DIY

Small Changes that Will Make Cleaning a Breeze

Angela Manning DIY , , ,
Small Changes that Will Make Cleaning a Breeze

Cleaning is a chore that no one really likes, but we need to do it to keep our homes clean and habitable. You don’t exactly have to lose an entire day tidying up your house; by making some small changes here and there, you can easily turn cleaning from a dreary, painstaking process to a faster and easier one. To help you, here are a few tips that will make cleaning a breeze.

  • Upgrade your cleaning tools.Software and gadgets are far from the only things that have undergone a lot of technological changes in the past few years; even cleaning tools these days are more advanced and efficient. While there’s nothing wrong with cleaning your home using the same kind of tools that your parents or even grandparents have used, you should still check out improved tools and formulas that make cleaning a faster and easier affair. Trade in your old cleaning rag for a high-quality microfiber cloth, or swap out the bulky vacuum cleaner for a later and more powerful model, one that’s probably going to be easier to lug around the house. By using new tools, you’ll find that your cleaning tasks will be much more streamlined and take less time.
  • Make it a family habit. The responsibility of cleaning and tidying up a house with multiple occupants shouldn’t rest on one person alone. If you live with other people, you should work together and divide chores that will help keep your house a more habitable space. If you have kids, teach them how to do simple chores and have them help you out. You can even make it more fun by turning it into a game where the best or fastest cleaner gets an award, or by rewarding the entire family with a special snack or meal once the task has been completed. Getting your entire family involved not only allows you to clean your house faster, but it also teaches your kids important habits and life skills.
  • Stick to a schedule. One of the best things to do with cleaning tasks that take up a lot of time and effort – such as washing the car or doing the laundry – is to schedule them properly and stick to that schedule. This way, these chores will become a habit and you’ll have an easier time avoiding procrastination. Scheduling cleaning chores also helps you find more free time to spend with your family and loved ones.
  • Clean as you go.Letting the dirty stuff— be it dishes, laundry, or dust— pile up is a common mistake that makes cleaning more difficult than it should be. Resist every temptation to let the dirty dishes stay untouched in the sink for too long, and if you see something out of place, put it back where it belongs, especially if doing so won’t take you more than 2 minutes. By taking care of the small stuff right away, you’re giving yourself more time to focus on the bigger, more complicated tasks during your weekly cleaning.
  • Start from top to bottom. No matter what room you’re cleaning, it’s always a good idea to start at the top before working your way down. This is because the dust and detritus that will come flying down from your top shelves will eventually settle on lower surfaces, such as your tables and floor. By cleaning your home from top to bottom, you ensure that the flying dust and debris will be taken care of in one go.

Through these small changes, you’re making it easier to clean your home and bond with your family in one go. Just don’t forget to reward yourselves after a job well done!

Three Reasons Why You Need To Knit Blankets

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When you are comfortable using a pair of knitting needles, you can try to make your own blankets, afghans and throws. If you need convincing, here are three wonderful reasons why you should get started on this ambitious knitting project right away.

Get your essential blanket materials from the website Yarnspirations, which has an incredible supply of knitting tools, accessories and yarn. You can choose yarn from a wide selection of brands, fibers, types and colors to get the right look and style that you want. You can browse through the patterns available on the website or visit the Yarnspirations Blog for instructions, ideas and inspiration for all of your knitted blanket projects.

1. Knit Your Blankets For Comfort

This may seem like an obvious answer, but it is still the most important reason to make yourself a knitted blanket. A well-made blanket is the best way to get cozy when you’re lying on the couch or curling up in bed. If you want to use your blanket to warm up on a cold day, use yarns made with wool, mohair or acrylic fibers. If you want it to be luxurious and soft to the touch, choose yarns made with nylon, silk, alpaca, cotton or acrylic fibers.

2. Use Your Blankets For Home Décor

Knit blankets can be the final piece that pulls the look of a room together — it can harmonize the space’s colors, match the furniture style and amplify the mood. You can use your knit blanket for the interior design of any room in the house, including the living room, foyer and office — this subtle but important detail will make any area feel more comfortable and inviting to guests. Many interior design professionals suggest that you drape a beautiful blanket along a bedspread, across a couch or on top of an armchair to emphasize warmth.

