Green Home Energy Savings
Homeowner Helpful Hints
We at Colonial Floor Care are committed to energy savings, green home renovation and good design. We often talk about how restoring your terrazzo floors saves time, money and energy, as well as keeping an important part of South Florida design in tact.
Today we will talk about another energy saving tip for your home- knowing when to fix or replace an appliance. This is part one of a three part series.
In an article published in the Sun Sentinel on September 11, 2009, The saint Louis Post Dispatch gave some great advice about this important topic.
National consumer ratings company Angie’s list consulted appliance repair experts nationwide to get some answers about appliances. When it comes to keeping appliances happily humming for years, there are simple ways to prevent problems before they start, says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.
Quality products last longer than those price-is-too-good-to-be-true deals, Hicks said. All appliances need preventive maintenance at some point, but proper care will go a long way towards keeping those service calls at a minimum.
Ask these ten questions to determine whether to replace or repair an appliance:
1) Is it really broken? The trouble may be a short in the plug, a tripped circuit breaker or a bad surge protector outlet. Check the troubleshooting section of the unit’s instruction manual for the most common problems and solutions.
2) How old is the appliance?
3) Have you had trouble with the appliance before? If it has performed well it might be worth fixing instead of replacing with something unproven.
4) How much will it cost to repair the unit? (50% or more of the cost of a new unit- buy a new unit)
5) What would a similar appliance cost?
6) Are there any hidden costs to purchase? (removal, installation, disposal, tax, etc.?)
7) How difficult is it to replace the appliance? e.g. is it a built in?
8) What additional features come with the new appliance?
9) What energy savings will I get with the new appliance? Will they offset the cost of a new appliance vs. repair?
10) What tax credits are available for purchasing an energy efficient unit? Will they offset the cost of a new appliance vs. repair?
Every aspect of making your home energy efficient and healthy is important, including restoring and maintaining your terrazzo floors (terrazzo floors emit no VOC’s, resist mold and do not harbor dust mites, all of which help prevent asthma!). Added together, all the steps you take to save energy and create a healthy home ad up to a green home environment.
Look for our next blog where we will discuss the average life of major appliances.