The overall costs of owning and maintaining a home in Tampa has increased. Homeowners insurance and property taxes continue to increase all of the time. Finally, even utility costs associated with a residence in Tampa, across the State of Florida and around the country have also increased.
Fortunately, in Tampa and in most of Florida, the wintertime is famous for its great temperatures. However, there are some steps that you nonetheless need to take to work to decrease the costs associated with utilities for your home during the coming winter months - indeed, steps that you can take the year around to lower the utility costs associated with your home.
The bottom line is that summer or winter, the biggest energy wasters are air leaks associated with your residence. In fact, industry analysts maintain that leaks account for upwards to forty percent of the energy loss associated with residential property. These leaks can occur whether you are trying to cool a home on hot days or trying to warm a home on cooler days.
Here are some steps that you can (and should) take in order to reduce the air leaks in your home and lower your energy costs.
* Caulk around windows, doors and other cracks to eliminate air escape.
* Secure weather stripping (available at home stores) at the foot of your door to stop drafts.
* Use plastic window sheeting on the interior of windows for extra insulation.
* Hire a professional to inspect and clean your chimney (if you have one) to avoid poor ventilation.
* An un-insulated basement can account for up to 33% of the total energy loss in the house per the Department of Energy. Your house should have adequate insulation in your ceiling. An attic with at least 63 of insulation is efficient or at least 23 over the top of the ceiling joists.
* Make sure that you have your air conditioning and furnace units regularly inspected to make certain that they are in top operating condition.
* Clean or replace your air filters to help avoid clogging.
* Remove dust and lint from the burner compartment in your furnace.
* A high-efficiency furnace can cost more to install, but could save you around 15% of the heating bill. If your furnace was made prior to 1990, you should consider a newer model for long-term savings. Make sure your furnace is sized properly. Larger than necessary furnaces lose efficiency and cost more to run. Do not block registers with furniture.
By following these tips, you will be in the best possible position to lower the costs associated with maintaining your home the entire year around.
Lance Mohr is a full time, full service licensed broker associate with Keller Williams Realty. He has many years of experience helping families buy and sell Tampa Real Estate. Please feel free to copy any of his articles as long as you credit the author and retain the link to his website above.
Tags: Tampa real estate
