The state of the U.S. economy has given the Fed confidence to increase interest rates for the better part of two years. As recently as June 2017, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rested at 3.9%. Today, the rate on 30-year fixed mortgages has jumped to 5.04%. In 2018 alone, the interest rate on 30-year fixed mortgages has jumped slightly more than a point, but I...
You’ve dreamed of owning a home for as long as you can remember. But lately, your dream’s been more like a driving force than a twinkling in the eye. Perhaps your friends are all buying homes and pressuring you to do the same. Or maybe your rent just went up again. Whatever the case, you just can’t wait another year to buy. There’s just one thing: You aren’t quite sure you...
Expert, unbiased guide to buying the best type of insulation for your home. Includes help with how much insulation is needed and the right type. Are you spending too much on your energy bills? If your home’s insulation isn’t up to snuff, you may well be. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 44% of the energy used in the average American home goes toward heating and cooling. If your attic,...
Sizing a Room Air Conditioner Before buying a room air conditioner, check its BTU rating to make sure you buy the proper size. Room air conditioners perform best when they are sized properly. Pick a unit with a cooling capacity that is right for the room where it will be installed. A too-small unit won’t cool a room adequately, but an over-sized air conditioner will cycle on and off, wasting energy,...
Hard water comes from aquifers and other underground sources that collect dissolved minerals from rock—particularly calcium, magnesium carbonate, and manganese. These minerals give water undesirable characteristics that collectively are dubbed “hardness." The severity of hardness is measured by grains (of mineral) per gallon (GPG) or, in some cases, by parts per million of mineral (PPM). One GPG equals...
1. Test your garage door opener monthly to ensure that it reverses when it hits an obstruction or when its sensor beam is interrupted. 2. Vacuum the clothes dryer's exhaust duct at least once a year. If the duct is plastic, replace it (it's a fire hazard). Rigid sheet-metal ducting is best. 3. Replace furnace filters quarterly, or as recommended by the furnace manufacturer. 4. Test all...
Annual Maintenance Matters With normal use, your air conditioner collects dust and debris, and sustains wear. After just one season, this dust and wear is enough to reduce the system’s energy efficiency. It also strains the components, causing unnecessary wear and leading to early component failure. There are a few things you can do to keep your system in shape. This includes changing the...
