Ten Projects For The New Year Could Save You Money (And Your Life)

By Glenn Haege, America's Master Handyman

If you've made a New Year's resolution to get your house in order in 1996, this is my "honey-do" list for you. Some will save you time, some will save you money and some could even save your life.

This product information phone list I shared the previous two weeks was sort of my Christmas present to you. It included hundreds of hard-to-find telephone numbers for do-it-yourselfer products and services. If you were away for the holidays and missed the lists, you can find them by clicking here for Manufacturers' Reference Guide (Part One) and/or here for Manufacturers' Reference Guide (Part Two).

Here is a summary of the ten projects:

  1. Install Plug-In CO Detector
  2. Install Smoke Detectors
  3. Upgrade Your Furnace Filter
  4. Clean All Heating/Cooling Air Ducts
  5. Install Set-Up/Set-Back Thermostat
  6. Install Attic Vents
  7. More Insulation!
  8. Install Low-Flow Showerheads
  9. Install Anti-Scald Adapters
  10. Stop Leaking Toilets Now

1. Install a plug-in, not battery-powered, carbon monoxide detector in the hall leading to the bed-rooms.

Battery-powered carbon-monoxide (CO) detectors have proven to be ineffective in the field and are the prime cause of unnecessary fire department runs. Plug-in CO detectors use a different type of filter that is trouble-free.


2. Make sure there are smoke detectors on every floor; change batteries every New Year's Day.

Shop around. Many stores sell smoke detectors for less than $10. Every house should have several. Every apartment, every college dormitory room should have at least one.


3. Upgrade the furnace filter from a cheap ($1 or less) to a top-of-the-line replaceable (from $6) or washable permanent air filter ($20 to $150).

The inexpensive variety just filters the air for the furnace equipment, not for air quality. If better air quality is your goal, start by installing a better quality furnace filter. Some people worry that installing a good filter in an older furnace may cause undue strain to the blower motor. Furnace experts tell me that blower motors are, for the most part, so overpowered that this need not be a cause for concern. So put in the better filter and breathe easier.


4. Have the heating air ducts cleaned and sanitized if they have not been sanitized in the last five years.

No matter how much you filter the air in the furnace, if the ducts are dirty, the air coming out of the registers is dirty, too. Air ducts are a prime breeding ground for germs and mold spores. They should be cleaned and sanitized about once every five years and whenever a furnace is replaced.


5. Install an electric set-up/set-back thermostat.

Installing -- and using -- a set-up/set-back thermostat can save you hundreds of dollars a year on fuel.

If you are humidity conscious, ask about the Honeywell Perfect Climate Control Center Thermostat, model PC 8900. This high-end thermostat not only lets you adjust the furnace humidity level from the hall, it has an optional outdoor temperature sensor that will automatically regulate the furnace humidity level to compensate for outside weather conditions. For more info on this thermostat, write to Electronic Publishing Network at epn@mail.ic.net and in the SUBJECT: line of the message, write "HONEYWELL PC 8900 THERMOSTAT". Be sure to include your snail mail address (Street Address, City, State, Zip).


6. Install ridge and soffit vents in the attic. If the house does not have soffits, have combo vents installed.

Your attic has to breathe "in" and "out". Proper air circulation will keep your home warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and will prolong the life of your shingles and roof sheathing.


7. Install more roof and wall insulation.

More insulation with proper ventilation will save you money. Insulation provides the quickest return on your home-improvement dollar. You should have enough insulation in your home to have the attic quality for at least R38. Wall insulation should be at least R11. The higher the "R" value the better.


8. Change the shower heads to a water-regulated 2.5 to 2.9 gallons per minute model.

They will give you longer, hotter showers while saving you money. Teledyne Water Pik shower heads have the necessary features at the prices we can afford.


9. Install anti-scald turn-offs on hot water faucets and shower heads.

This is especially important if you have young children or older adults in the house. If it's time to replace faucets, Delta has lines of faucets that shut off automatically if the water gets dangerously hot. For more information on these faucets, write to Electronic Publishing Network at epn@mail.ic.net and in the SUBJECT: line of the message, write "DELTA ANTI-SCALD ADAPTER KITS".


10. Test your toilet for water leakage.

Pour food coloring (the ugliest shade you have), in the water closet and let stand for one hour. After the hour, lift the toilet lid and see if the color of the water in the bowl matches the color in the water closet. If it does, you have water leak. Replacing the flapper ball (not the float arm), will conserve water and save big bucks on your water bill.


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