5 Important Upgrades for Your Home

Your home should be a place where you feel totally at ease. Making your home more functional and comfortable is a fantastic way to make you and your family enjoy the time that you spend there together even more than you already do. Here are five ways that you can update your home for the better.

1. Install a Renewable Energy Source

Having a renewable energy source is a great way to make your home life more sustainable and also increase the value of your home. A growing number of homeowners are moving towards making this important change for both environmental and economic advantages. The solar panel cost for homeowners can be significantly offset by the ongoing savings that it can offer on your monthly energy bill. You can get panels that power some or even all of your home, and you can install a system that you can add to later on.

2. Update Your HVAC System

An HVAC system that’s ten or fifteen years old probably isn’t performing as well as it used to. This is especially likely to be the case if your system hasn’t been well maintained over the years. Condensers and air handlers need to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent buildup that can interfere with their ability to operate effectively. A new system will be more energy efficient, and most service companies and manufacturers include a five to ten year warranty on parts. You might also consider a service contract so you won’t have to worry about the cost of ongoing maintenance to help your new system meet its expected lifespan.

3. Replace Old Windows

Your home’s windows could be causing a substantial drain on your heating and cooling costs. Even a brand new and top of the line HVAC system will struggle to keep up with drafty old windows. If you haven’t replaced your home’s windows in more than a decade or two, you may need to think about an upgrade. New windows can raise your home’s value, save on your energy costs, and also offer important protection against water intrusion. Poor seals can cause water to seep into your home’s siding or foundation, and a serious weather event could cause a deluge of water inside of your home. For the best protection against severe weather, consider impact resistant windows that will stand up to hurricane force winds.

4. Upgrade Your Flooring

If any area of your home has very worn-looking wall-to-wall carpeting, you’re probably less than thrilled with how it looks and feell. Regular vacuuming alone isn’t sufficient to thoroughly clean deep down into a carpet’s fibers. Also, old carpeting can trap lingering odors. While you may have gone nose-blind to the smell, it may be readily apparent to your guests. Consider an easy to maintain flooring option such as eco-friendly laminate flooring. It's made from sustainably sourced materials, much simpler to clean than carpet, and wears well over time.

5. Re-Tile Your Bathroom

It may seem like retiling a bathroom offers only aesthetic appeal, but it can help you avoid considerable damage to your home. When the grout that holds tiles in place wears down, it can cause water intrusion into your walls and even cause mold to form. Furthermore, grout degradation can tend to look dirty despite your most attentive and ardent efforts to clean it. Re-tiling your bathroom will give it a fresh and clean look that you simply couldn’t attain when the grout on your floors and walls is coming apart. Also, new grout will prevent mold from penetrating deep into your flooring and drywall.

Home improvements don’t have to cost a fortune, and they don’t have to be a headache. Bear in mind that you don’t have to take everything on all at once. You can take on one project at time. Get help from reputable service providers in your area so you’ll be likely to be happy with the finished product.