3. Donate Your Blankets To Charity

If your linen closet is already stacked full of blankets, afghans and throws, you might feel like a new one isn’t necessary. Instead of knitting a blanket for your own home, give away your handcrafted piece to an organization that promotes a good cause — there are a number of non-profit organizations and charities that take knit products like blankets, hats and scarves. Look to your nearest homeless shelters, women’s refuges, hospitals, and animal sheltersand ask them if they accept donations. If you can’t think of any local organizations or groups, use the internet to find charities looking for knitted donations — this way you can send blankets in honour of more than one cause, whether it be for homelessness, illness or suffering.

The last reason that you should make a blanket is that it is a long, relaxing and ultimately gratifying project to knit. While crafting socks or hats will be satisfying to finish a short span of time, a large piece like a blanket will feel much more rewarding when you complete the final row.

Sandy Petrocelli: Call a Professional Electrician for These Electrical Issues

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Sandy Petrocelli: Call a Professional Electrician for These Electrical Issues

Your home’s electrical system is like the body’s circulatory system. It has a controller that sits at the heart of the system all an electrical panel, it has wires instead of veins and arteries running through the entire length of your home, and although it does not have blood, it has electricity that runs through those wires feeding every part of your home.

Although electricity is not as vital to you as blood, in terms of keeping your house running, electricity is probably the most important thing. Nearly every Appliance in every home in the United States depends on electricity therefore having a fully functioning electrical system in your home is very important.

The do-it-yourself craze has taken over the country and gotten homeowners to take on many jobs around their home that were previously done by professionals. Everything from small redecorating and remodeling jobs, to building a backyard deck, and even installing a new sink and vanity are now more likely to be done by the homeowner then a licensed professional. This DIY approach as also filtered into electrical areas of the home. Homeowners are now putting in new light fixtures, and even adding electrical boxes in rooms throughout their homes.

DIY Projects

The goal is simple, do it yourself and save money. It is definitely true that doing your own minor electrical fixes and upgrades can save you lots of money. A license electrician will charge anywhere from $75 to $150 an hour for even the smallest job. But homeowners must be cautious about what they take on and what they actually call The Professional to handle.

This is because electricity is dangerous and there is always a chance that the homeowner being a novice, might get injured. With this being said there are some jobs the homeowner can definitely do. But electrical contractors like Sandy Petrocelli on New York, NY ward that there are some jobs that the homeowner should never undertake and instead should call a professional electrician immediately.

Here’s a list of some of the electrical issues that may occur in the home where homeowners should immediately call a licensed electrician

Electric Surges or Power Loss

The electricity flowing through your home should be continuous and steady. You should never have surges when you notice lights and other appliances are fed more and then less electricity.  If this happens it could be a number of issues that are causing it. If it’s occurring throughout your home it could be a major problem in the wiring or with your electric panel.  Either problem can turn into a fire without notice. So don’t delay, get an electrician out to your home and have him check both to determine where the problem is coming from.

Circuit Breakers Will Not Stay Engaged

Which part of your home has a circuit breaker install that will trip and immediately cut electricity, if there’s a problem somewhere along that circuit. The circuit breaker will trip for many reasons some of which are benign while others are dangerous.  Benign reasons include if there is an electrical surge, or you plug-in add electrical and appliance that has a short.

If this is the case, by unplugging electrical Appliance and giving the system a minute, the circuit will no longer trip. It can also be tripped if there’s a wiring problem in the system. This is a dangerous problem because it can lead to a fire. A quick examination of that circuit and testing it a few times will tell you if it is a benign issue or dangerous one. If it is dangerous you should call a licensed electrician immediately.

5 Eye-Catching Centerpieces You Need for Your Living Room

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5 Eye-Catching Centerpieces You Need for Your Living Room

Spicing up your living room can be quite a conundrum to figure out, especially if you’re not someone well-versed in the complicated art of interior design. However, anyone can improve the appearance and feel of their living room with a few simple touches, one of which is by installing a strong and striking centerpiece into the room. By doing so, not only will your living room have a strong and visual focal point – one that ties its many disparate elements together – but you also get a great conversation starter with your visitors and guests.

With that said, here are some ideas for centerpieces that are guaranteed to catch the eye of the company you’re having over.

