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Metrowest MA Energy Saving Tips for the Winter Weather Season

Sunday, October 26, 2014

by Team Lynch Real Estate Consultants

For many of us in W ellesley, Natick, Needham & Weston the winter season brings visions of the holidays, winter sports and nights sitting around the fireplace wrapped up in a comforter sipping on our favorite hot drinks. For others it causes headaches and sleepless nights of cold or worries over a soaring energy bill.

Instead of worrying, there are things that can be done to limit the damage to our wallet, and still keep you and your family safe and comfortable during the winter months. Here are some “easy to do” energy saving tips to try:

GET A HOME ENERGY AUDIT-most companies will do this for free.
CLEAN & MAINTAIN YOUR HEATING SYSTEM
REPLACE BROKEN WINDOWS & DOORS
INSULATE YOUR WINDOWS
SEAL ALL LEAKS IN YOUR HOME- including where cables & pipes come into the home and around sump pump.
WEATHERSTRIP- Windows & Doors
REPAIR ROOF DAMAGE- REPLACE IF NECESSARY
MAINTAIN, REPAIR OR REPLACE WATER HEATER
WRAP (INSULATE) WATER HEATER
CLEAN FIREPLACE/CHIMNEY BEFORE SEASONAL USE
ADD ADDITIONAL INSULATION to attic, basement, exterior walls.

A few other things to do ……:

Unplug all unused appliances, and electrical components
Use Energy Star Products
Install Programmable Thermostats
Always turn off lights in rooms not being used
Turn down thermostat at night time
Make sure curtains are open during daytime (Sunshine) hours
Clear all Heating Vents of furniture or blocks of any kind

Keep in mind that if you are planning on selling your home, buyers are very conscience of energy costs associated with a home. Buyers will always ask for the prior heating and cooling records for that home. Anything you can do to make your home more energy efficient will not only help you, but will also help you sell your home at a later time. Buyers at this time are not just looking for the home to be the “beautiful home” on the outside….they need it to be the “energy efficient” home on the inside for them to grab it when it goes on the market.

If you are a Metrowest homeowner and find yourself in need of assistance this home heating season, follow this link for more information: MASS ASSIST

If you're interested in more tips or information on becoming a homeowner in the Metrowest MA area give us a call, stop in our office or check out our website at www.teamlynchrealestate.com.

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FALL HOME MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR METROWEST HOME

Saturday, September 20, 2014

by Team Lynch Real Estate Consultants

It's that time of year ... before we know it the Metrowest area will be blanketed with the beautiful colors of red, orange, and gold and the temperatures will be dipping lower. That means we need to get ourselves going and start preparing our homes to handle the demands of the upcoming cooler season. Below is a checklist of the most common Home Maintenance items that need to be done in the fall. The great news is, you can easily get them done on a weekend....and you'll be able to save a little money by tackling them now.

1. Paging Dr Heat!........It's time to get your furnace a physical. Each year you need to clean and /or replace furnace filters and wipe down any dust that has accumulated around the unit. If you hear any screeching or whines, or unusual noises with the system, you should call in to have a service technician come out and check the unit before winter season sets in. If you would like a recommendation, you can call us directly or follow this link to the people we work with and recommend: Team Lynch Business Partners.

2. Time To Get Your Mind In The Gutters! Inspect your gutters and downspouts for any clogs, and clean out the path thoroughly. Make sure this is done once the leaves are completely down from the trees at the end of the season as well. Keeping the gutters cleaned ensures that your home will not incur exterior damage to foundation walls or water in the basement. You may want to invest in mesh coverings for your gutters that will prevent any leaves or other debris from collecting in them in the future.

3. Get Yourself A View From The Top! Now that we're already talking about the top of the house we might as well stay there. It's very important to check your roof for damaged shingles before entering the winter season. Nothing is worse for a homeowner than a small drip that turns into a full blown disaster by the time they realize it's a hole in the roof! So take the time to scan the entire roof, top to bottom, looking for cracks, wind damage, curling of shingles, ones completely gone, damage to the metal flashing, etc. Once you have done your evaluation, have it repaired as soon as possible. Again, if you find yourself in need of a professional Roofer, give us a call or follow this link: Team Lynch Business Partners

4. Walk the Walk Baby! You really need to take a walk around your home, inspect every walkway surface. Damaged walkways are a hazard every day, but bad weather makes them even more dangerous. Look for large cracks, uneven payment, loose bricks or pavers, loose railings, etc. Once you've made your list head over to your local home improvement store and get to work. The little time it takes to fix could potentially save you thousands in bills later on the year.

5. CHILL OUT.....or maybe we should just say FREEZE! Make sure to shut off all your exterior irrigation systems and drain the lines of the systems and hoses. Make sure to use a styrofoam faucet cover for your outdoor faucets and make sure all valves are in the closed and off position.

6. Gather 'Round the Fire. Fall and Winter are great for having fires in the fireplace, but making sure you have cleaned out the soot and creosote buildup is critical. It is also important to clean out any cobwebs and check for any bird nests or any other unwanted pests. We recommend calling in a professional if you have any questions at all.

7. Keeping the OTHER Wood fires Burning. Wood-burning stoves have made a huge comeback over the past couple years, but like fireplaces, need to be inspected to run efficiently and safely. Be sure to read and operate by the instruction manual and maintenance as required.

8. I'm Sealing Away.... This can be a big job, but a very necessary one that can help save some green on the heating bills for the year! Walk through your home and seal any gaps and cracks around windows and doors with weather-stripping or caulk. If you are going to be using caulk- especially in places like joints, corners, & places protruding from the wall- this will need to be done before the temperatures get too cool.

9. Keep it Humming! With winters dry air many of us keep the humidifier going on a constant rotation. To ensure efficient operation make sure to clean the plates or pads every 30 days or as recommended by the manufacturer. This also helps cut down on re-circulating moisture into the air that has any mold or bacteria in it that has built up in the humidifier itself.

10. Ready....Stop, now Reverse. Help with your heating bills by changing the direction of your ceiling fans. Reverse the direction of the fans and create an upward draft that redistributes the warm air from the ceiling. Also make sure to clean the blades of the fan regularly with a soapy water mixture. Dust and bacteria builds up on the blades daily and regular use also moves that through the air as well.

11. It's a Safety Dance. Make sure your family is safe. A home safety check is a ritual that should be done twice annually in every household. Test your Smoke Detectors & CO Monitors, Inspect or Install Fire Extinguishers, Review or Make a Fire Escape Plan for your Family and rid your home of any fire hazards.

12. A Few Final Notes...... Make sure to embrace the season! Put up a great fall wreath on the front door, buy a few Mums from a local store. Visit a local orchard and pick some apples for baking a yummy Apple Pie and get ready for the pumpkins!