Homeowners Tips That Will Save You Money Part 2 of 9

Save time and money by learning these easy to do homeowner tips.

Home repair technicians claim that about 30% of the calls they receive come from problems that are solved by pushing a button or flipping a switch. Save money, time, and aggravation by educating yourself to troubleshoot common problems around the house.

Check a Warm Refrigerator’s Temperature Dial  Make sure it hasn’t been adjusted to a warm setting. Kids may have turned it, or someone might have bumped the knob. Ensure that food containers don’t block the fridge and freezer compartments’ vents. They supply the flow of cold air. Blocking vents can greatly reduce the life of the motor.

Press the Reset Button on GFCIs  Sometimes all the bathroom outlets or several exterior lights are powered through a single GFCI (the red button in the middle of some outlets) located in one bathroom or elsewhere, such as in a basement. If there’s an outage, push the reset button on the GFCI, and your electric could be restored without paying an electrician to come out and investigate.

Test the Outlet  If any electronic item suddenly won’t turn on, don’t immediately assume it’s broken. Plug in a clock or lamp to make sure the outlet works.

Inspect the Breaker  When a light goes out or a switch doesn’t work, check the main electrical panel for a tripped circuit breaker. Look for a switch that’s not in line with the others. Flip it to the off position if it’s not fully to the side and then back on.

In part 3 we will discuss how to reduce utility bills.