  1. An indoor water fountain. One of the latest trends in interior design is adding an indoor water fountain into your living room. It sounds excessive, but it really isn’t, as there are now many miniature and downsized models that can be installed no matter how tight your space constraints or budget is. There are also models that can be integrated into a living room wall (i.e. a wall fountain) to save even more space. Having a water fountain as your centerpiece gives your living room not just a calming effect, but it also freshens up the air inside due to the flowing water’s air purifying and humidifying qualities.
  2. A fireplace. If you’ve got a fireplace in your living room or you’re planning to have one installed very soon, then it can definitely serve as a very captivating centerpiece. Fire not only gives you a great way to naturally illuminate your living room, but it also helps keep things feel more cozy especially in cold winter nights due to its ability to give off heat. Just make sure that it’s properly cleaned and maintained, as you don’t want a filthy fireplace to be the thing your guests can focus on when they’re over.
  3. A sofa. Sofas are one of the modern living room’s staples, and chances are you already have one installed. Why not make it the centerpiece? If you’re willing to replace what you have now, then opt for a bigger and more brightly-colored couch. You can also pair it with a glass center table with some heavy but tasteful ornaments such as a vase or a stone statue bust. If you’re not willing to part with your original sofa, then simply draping a richly-colored blanket over it can suffice.
  4. Something personal. Another great idea for a living room centerpiece is to feature something that’s a part of your personality or family. It’s your own living room, after all, so you want to make sure it has your own personal touch. If you’re a collector, you can feature one of your prized collectibles as a centerpiece, like perhaps a model or a poster or even a painting. If you’d rather make it a bit more family-oriented, have properly-framed family pictures be the centerpiece. Whatever you choose, it’ll make your living room feel a bit more lived-in and personable, which is always a good thing.
  5. Who doesn’t like flowers? They add a splash of color in any room as well as give off a light and appealing scent, so having a bunch of artfully arranged flowers would make for a great centerpiece. Just be sure to replace them regularly, as wilting or dead flowers will definitely be an eyesore. If you’re not up for that kind of expense, however, then imitation flowers or even flower sculptures will suffice.

An eye-catching centerpiece can really tie a living room together, and you don’t even have to spend all that much to get that very same effect. Just be sure to pick something that not only fits your budget and space constraints, but also something that you yourself can show off and display with pride.

7 Remodels You Always See on HGTV (and Why)

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7 Remodels You Always See on HGTV (and Why)

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The home improvement revolution is here, and so it the desire to do things yourself, flip houses, and more. Entire television networks are dedicated to home improvement and beautification, and we watch religiously both to share in the success of others and to get ideas of our own.

To gather those ideas, here are seven of the most common remodels you see on HGTV and why.

Minor Bathroom Remodel

One of the primary reasons you often see a bathroom remodel on HGTV is the return you see on your investment. On average you recoup 103% of the cost of a bathroom remodel at the time of sale, and even if you are not selling, you see an great increase in livability.

How do you get even more return on your investment? Do the work yourself, reglaze or refinish your old tub, and use spray on texture to cover old wall damage before you paint.

A minor bathroom remodel is quite common and can quite simply transform your home.

Landscaping

Curb appeal is everything when it comes to selling your home, and even just making it look great from the outside. At the time of sale, most owners recoup 100% or more of their investment in landscaping, and are more likely to get full-price offers and sell quickly if they have great landscaping.

This can be as simple as hiring a lawn service and adding flowers, plants, and a few trees or trimming the bushes and trees you have now, weeding the flower beds and putting down fresh mulch, and fertilizing and aerating your lawn. Either way, landscaping is a common remodel that truly pays off.

Minor Kitchen Remodel

Fairly often, the only thing your kitchen really needs is a simple cosmetic refresh, not a drastic change to the floor plan. This type of remodel makes it easy to recoup the cost. What is involved in this type of remodel?

  • Counter Tops: Old counters can easily be replaced with more modern ones that are also more sanitary and better for your health.
  • Door and drawer fronts: These are also easily replaced, and refreshing the knobs and hardware often changes the look of your kitchen entirely.
  • Appliances and fixtures: replace that fridge from 1995, or that range with a much better gas one, and you will easily recoup the cost if you are selling, and have a much more comfortable home if you are staying.

This type of remodel can be done at a fairly low cost, and will totally change the way you look at your cooking space.

Exterior Improvements

There are a ton of improvements you can do to the exterior of your home to update the look. On many home improvement shows, they kick in the old door, and take it out. A new door is the first step to a more inviting entry. The second is to dress up the porch with plants or add a pergola.

Painting, new siding, and new shutters and trim also add a value you can easily get back out of the home if you sell it. Removing old awnings and other outdated items works well also. The more you upgrade siding or paint, the more likely you will get the best return for the home improvements you make.

