Recently in:
Money Saving Tips

Okay...so I'm wandering through all of the booths at the Go Green Expo this past weekend and I take notice of quite a few products that have a lot of technology and innovation behind them to make them green and to have them stand out amongst the competition down the row.

Then I came upon the BreezeDryer booth. Nothing very technical here and not a competitor in sight. Just a bunch of different styles of clotheslines to line dry your clothes on. Now THIS is eco-friendly! Imagine enjoying the great outdoors and doing your laundry at the same time.

It brought a big smile to my face for a couple of reasons.

In the depths of the recession, current homeowners and new home buyers are more focused than ever on keeping the cost of home ownership as low as possible, which means discount diving on insurance coverage.

Beyond the tried and true "raise your deductible," there are a number of factors that have a bearing -- both directly and indirectly -- on getting the lowest cost home insurance:

There's no doubt that now is a great time to buy a home if you are able to qualify for the all-important home loan. If I were in the market, I would try to find an existing home that is qualified as an ENERGY STAR home.

The home that I would seek out would have to be no more than a couple of years old, at most. Any older than that and the energy efficiency and green building techniques involved probably wouldn't be up to the standards of what I'd be looking for in my new home.

An ENERGY STAR rated home would have many of the attributes of what I'd want in my next home, including some of the latest green building construction practices, green building materials and energy efficient appliances and mechanical systems (e.g., efficient HVAC units, tankless water heater). You get the idea.

Solar powered attic fans can be a great way to save some money on cooling costs as well as support solar technology.

Although the initial cost for a solar powered attic fan is greater than other fan types, eliminating the need to call an electrician as well as future electricity savings can make this a prudent investment for many homeowners.
 
Image courtesy GreenThinkers.org

In residential construction there are four solar powered attic fan options ranging from 10 watts to 25 watt models. In this case bigger isn't necessarily better, nor will it get you better results.

Anode rods are used to prevent corrosion in a hot water tank. An anode rod that no longer works could allow your hot water tank to rust. Conversely, by replacing the anode rod as needed you can extend the life of your hot water tank significantly as well as reduce the chance of needing to replace your entire hot water heater.


How Does an Anode Rod Work?

An anode rod works by reducing the chance of corrosion within the tank. Normally made of magnesium, an anode rod releases electrons as it corrodes which then attach to tank imperfections that might rust. For this reason an anode rod often determines the length of the warrantee of your hot water heater.

A crack in a fiberglass tub or shower isn't always cause to replace it. Fiberglass repair, once left to the professionals, can now be completed by the meticulous homeowner using a fiberglass repair kit.

Before attempting a repair it is important to know that most likely the crack will still be slightly visible. If this bothers you, have your fiberglass tub or shower replaced, or call a professional to make the repair. However, if you just want to make a repair that will enable you to continue to use your shower, you can fix it yourself.


Step-By-Step Instructions to Repair Your Fiberglass Tub/Shower

The first step in making a repair is to figure out why the crack occurred and fix the underlying problem.

Fixing a broken kitchen sprayer hose is within the skill set of most homeowners. All that is needed is an adjustable wrench, some plumber's tape, and replacement parts for your particular kitchen sink sprayer.

Step-By-Step Instructions to Fix a Broken Kitchen Sprayer Hose

The fix required for your kitchen sink sprayer will depend on where the leak or problem lies. If the leak is occurring between the seams of the sprayer nozzle, a faulty gasket within the spray assembly could be to blame.