use energy-efficient appliances. 

Of your total household energy consumption, around 13% comes from appliances. Switching to energy-efficient appliances will help bring down energy use. So, when you purchase appliances, choose the ones that have annual operating costs that are lower than the other models. Additionally, look for the Energy Star label, as this is a federal seal that guarantees the appliance is energy efficient. 

7. Schedule annual maintenance and upgrade your HVAC when needed. 

Scheduling an annual HVAC cleaning and maintenance is essential if you want to keep your system in top condition and your utility rates at reasonable levels. Also, if you have been using your HVAC for more than 10 years, it’s time to get an upgrade. Switch to a unit that has an Energy Star logo as it ensures energy efficiency. 

8. Change your energy consumption practices. 

Your behavior has a huge impact on your utility bills. For example, even if you are not in your bedroom, you leave the lights on. Simple adjustments in your practices or behaviors can help significantly reduce energy consumption. Common examples include washing dirty dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher and line-drying your clothes instead of using the dryer.

Reducing your HVAC energy costs and lowering your energy bill is essential if you want to save money, keep your family safe, protect the environment, and increase your home’s value.

Guest Post - 10 Things Every Guest Bedroom Should Have

When curating the look and design of a home, no one should neglect the importance of the guest bedroom. While many might dedicate the guest bedroom to long-forgotten storage items, having a readily-available guest bedroom is perfect for visits from loved ones throughout the year and during the holidays. A properly set up guest bedroom invokes comfort and practicality, with a few must-have items to set your guests up for a pleasant stay. Let’s explore a few of these items in order to learn the best way to arrange a guest bedroom that will compete with any nearby hotel and make your guest cozy and happy. 

Must-Have #1: Comfortable Bedding

First things first: let’s make sure that you have quality bedding and sheets for your guests. Opting for high-quality bedding with cozy comforters and supportive pillows for the guest bedroom is a great idea, as the bed is the one amenity of the guest bedroom that you can be sure will be utilized during their visit. Choosing bedding and sheets that have a reputation for being comfortable is a good way to guarantee your guests will be getting their appreciated shut-eye during their stay. 

Must-Have #2: Creative Accents

It’s safe to say that no one staying at someone’s home wants to walk into a bare room with only a bed inside. Decorating a guest bedroom is equally as important as decorating the rest of the home, with a little less intentionality required since the homeowners won’t be utilizing it as much. Choosing well-curated artisan home goods or creative accents that provide a pop of color is an easy way to make the guest bedroom a happy and aesthetically pleasing place. 

Must-Have #3: Extra Towels and Toiletries

Especially for guests that intend to stay longer than a couple of days, providing extra towels and toiletries in the guest bedroom is appropriate and appreciated. You never know what one of your guests might forget, so supplying guests with a few basic toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash is a thoughtful sentiment and additional opportunity to add fun accents to the room. To make your guest room extra special, consider choosing toiletries from local companies to give guests a hotel-like experience.  

Must-Have #4: Additional Blankets and Pillows

Everyone has a different sleeping style, and you can tell what a person’s style is by the amount of pillows and blankets available. Providing additional blankets and pillows is a sure-fire way to prevent anyone tossing and turning while staying with you. Offer a couple of options as well, such as a soft weighted blanket for the winter months or a lighter blanket option for warmer weather. 

Must-Have #5: Wastebasket

Trash is an inevitable part of traveling, so including a wastebasket to the list of must-have items for a guest bedroom is a good choice. Something small and simple should be sufficient for a guest space, but this also gives the decorator an opportunity to add a pop of color or creative metallic accents to the space in a tasteful (yet practical) way. 

Must-Have #6: Alarm Clock

No one likes sleeping away their vacation, which is much more likely to happen after late nights and good times with the house host. Make sure guests staying in the guest bedroom are set up with an alarm clock so they can get the most out of their stay as possible. This will be especially appreciated by loved ones visiting from different time zones. 

Must-Have #7: Charger

Charges are at the top of every traveler’s list of items to pack despite being one of the things travelers forget most. There’s a reason those airport chargers are so expensive. No one wants a dead phone in an unfamiliar place. This is why providing a few phone chargers to the guest bedroom is a fantastic idea. Guests will be able to charge their devices and feel rest-assured that their visit will be one with sufficient battery levels. 

