5 Home Improvements That Will Save Money on Your Arlington Utility Bill

What's your priority for your Arlington home: boosting aesthetic appeal and property value, or reducing energy costs, so you can save money? Fortunately you don't have to choose. There are a number of Arlington home improvements that can increase curb appeal and property value while at the same time lowering the amount that you're paying on your monthly utility bill.

The best part is, you don't need to deal with the hassle of hiring multiple independent contractors who only specialize in a narrow list of home improvements. Your local Arlington handyman can take care of each one of these projects quickly and efficiently, leaving you with an attractive, well-maintained home that is running at peak efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, households can save as much as 30% on their energy bills by implementing simple home improvements.

If you need home improvements for your Arlington property, rely on Mr. Handyman of Arlington, Mansfield and Grapevine to get your home in the best condition it has seen since it was built! Our experienced service professionals are committed to always delivering high-quality workmanship and attentive customer service. We’re here to help with Arlington home improvements—and much more!

1. Window Repair & Replacement

There's a good reason why we're putting this Arlington home improvement service in the number one spot. Most people tend to think of damaged windows as being a mess of smashed glass, but most issues that warrant window repair or replacement are actually more subtle and can be difficult to recognize.

Windows often lose energy efficiency when the frames suffer from wear and tear over time or are degraded by wood rot. The rotten wood softens and crumbles apart, letting in air drafts that change the temperature in your home and force your HVAC system to use more energy to compensate. Even if your window frames are still in decent condition, older windows simply do not hold in heat as the new models of customizable, energy-efficient windows. This is doubly true if you have a historic home with single-pane windows. Having your Arlington handyman complete an expert installation to replace deteriorated, inefficient windows will make a big difference on your energy bill.

As an added bonus, the dozens of window styles available make window replacement projects an ideal opportunity to drastically change the look of your entire home, inside and outside. While this type of home improvement is a considerable investment, window replacement offers an excellent return on investment if you're thinking of selling your house in the near future.

2. Siding Repair

Your siding protects your house from a wide variety of potential damage caused by everything from harsh weather to wildlife attacks in Arlington. You may be picturing a feral hog charging at your house, but if you have wood siding, you know the real problem is that annoying woodpecker.

When your siding is suffering from issues such as holes, cracks, gaps, and missing pieces, it can't carry out its duty as your home's first line of defense. Moisture could seep into the walls, causing your drywall to soften and crumble. It also causes internal and external trim to rot. The effects are similar to what happens with deteriorated window frames: the ability to seal in heat or cool air is compromised, which forces your heating and cooling system to work overtime to make up for the loss. This, of course, requires increased energy use and raises your energy costs. That’s why fixing damaged siding is an essential Arlington home improvement.

3. Gutter Cleaning & Repair

Gutter cleaning and gutter repair are two of the basic home improvements that tend to be neglected by Arlington homeowners, and it's not hard to understand why. It’s a dirty, difficult, and time-consuming chore to climb up on a ladder and scoop handfuls of rotting leaves, animal nests, and other debris out of your gutters. But few people realize how critical gutters are to protect their home from serious damage, such as wood rot, that can increase your utility bill—not to mention create major additional costs for water damage mitigation.

When your gutters are overflowing or broken, all the water that falls on your roof (one inch of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof produces a surprising 620 gallons) has nowhere to go and pours down the exterior wall of your house instead, causing severe problems that range from leaky roofs to cracked foundations and everything in between.

Overflowing gutters are a big source of issues in Arlington, such as window and siding deterioration, and you already know how those problems increase your utility costs. By keeping your gutters clean and in good repair, your Arlington handyman can help you avoid a multitude of problems that have a negative impact on both your curb appeal and your bank account.

4. Porch Screening & Awning Installation

While this may seem like a surprising home improvement suggestion, installing a screened-in porch or shading your house with an awning can go a long way towards making your home more energy efficient and increasing your property value—especially if your house gets a lot of direct sunlight.

When the sun beats down on your house, it heats up the exterior wall and increases the temperature inside. That has the effect of, you guessed it, making your HVAC system use more energy. Screening in a porch or adding awnings that shade windows and parts of the wall where the sun shines directly is a helpful improvement that will block heat, giving your air conditioner a break, so it doesn't cost you as much. It also expands your outdoor living space and gives you a nice, shady place to relax outdoors, which increases property value in Arlington and helps to convince prospective buyers to seal the deal.

5. Water Heater Insulation

This is one of the simplest Arlington home improvements your local handyman can implement to help you keep money in your bank account. Conventional water heaters use a huge amount of energy by constantly heating a large tank of water so it's available whenever you turn on the tap. Fitting your hot water tank with a cozy foil jacket to help it hold in heat is a simple improvement that will reduce the amount of energy the water heater needs to keep the water hot at all times.

Pro Tip: Lower Temperature on Water Heater

Want to further decrease your water heating costs? There's an easy way to do that—just turn down the temperature on your water heater. Most units are set at 140 degrees by default, but that's not really necessary. You want a nice, hot shower, but you don't want to be scalded, which is why most people mix in cold water to lower the temperature. By turning it down by just 20 degrees, you'll save money, and the water will still be as hot or hotter than you want it to be.

Trust Your Local Arlington Handyman to Implement Home Improvements

Whether you're in Arlington or a nearby area such as Coppell, Hurst, or Southlake, you can rely on Mr. Handyman of Arlington, Mansfield and Grapevine for expert workmanship and exceptional customer care for all home improvement projects.

Pick up the phone and call at 817-567-2433 to speak with our friendly customer service staff about your current home improvement needs.