Archives for September 2018

Repair or Replace? How to Tell

When an appliance or tool breaks, it can often be difficult to decide whether you should repair it or get a new one. The difference in expense can be hard to figure out and the decision can be a struggle. In the following article, Consumer Reports tells us how we can make a more educated decision, and hopefully save some money along the way.

“Repairing broken items or keeping them going as long as possible isn’t always the best way to save money,” says Celia Kuperszmid-Lehrman, Deputy Content Editor of Home and Appliances for Consumer Reports. “Our report spells out how much repairs usually cost, brands that breakdown and those that don’t, and cheap fixes you can handle to save money.”

Tips on How to Save

Consumer Reports surveyed 29,281 subscribers about their product experiences as part of its 2013 Online Annual Questionnaire. Here’s what consumers need to know:

• Products aren’t breaking faster. The repair rates of most products in the latest survey are similar to the 2010 survey results. Some products are breaking less often. For example, laptops had a repair rate of 24 percent, down from 36 percent in 2010.
• Avoiding a lemon. Check Consumer Reports’ “What Breaks and What Doesn’t” lists for the most temperamental product types and – from repair-history surveys – the most and least reliable brands for each. GE electric ranges were reliable, for example, while Jenn-Air and KitchenAid were both repair-prone brands, according to the survey. 
• Save money on repairs. People who used independent repair shops were more satisfied with the repairs than those who used factory service. No matter who does the repair, don’t spend more than 50 percent of the cost of a new product on repairing an old one.
• Warranties don’t improve satisfaction. People who had a service contract or an extended warranty weren’t any happier with their repairs. They were actually more likely to have had repairs done incorrectly the first time around than people without those contracts and waited at least two weeks for repairs.

Source: Consumer Reports

 

6 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

These days, it seems everyone is improving their efforts to be more sustainable. From ride sharing to recycling, “green” is on the tip of nearly everyone’s tongue. But how green is your home? There are some easy steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your home, which not only helps the environment—it saves you big bucks.

Below are six ways you can make your home more energy efficient.

1. Begin by focusing on those small cracks and crevices around doors and windows. According to Lowe’s, a 1/8-in. space between a standard exterior door and its threshold is equivalent to a 2 sq.-in. hole in the wall. Close those gaps to save up to 15 percent in heating and cooling costs and also reduce the demand on your heating and cooling system.  

2. Lower your water heater’s thermostat setting; less heat means less fuel, and you likely don’t need your shower scalding.

 

3. Blanket or insulate the water heater to reduce the amount of heat lost by the unit, particularly if it is located in an unheated area.4. Insulate water pipes, at least the hot water pipes, to prevent heat loss that can cause your water heater to work harder.

   5. Change furnace filters to prevent reduced airflow through the heating/cooling system and overheating that can lead to premature compressor damage in the A/C systems.

   6. Install water-saving shower heads, and, if possible, purchase a water-saving toilet.