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Jeff Hall from Ace Hardware in Nipomo shows that fixing a outside water tap with a 59-cent gasket could save you from spending almost $10 for a new tap or the cost of a plumber to fix it. //Bryan Walton/Staff
A leaky faucet. A hole in the screen door. A draft under the door.
Those little annoyances in your home can cost big money, but repairing them needn't drive a big nail through your budget.
Fix a leaking toilet to save water. Parts should cost under $25, as long as you already have the tools.
Change the filter on your furnace or air conditioner. They can cost as
little as $1, or up to $15 if you need a high-efficiency filter.
At least once a year - and some experts recommend twice - replace the battery on your smoke alarm. In the case of a fire, you'll save lives and possibly property. Mark the date you'll need to change it again on next year's calendar.
Wrap an extra layer of insulation around your water heater, especially if it's an older model.
Install door sweeps and foam insulation around doors and windows to save on heating and cooling costs and keep out bugs.
Get a motion sensor for the lights in your bathroom and for outdoor lighting. They'll turn off if someone forgot to turn the lights off after a shower, or go on if somebody's lurking around your house. These can run up to $50, but you can buy some models for under $20.
If you're more advanced in the home repair field, repair your screen door if it's damaged. You'll be encouraged to open a door instead of using air conditioning.
Clean your rain gutters. You can climb a ladder and
do it by hand, or use a special tool that hooks up to the hose. This will prevent the rain
gutter from getting clogged
up and pulling away from
the fascia board.
SOURCES: Richard Harrison, owner of Ace Hardware in Lompoc, and Jeff Hall, manager at Ace Hardware in Nipomo.
Bettina Adragna can be reached at 739-2220 or at
badragna@santamariatimes.com.
August 24, 2008
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