Now that summer's over and vacations are behind us, many Canadians are buying new fall wardrobes or returning to their routine at the local gym. But while most of us look on this time of year as a good time to get ourselves in trim, what about our most important investment?
Fall is also a good time to shape up your home. A few simple changes can make it run more smoothly and safely and perhaps even save you some money in the process.
* Why not start by making your home more energy efficient? There are many ways to do it for a minimal expense. For an investment in the $50 range, you can buy a thermostat timer that will allow you to pre-set your thermostat controls. You can set it to turn itself down a few degrees after you go to bed each night and turn the temperature back up each morning.
* Dimmer switches, insulating window blinds and the new long-lasting light bulbs are also good energy - and money - savers.
* You should also devote some attention to keeping your home and loved ones safe. Be sure that you have a working smoke alarm (and that means checking the batteries every season) for every floor of your house and outside each bedroom area. You may also want to consider installing Carbon Monoxide detectors as an additional safety measure.
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* If your thoughts run to safety of another kind, you may want to consider a home security system. Some home insurance companies will offer lower premiums if you have a security system, so again your savings may offset the cost of this valuable home improvement.
* Have your furnace inspected to be sure it's running safely and efficiently before you turn on the heat this fall. Your energy savings may even cover the cost of the inspection and the peace of mind it delivers is priceless.
* Cleaning your air ducts will also help your forced air heating system to run more efficiently and more cost effectively. And you'll breathe easy in a fresher atmosphere