Deck, Patio, or Porch Additions

If your back yard is not an appealing space, you may have more trouble selling your home, and it may just be a less comfortable place to live. Adding on a porch, deck or patio can transform that space from a useless one to a place you can use all the time.

This may mean adding a grill, a bar, and exploring creative seating options. This is one of the most common remodels you see on HGTV.

Replacement Windows

While there might be some debate about how much energy replacement windows will really save you, there is no doubt they add value to your home. The average homeowner gets all of the money they invested in the windows back at sale.

This project can be as simple as replacing the old windows with new ones of the same style or replacing a small window and wall with a patio sliding door or even a bay window. This is also a common remodel project on HGTV because it pays off and it is one of the easiest ways to transform your home with natural light.

Living Room Décor Updates

While it is easy to say you should not live in the past, there is a certain nostalgia associated with certain furniture, rugs, or décor.

Almost every time you see a show on HGTV, they work on changing the décor of the home. It is most often outdated or does not fit with the new look the homeowner is going for. This not only pays off when you are selling your home (a part of staging) but it can make your home feel fresh and new.

You see a ton of different remodels on HGTV, but these are seven of the most common, simply because they pay off and are affordable compared to major home restructures.

Highly Essential Tips for Celebrating Your Kids 1st Birthday Party

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Highly Essential Tips for Celebrating Your Kids 1st Birthday Party

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A first birthday party of a kid is definitely a special occasion for the parents as it’s a milestone in your baby’s life and of course the first of many exciting birthdays to come. It is a very obvious fact that kids don’t remember the first birthday of their lives and they don’t enjoy as much as everyone does. As a loving and caring parent, you need to make sure that it has to be a fun-filled day for everyone, especially for your kids.

Planning a birthday party and execute it properly is not an easy job at all. It is quite a hectic and time-consuming affair where you really try to give your best performance as a parent. One thing that you must need to keep in mind that the activities you have planned should engage the kids invited to the birthday party.

You need to put a lot of efforts into the planning and organizing process of the first birthday party of your kid.

There are lots of 1st birthday ideas that you can choose from. From a simple family gathering to an extravagant birthday party, there is the huge numbers of ideas but you, as a parent should choose one based on your prerogative.

The birthday party can be arranged at home or somewhere outside of your home. You need to first determine how much hard work you are ready to put into the birthday affair and choose the venue on the basis of that. Outdoor birthday parties have almost become the trend in these days. All you need to do is spend some money and almost everything will be arranged for you. But if you want to throw a homely birthday party then you can follow some of the first birthday tips-

1.Theme:

Start with finalizing a theme for the birthday party. The theme can be a cartoon that your kid just loves or even a toy. There are many options for choosing the theme and some of the very popular themes include Thomas the train, Superman, Mickey Mouse, Cars or anything that the birthday kid loves.

2.Invitation:

Once you are done with finalizing the theme, it’s time to focus on the invitation part. If you have any dress code in your mind to match up with the birthday theme, then you should definitely mention it beforehand.

3.Birthday Dress:

The dress of the birthday kid plays a very crucial as your kid is the center of the attraction for this special day. You can simply go for the theme based dress. If you don’t want to go for the themed based dress then you should go for something simple and casual as this will keep your kid comfortable for the longer span of the birthday party.

4.Birthday Cake:

A cake is one of the inevitable parts of any kind birthday party and when it comes to choosing the cake for the first birthday of your baby, needless to say, it has to be ultra-special. Almost everyone loves cake and that’s why you should order a large sized kids birthday cake online.

5. Decoration:

It completely depends on the choice of the individual. You can either go for a heavy or light decoration based on what fascinates you more. If you want to decorate the birthday venue with the latest decoration idea, employing an event management group would be a nice idea.

Tips to Ensure a Successful DIY Remodel

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Tips to Ensure a Successful DIY Remodel

(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

When a homeowner decides to tackle a remodeling project, it’s understandable that he or she wants to start right away. However, failing to plan for the entire project often means disappointing results and spending much more than anticipated. Proper planning requires homeowners to create the following types of documentation:

  • Budget
  • Drawings
  • Materials list
  • Price quotes from several contractors
  • Proposed schedule

The next step is to ensure the availability of all items he or she wishes to use. It’s important to order them as soon as possible to prevent delays later if the items are no longer available. Homeowners should also plan to inspect all materials when they arrive.