Must-Have #8: Designated Space for Clothing

Regardless of the duration or nature of the trip, if someone is staying with you in a guest bedroom, they’ll have a change of clothes. While not every guest bedroom will require a closet, creating a designated area for clothing to go, like dressers or a wardrobe, is a thoughtful way to make sure guests feel like they’re at a home away from home. 

Must-Have #9: Ironing Table and Iron

With clothes comes natural wrinkling that needs to be ironed out during their stay. It’s fairly simple to add an ironing table and iron to a room’s offerings, and can even be wall mounted or placed in the closet so it doesn’t take up valuable room space. While not every guest may use it, it sure comes in handy when the time is right. 

Must-Have #10: Hairdryer

Hairdryers are bulky items that take up a lot of space in a suitcase. This is why placing an extra hairdryer in a guest bedroom is a thoughtful and creative idea. It shows guests that you go the extra mile to make sure they’re welcome, and want their morning routine at your home to mirror their life back at theirs. 

Guest bedrooms are the perfect place to show your decorative side and give guests a relaxing place to escape their typical surroundings. Explore these ten must-have items for your guest bedroom to elevate your accommodations and take your loved one’s time with you to the next level. 

About the Author: Carolyn Mitchell is a freelance writer and content strategist with a passion

for home décor and maintenance. She can often be found re-painting and updating the

furnishings in her home, and she is also a dedicated cat mom to two adorable kitties.

Guest Post - Beautiful Wall Design Does a Miracle in Your Home

If you’re planning to decorate or renovate your space and fresh it up, you will definitely want to know what are the top trends of home interior design for this and upcoming year. Aside from the monochromatic and minimalistic trend, and variations of the same tones of white, brown, and beige colors that dominate in this year’s home interior magazines, special attention is given to the wall decoration. Wall decorations have the potential of upgrading the whole interior and give it that special character that describes best your personal style. So, if you consider your wall as an empty canvas ready to be painted, let’s see how you can create a unique and special piece of decoration within your house and make your living space a cozy and appealing place.

Coloring the Walls 

Coloring the walls is the simplest and the most effective technique to freshen up the living space.The choice of the color scheme of your walls should depend on the size of the room you want to decorate, the amount of light, and the furniture you already have. Making contrasts with the color of your furniture always looks nice, just be careful not to choose the dark color scheme, especially if your furniture is also in darker wooden tones. Choosing bright colors is always a good decision since those will make your space look bigger, brighter, and more luxurious. So, going for pastel or earthy tones is a safe choice that looks nice on any furniture size or style. 

Still, when it comes to the biggest color trends for 2021, many interior designers advise audacity and choosing vibrant, rich, and even jewel tones colors, so if you want to follow the latest trends, make sure to take a look at those color palettes. 

Photography Backdrops 

Want to get more vivid effect? Take advantage of photography backdrops! When you want to create an eye-catching, eclectic, and modern space and you search for a durable solution, then photography backdrops will be the best choice for you. Since they are printed on vinyl that is a highly durable and resistant material, there is no danger of damages. Also, the quality of the print is providing the best possible effect, so whether you want to make an imitation of marble or incorporate a piece of sea into your space, with realistic photography backdrops, this aim will be easily reachable. Photography backdrops are a convenient solution for any space. 

Whether you want to decorate your kid’s bedroom, an office, photography studio, or even a hotel room, photography backdrops provide a tremendously wide range of options. Using the advantages of photography backdrops, you can easily incorporate geometric shapes or complex ornaments into your working or living area. If you need some ideas on how you can do it, then finding ideas on Pinterest will definitely be of help. 

Ceramic Plates 

If you want to attain more traditional style, then hanging ceramic plats on your wall will be the best way to meet this aim. Ceramic plates were always a great way to decorate walls in the kitchen or a dining room. The best part of using them as decoration is that plates mustn’t necessarily be the same. Moreover, the more they differ, the better effect you’ll acquire. So, before you start decorating your wall with plates, make sure to ask your grandmother whether she can give you some piece, and in case she hasn’t saved any, then flea markets can help you find a variety of old-fashioned ceramics and discover a real treasure there. 

