Protect Your Home Investment: Increase Efficiency and Save

protect your home investment in New BedfordIt’s possible that, depending on your home’s age, you’re losing money every month on your utility bills. Every homeowner has to be aware of specific services that may help them protect their investment and keep their family secure. If you want to know what kind of home improvements and repairs might help reduce the cost of your Massachusetts homeowners insurance, contact an insurance agent in New Bedford. Protecting your New Bedford home with adequate insurance coverage is a must. If you live in the New Bedford area of Massachusetts, call Borden Insurance for a no-obligation estimate on home owner’s coverage.

There are several simple things you can do around the house to help down your heating and cooling bills. Educating yourself on thermostat management and making adjustments of just three to five degrees may significantly save your energy use and costs. Research shows that with just this little bit of work, you may save between 5 and 15 percent of your annual energy costs. Space heaters should be used sparingly in the fall and winter, and low-flow showerheads and toilets should be installed. Water conservation is often overlooked in favor of saving money on electricity or gas, but it is just as important.

Reduce Consumption: Save Money

Your household’s trash may be reduced by composting, and the resulting organic fertilizer can be utilized on your lawn or garden. A thermal barrier may be created by sealing windows and doors, which will help to keep warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer. Lighting that isn’t needed throughout the day, unused vents, and water that is being wasted due to poor practices should all be on your list of things to check. Leaving the water running while you shave or wash your teeth might be a wasteful use of precious local water resources. According to EPA research, the typical family may save $170 annually by making modest adjustments to their water consumption habits.

Unplug or switch off at the wall those zombie devices and chargers that keep sucking power even when you’re not using them; they can add up to 10 percent to your monthly energy bill. Warm water washing uses less energy and is gentler on most materials than hot water washing. Washing in cold or warm water might extend the life of your clothes. Research shows that adopting these practices can result in considerable energy savings. Many people still use incandescent lights in their homes despite the fact that they went out of vogue in 2014. Light-emitting diode (LED), compact fluorescent light (CFL), and halogen bulbs all outperform in terms of brightness, lifespan, and energy efficiency. Modern light bulbs can significantly reduce your monthly electricity expenditure.

Protect Your Home Investment

There are larger initiatives that may make an even more noticeable improvement in the way your home functions, in addition to all of these smaller, low-budget strategies to cut energy consumption and make it more efficient. Investing in more attic insulation, air leak repair, and an inspection of the insulation in the outside walls may be money well spent. Depending on your geographic location, installing solar panels might be a possibility. Before jumping into this energy option, do your homework and talk to your New Bedford house insurance agent about any questions you may have regarding installation and coverage.

You may also significantly reduce your energy costs by installing storm doors, storm windows, and other Energy Star–certified equipment. If the energy-saving changes you’ve made to your Massachusetts home qualify as “energy star” certifications, be sure to inform your homeowners insurance agent. Regular tune-ups and preventative maintenance for your HVAC system will keep it running smoothly and effectively for longer. Talk to your insurance agent if you plan on getting a new roof, new windows, or an energy audit before you make any major changes to your home. New Bedford homeowners insurance premiums might potentially be lowered by making certain enhancements. If nothing else, keeping track of the renovations can help you get fair compensation if a claim ever needs to be made.

Home Insurance in New Bedford

Contact Borden Insurance at 508-999-3636 for a no-obligation quotation on New Bedford dwelling insurance. Need help updating your home insurance policy or have concerns regarding coverage in New Bedford and the surrounding area? We’ve got you covered. Call today and find out why so many Massachusetts residents have relied on Borden Insurance since 1909 for their auto and home insurance needs.