Consider Getting a Professional Opinion

Even homeowners who intend to complete the project themselves can benefit from the expertise of a professional designer or home inspector. A design consultant can point out potential issues with the homeowner’s plan while a home inspector can uncover safety issues that he or she might have overlooked.

Estimate Time to Complete the Home Improvement Project

While it can be challenging to know exactly how long each part of the project will take, creating a rough estimate is essential. Most homeowners, especially those with little or no experience with home improvement projects, tend to underestimate project length. A good rule is to add 20 percent to his or her best estimate. It’s also a good idea to add 20 percent to the budget. The danger of a project taking much longer than expected is that the homeowner may give up on it halfway through.

Don’t Forget About Safety

Some homeowners get so excited about tackling the project that they forget to invest in safety gear. This should include steel-toed boots, a hard hat, goggles, and work gloves at a minimum. Additionally, it’s important to avoid wearing baggy clothes that could become stuck in moving parts or tools and to make sure the work area remains free of clutter.

Avoid Fines for Building Violations

Homeowners sometimes feel tempted to skip applying for permits to save money and because they figure no one will know about their home improvement project. While it might seem like unnecessary bureaucracy and expense, safety is the real reason behind the permit requirements. A city building inspector will make sure the project meets compliance and that the homeowner and his or her family remain safe. Here are three common violations that anyone considering a do-it-yourself project should avoid:

  • Incorrect venting in the bathroom: Building codes require bathroom fans to vent humid air outside through a vent pipe four inches in diameter. Failing to follow this code results in rotting wood and mold in the attic.
  • Handrails at the wrong degree: When installing a wall-side handrail, it must create a 90-degree turn and a dead-end leading to a wall. This helps to prevent purses and clothing from snagging on the handrail and causing a fall.
  • Out-of-code junction boxes: All junction boxes for electrical outlets must be accessible and visible with a minimum wire length of six inches inside of the box. The wires entering a box must be clamped to prevent it from moving.

Additionally, taking care of construction debris removal on a regular basis will help prevent unwanted attention from neighbors. An unsightly pile of old drywall and/or appliances in the front yard is a sure-fire way to generate calls to the local building department.

As long as homeowners take the time to plan their project and learn local building codes, everything should go just fine.

Dressing Up Your Home For Autumn

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Dressing Up Your Home For Autumn

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If you’re getting bored of your current home, there are so many ways you can take advantage of awesome opportunities to get your home winter ready and they don’t have to break the bank, either! It can be a bit overwhelming at times to come up with the best way to do up a room or the whole house without blowing your budget, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to inject some new life into a tired, old room.

Find That Statement Piece

Head out on a hunt for that one great piece – an antique chest or sideboard. Something that really catches the eye of everyone in the room as soon as they walk in. It doesn’t have to be overly elaborate or expensive – quite often something like a colourful antique footstool, table, statue or more can add a serious conversation starter to  a room. Antique stores are a great place to find all manner of interesting thing to add to a space – especially front rooms and living or entertaining spaces.

Second hand or charity shops as well are great places to find gently used and sometimes brand new pieces of furniture that just ended up not being needed in a space and often for seriously discounted prices than buying brand new from a furniture shop. But what about delivery? Not many of these types of places offer delivery of their furniture or other items. Luckily with websites like Shiply though you can arrange pick up and delivery of your item by comparing costs and services right on their website, saving you tons of time and money by being able to find a number of quotes in one place.

Feature Walls

Feature walls have become one of the best and most enjoyable ways to do up a space mainly because they can be done in as little as a day and for a low price, depending on what you’re after. Feature walls can be done as big or as small as you like – from highlighting an area around a fireplace to doing an entire side of a room in the same theme or colour. Many feature walls are one solid colour which act as a stark contrast to more subdued hues in the rest of the room. Wallpaper can likewise be employed to create a fantastic feature wall and can come in a variety of shades, styles, patterns and colours. Regardless of which way you create a feature wall, the result is the same – a stunning eye catching point in any room you want! So check out your local home hardware department for colours and styles that suit your needs!

So there you have two easy ways to start doing up your spaces, especially before the Christmas season gets into full swing. If you’re planning to host visitors over the holidays, now is a great time to inject some new life into your home. From cushions to walls to all new furniture, the world is your oyster when sprucing up your home.

JAC Interiors: Modern Eclectic Interior Design

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JAC Interiors: Modern Eclectic Interior Design

Are you looking for a new style for your home? Are you tired of the traditional design methods that everyone else is using? If so, you may appreciate modern eclectic style for your next redecoration. Not only will it make your interior much more vibrant and noticeable, but it will make your house feel more like a home. Enlisting los angeles interior designers can also help bring your new, modern look to life.

