ADD THESE FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS TO YOUR TO DO LIST!

Looking for new ways to save a few bucks this season? Chances are, you can do just that without spending too much time and energy or getting your hands too dirty. In fact, these 5 fixes can be tackled in just a few hours with minimal upfront costs. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get your home ready for fall!

1 – FRESHEN UP THAT SMELLY DISPOSAL

Let’s face it, scrap food can start to stink after just a few hours – stick your nose near that trash can and you’ll know what we’re talking about! Well, the same holds true for garbage disposals as scraps and shreds have a tendency to stick around causing bacteria to grow.

The solution? Pour some white vinegar into your ice cube trays and let it freeze. Then pop a few of the cubes into the disposal and turn it on. Finish it off with a few citrus peels and it will be smelling good as new!

Pro Tip: sure, you probably already know not to pour grease down the drain, but keep it out of the disposal as well. Not only will it congeal and cause clogs once it cools and hardens, it can be the cause of foul odors, too.

2 – FIX THAT LEAKY SHOWERHEAD

Did you know that even a slow drip can waste upwards of 500 gallons of water per year? Save yourself some money and the annoyance of hearing that drip, drip, drip by replacing the washer.

All you need to do is remove the showerhead from the arm and swap out the plastic of rubber washer. Just be sure to seal the arm with plumber’s thread-seal tape before re-attaching it.

3 – BEEF UP INSULATION IN THE ATTIC

Colder weather is synonymous with fall and that means it’s time to add some insulation to your home. The attic is a great place to start.

How do you know if you’re lacking insulation? Take a look at the ceiling joists. If the insulation is level with – or below – the joists, you don’t have enough.

Consider upping insulation levels to R-49 – R-60 and you can save 10% or more on your energy bills this season. Loose-fill fiberglass, cellulose and fiberglass batts will all do the trick!

Pro Tip: whenever you work with insulation, be sure to wear proper eye protection and wear long pants and long sleeves. Some of the materials have the ability to cause severe irritation, itchiness and a rash if it comes in contact with your skin.

4 – ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to switch over to the “heat” setting on your thermostat. Take a look at the settings you put in place last year and make sure it’s ready to go.

Keeping the temperature steady for 8 hours or more each day can save you upwards of $180/year on heating bills. And just think, you sleep for 8 hours each night, so keep that in mind as you input the temperature settings.

5 – LIGHT UP YOUR ENTRYWAY

Less daylight hours means you’ll need to illuminate driveways and walkways with artificial light. We recommend glass-paneled lanterns with battery-operated LED candles to add some ambiance to the outdoors.

We also suggest taking some time to replace the bulbs in your outdoor light fixtures with LEDs. It only takes a few seconds per fixture and the savings just might surprise you!

At Universe Home Services, we are family owned and operated, meaning customer service is our number one priority. Our goal is to make your life easier by offering all your home comfort needs in one place. Call us today at (516) 473-0202 to find out how we can help!

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