Gallery Walls 

Whether you want to make a gallery wall of real pieces of art, black and white photographs, or printed pieces, combined with differently styled frames, it is guaranteed that you will attain the best possible effect for incorporating your personal style into space. When creating a gallery wall, make sure to do it on a white wall. This way, the pieces hanging on the wall will be properly highlighted, and in some way, will be the focus of the room. There is no strict rule on how to create the gallery wall, and this is another best thing when it comes to them. 

Use Mirrors 

Mirrors are great solution for designing the space in ultra modern style. If you want to make your place an example of ultra-modern interior design style, then choosing mirrors is the best solution for you. Mirrors will make your space look larger, more luminous, and luxurious. The best thing when it comes to incorporating mirrors into your house interior design is that you can choose whether they’ll be precisely cut and simple, or more dramatic, even of baroque style that goes perfectly with minimalistic trends. Also, mirrors are now welcomed in all rooms. Whether it is a living room or a dining room, they can perfectly suit any interior style. 

Make a Storage Place of Your Wall

Believe it or not, the wall can be an interesting and decorative storage place too. There are many options when it comes to combining the practical and decorative purpose of your walls, and the best part of it is that it is easily doable. Hanging your hats on the wall in the entrance hall, adding a texture to the wall with handmade weaving, or creating a wall of baskets in your kitchen are just great ideas that will uplift the atmosphere of your living space and give to it this special character we were mentioning at the beginning. 

Choose the Styles that Will Transform Your Place 

Transforming the space was never easier to do. Colors, different materials, and textures, even printed items that can be easily incorporated into the interior make your space stylish and cozy, giving it a pinch of your personal style. Dare to combine incompatible, explore, and play. This is the only way to reveal your truly authentic style and create of your space a really unique place. 

Author bio:

My name is Grace Wilson. I’m a 27-year-old biotechnologist and kind of a bookish girl. Surfing the Internet is my favorite, that’s why I’ve turned into blogging. Following a healthy mindset and lifestyle is what I consider my life principle. If interested, follow my Twitter.

Got a Funky Toilet? How to Get It Fixed up Without a Problem

We partnered with a home improvement company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it

Just because you're experiencing issues with your toilet, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to call the plumber right away. There are several common toilet plumbing issues that homeowners face which can be solved by themselves. In today's post we take a look at some basic toilet situations people typically face, as well as some do-it-yourself solutions that can help to fix the issue.

No Water in Toilet Bowl

If there's no water in your toilet bowl, there's no need to panic. The first thing you should do is check if there's water in the tank of the toilet and ensure that the water valve is fully turned on. Ensure that there isn't a water supply problem in other areas of the home. And, if the flow of your water is moving too slowly, check the float arm, which is located in the toilet tank. Slow moving toilet water and a lack of water in the toilet bowl indicates that you have a malfunctioning float arm.

Faulty Toilet Plumbing

Plumbing related issues regarding the toilet such as a toilet leak can occur if a component or seal, gets damaged or is due for a replacement. If water leaks from the toilet's base, you'll need a new wax ring. If the toilet leaks at the section where the bowl connects to the tank, you'll have to replace the gasket. You'll also have to replace the flapper if it leaks water from the tank into the bowl. If you're considering upgrading to avoid issues like these in the future, researching the best toilets in Canada is a smart move.

Overflow or Clogs

Several things can cause a toilet to overflow or become clogged. But, in most cases they occur as a result of a blockage. To fix this, try using your plunger to clear the blockage. If this fails, consider using a plumbing snake or unravel a wire hanger to use as a makeshift plumbing snake. If a plunger or plumbing snake doesn't work, consider using a drain opener. Lastly, if none of these work, contact a professional plumber.

If your toilet is running and flushing constantly, this is usually indicative of a problem in the fill tank. Therefore open the toilet tank and determine if the flapper is sealing the flush valve. If it isn't, you need to replace the flapper because an efficient flapper which does not seal the flush valve will cause water from the tank to continuously flow into the toilet bowl.