What is Modern Eclectic?

One of the defining characteristics of this interior design style is the inclusion of a variety of different pieces. Rather than creating a single, homogenous appearance for your home, modern eclectic utilizes various colors, textures, and motifs to create something more unique.

Core Components of the Style

To better understand how this all comes together, it’s important to know what the core concepts are for modern eclectic. At first glance, it may seem like you’re just throwing a bunch of stuff together, but it’s so much more than that.

Curation

To really get into this type of design, you have to be able to bring elements that compliment each other instead of clashing. Also, everything should be part of the homeowner’s persona, so it’s a bit like combining different parts of a person’s personality. Curation is the key to making it work, which means that you can’t just go with anything.

Focus

One thing that can happen easily with modern eclectic is that the interior can feel cluttered or overwhelming. As such, it’s very important to create focal points in each room and have the additional pieces flow outward from it. This will ensure that the result is more refined and appealing.

Ergonomics

While decoration can enhance the feeling of a room, you don’t want to have an abundance of items for show purposes only. Instead, try to incorporate pieces that are both functional and aesthetic so that you get the best of both worlds.

Balance

Finally, the tricky thing about modern eclectic is that you need to have an overarching premise for everything. Randomness is not a design element, so it’s critical that you have a balance of eclectic and classical motifs.

If you’re interested in having the modern eclectic design for your home or business, contact interior design firms in Beverly Hills. We specialize in making this style blend seamlessly into your space.

Getting the Most Out of Your Central Heating

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Getting the Most Out of Your Central Heating

We all like to be comfortable in our homes; unfortunately, constantly running heat and air conditioning can put a significant dent in our wallets. Many people think heating or cooling a house is an all-or-nothing game, but there are actually plenty of ways to make sure your house stays at a comfortable temperature without spending hundreds on your monthly heating bill.

Part of the process requires consistent maintenance of your heating system, but the other part is far easier—it involves simple choices you can make to save on your heating bill.

Routine Maintenance

Whether you’re talking about a car, a computer, or an HVAC system, nearly everything works better with consistent maintenance. There are plenty of steps you can take to maintain your central heating system, and many of them can save you money on your heating bill.

The first thing you should do is make sure you have a good air filter. The higher the MERV rating on your air filter, the more contaminants it’s trapping. This is essential to maintaining indoor air quality and a comfortable temperature.

Speaking of air filters, you should make sure you replace yours every 90 days. As more and more air passes through an air filter, contaminants get trapped and impede airflow. Keeping your filter clean not only allows for more air to pass through, it also keeps the air you breathe free of harmful irritants.

You should also make sure your outdoor units have space to breathe. Keep leaves, pollen and grass away from your outdoor units, and make sure they have a few feet of space around them for airflow. As the winter months approach and it’s time to shut off the A/C, you should replace the furnace humidifier filter and turn the water (which you should have turned off in the summer) back on.

Inspecting the condensate drain and clearing it every now and then will help prolong the life of your heating and cooling unit. Lastly, you should occasionally make sure your HVAC unit is on level ground to promote proper drainage. Although these tasks relate more to the A/C, they’re an important part of prolonging the life of your system in general. If you aren’t comfortable performing this maintenance yourself, get help from a trusted HVAC company.

Be Vigilant

One of the easiest ways to save big on your heating bill is to become more vigilant about when and how you heat your home. This includes letting the temperature drop a bit when you’re away from home and promoting proper airflow when the heater is on.

When you’re not at home, you don’t need to keep your house at a cozy 70 degrees F. Each morning before you leave for work, turn your thermostat down a few degrees for the duration of the day. When you get home, you can turn it back up to your desired temperature and relax. A smart thermostat that connects to your smartphone allows you to change the temperature when you’re not at home, which means you can set it to your desired temperature and let it heat up as you drive home. If you don’t mind bundling up, choosing a sweater over those extra few degrees of heat can provide significant savings, too.

Fans are one of the most overlooked money-saving tools when it comes to heating your home. Fans simply promote airflow—nothing more, nothing less. By turning a ceiling fan on (set to the winter setting), you can spread heat throughout your home and save on your heating bill. Heating a home is always going to cost you, but it doesn’t have to be a fortune. Follow these simple tips and you can significantly lower your heating bill.