Tag: american dream

Some homes have HVAC units and some homes use heat pumps to heat their homes.  If you are unfamiliar with what exactly a heat pump is, Energy.gov offers a brief explanation, ” For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house and during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling appliances.”  A heat pump can actually be a very energy efficient choice for homes that are in moderate climates.  Heat pumps, just like HVAC systems, require routine maintenance in order to continue to operate efficiently and effectively.  You can hire a professional to inspect your heat pump once a year to ensure that everything is in working order.  They will inspect things like ducts, filters, and coils as well as check for duct leakage, verify airflow, check for refrigerant leaks, inspect the electric terminals, lubricate motors and verify correct thermostat operation.  There is some basic maintenance of heat pumps that every home owner can do to ensure that heat pumps are properly and safely functioning.  Heat pumps have filters that need to be changed, usually about once per month.  Your heat pump owner’s manual will offer specific instructions for how often you should change your filters.  By changing heat pump filters, you keep your heat pump running efficiently which will extend the life of your heat pump and maximize energy savings each month.  Regularly check the area around your heat pump to make sure debris, weed and plants have not overgrown or built up near your heat pump as this can reduce airflow to the heat pump and decrease efficiency as well.  Energy.gov also notes that a properly maintained heat pump does make a difference in energy use, “Like all heating and cooling systems, proper maintenance is key to efficient operation. The difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10% to 25%.”  When you do these things, and hire a professional to inspect the more intricate details of your heat pump, you can maintain efficiency, save money and keep your home nice and warm all winter long.]]>

It is the American dream to own a home and very exciting when you are finally able to. It is one of the biggest investments you will ever make so it is very important to take good care of it. It takes a lot to budget for the monthly expenses of owning a home but what happens when an unexpected repairs arises? What if something major breaks and a repair will cost thousands? It can be very stressful when unexpected expenses arise but with a home warranty that stress can be relieved. There are three reasons why everyone should have a home warranty. The first reason every home owner should have a home warranty is to protect their investment. When you purchase a new home it is a big transition and with any big investment, it takes maintenance. Depending on the age of your home and the age of the existing systems in the home, necessary repairs may arise and they need to be dealt with promptly to ensure no further damage is done to the home and that the new home remains in working order. With a home warranty, when necessary repair arises, you simply need to call your home warranty provider and they will handle the rest. You wont have to worry if the repair is being done by someone trustworthy or trained, a home warranty company hires trained professional repairmen and they will make sure your home is properly repaired and your investment protected. The second reason that a homeowner should have a home warranty is that it will save on out of pocket expenses. With a home warranty you will simply need to pay the service call fee. If your hot water heater breaks in the middle of winter you will not have to spend hundreds of dollars for a hot shower. The home warranty will protect your wallet from any unwanted surprises. The third reason for a home warranty is that it will give the home owner peace of mind. You just never know when something may break or a problem may arise. If you own an old home you may be looking around wondering what the next ticking time bomb may be. With a home warranty you do not have to lose sleep worrying what may break or if something will cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to repair. With a home warranty your investment is protected and your wallet can rest easy. If or when you do choose to sell your home having a home warranty is also a great incentive for potential buyers as they will desire to maintain their homes and have peace of mind. These three reasons help show a home warranty is right for every home owner who takes pride in their home and wants to maintain their investment.]]>