The housing boom may be over, but people who bought a house during the pandemic have other things to consider aside from the monthly mortgage payments. If you are a new homeowner, you may already know that the responsibilities of homeownership do not end with setting aside funds for monthly payments.
The situation is particularly true for new owners of existing homes. They have a lot of work ahead of them to make their new house comfortable to stay in for the next phase in their lives. Here are the things new homeowners should do after buying a house.
Make Sure the Insulation Is Fine
The first thing you should do is to make sure the insulation of the house is fine. You should make sure the house has adequate insulation to keep the cold out during the cold months. It also keeps the home comfortable during the summer months.
If you see any damage to the insulation, you should replace it. The insulation in your home should be at least six inches thick. This thickness increases if your home is located in the northern part of the country. Making sure your home is well-insulated can bring down heating and cooling costs. You can also check with the local authorities if they provide incentives in making your home energy-efficient
Insulate Exposed Water Pipes
After checking the insulation inside the house, you should also the hot water pipes of the house and make sure they have insulation. When you wrap hot water pipes with pipe insulation, you can increase their temperature by around four degrees. It also ensures that the water reaches the faucets in the house faster, which allows you to conserve water.
You should check the pipes that run through the basement and garage. Make sure to insulate them to reduce heat loss as water goes through them. Lesser heat loss allows you to save money on fuel used to heat the water in the house.
Check for Leaks
You should also go around the house and check the bathroom fixtures. You should make sure all these fixtures have running water in them, and they do not have leaks. As a homeowner, you should know how to fix a bathroom tap leak. This prevents damaging the fixtures in the bathroom. If necessary, look for a reliable supplier of bathroom fixtures to replace the ones you cannot fix anymore.
You should also make sure the kitchen fixtures are running properly. Similar to the bathroom, check if they have running water and are not leaking. Additionally, you should fix or replace any fixtures that may cause more problems in the future.
Check the Water Heater
Checking the water heater is also important. You should make sure to lower the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature for you to use on your water heater. If the water is hotter than this level, it can easily scald you or anyone else in the house.
You can also make sure to keep the water heater well-insulated, especially older models. The newer models of these home equipment have enough insulation to keep heat in the water and prevent it from dispersing.
If you need to add insulation, you can use an insulation blanket and cover the water heater with it. This allows you to lower your heating costs since it will keep the water hot for a longer time. It prevents the heat from dispersing into the room. Just make sure to avoid covering the thermostat, top and bottom parts of the water heater, and its burner compartment.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat in the home is a good idea if the house does not have one yet. A smart thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature in a room if you are not inside. You can use its geofencing feature to adjust the temperature of the house if you are away. If you get a Wi-Fi-enabled model, you can turn it on or off using your smartphone. These features on the smart thermostat allow you to save money on energy bills.
Install Ceiling Fans
If you want to keep your home cool during the summer without spending too much, you can install ceiling fans. Fans create an air circulation effect that allows you to increase the thermostat’s temperature without losing the cool air inside the room. If you’re using an air conditioner, you can increase the thermostat’s temperature by around four degrees. Install fans with bigger blades since they can move more air than smaller models.
Checking the house after moving in is important for new homeowners. Doing so can make the home as comfortable as possible for them and their families.
