12 Broadcaster Press Spring April 12, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Home Improvement Top 5 Home Projects to Help Save Money It’s remodeling season, and with so many projects on the to-do list, which should you tackle first? While some projects provide great longterm return on investment, a few simple ones can provide instant savings. Here are the top home spring projects to help you save money: Caulk around windows and doors: stop air leaks around your home by sealing existing gaps and cracks. Use caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows. Installing a door sweep is also a good idea. Insulate your home and use insulation with a high R-value, such as Roxul Comfortbatt, which can be used to top up insulation in your attic. Aim for an R-value of 50 or a depth of 16 inches. For whole home efficiency, ensure other areas of your home, such as crawl spaces, basement headers, walls and ceilings, are well insulated. It will keep your house cool in the warm weather and take the stress off your air conditioning unit. Clean your AC unit come spring: it’s not uncommon to find an air conditioners condenser and compressor blocked up with dirt and debris. This can result in greater stress on the unit, causing it to work harder. Giving it a thorough cleaning is easy and can help maximize your AC unit’s service life while minimizing your energy bill. Plant trees direct sunlight: this can heat up surfaces and building materials, as well as the interior temperature of your home. Consider planting trees in strategic locations to provide shade and reduce cooling costs. Install a rain barrel: Water is an important, but costly resource. Installing a rain barrel is an easy and affordable measure to reduce your water consumption, while keeping your lawn and garden looking great. These simple home maintenance tasks can be well worth the effort, potentially providing hundreds of dollars in annual savings. nMetro Creative Connections Did you know? In its 2015 Cost vs. Value Report, return than replacing existing sidRemodeling magazine found that ing with new fiber-cement siding, a a midrange kitchen remodeling project that recouped homeowners project, which cost an average of a greater than 84 percent return at nearly $57,000 during the period resale. More information about the examined, recouped roughly 68 2015 report is available at www. percent of that cost at resale. That remodeling.hw.net. return was slightly less than that nMetro Creative Connections provided by midrange bathroom remodeling projects, which provided a 70 percent return at resale. More upscale remodeling projects provided even smaller Finest Flooring Available • Professionally Installed returns, despite costing substantially more money. For example, the cost of major upscale kitchen remodeling projects averaged $113,000 during the time studied for the report. But only 59 percent of that sizable investment provided was recouped at resale. Upscale bathroom remodeling projects also underperformed compared to midrange projects, recouping slightly less than 60 percent at resale. No upscale project referenced in the report provided a greater Mullinix Carpet 605-660-8136 • Wakonda, SD Save $20 off an AC Tune-Up! Only from Kalins Indoor Comfort Mention this ad and receive $20 off an AC Tune-Up* AC Tune-Ups should be done by a Kalins Licensed Technician... Why? • We have over 95 years in the business • Tune-Ups Prevent costly breakdowns •Tune-Ups Extend the life of your equipment *Offer good through 5.1.16 Kalins Indoor Comfort services all makes and models Chris Rederick Service Technician 10 Years of Experience When You Want Comfort…You Want Kalins! Vermillion: 888.871.2635 • Yankton: 888.409.8094 • Sioux City: 888.706.4544 kalinsindoor.com Simple Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Ride Running Motor vehicles are sizable investments that, for many people, trail only homes and educations in terms of the biggest expenses they will ever have. So it’s in drivers’ best interests to take every step possible to protect their investments and keep their vehicles running smoothly as long as possible. While knowledgeable mechanics can be invaluable resources, drivers can take several minor, simple steps to keep their cars running smoothly for years to come. Perform weekly visual inspections. Few drivers take the time to look at their vehicles once those vehicles lose their new car luster. But visual inspections can help drivers find problems that, though minor, may impact their vehicles’ performance. For example, a routine examination of vehicle tires can indicate if those tires are properly inflated. Poorly inflated tires can decrease fuel efficiency and affect the overall safety of a vehicle. If tires appear flat, check their pressure and inflate them to the levels listed in your owner’s manual. Look for fluid leaks. Another telltale and easily identifiable sign that a vehicle needs some maintenance is the sight of fluids beneath the car. If you notice puddles or stains beneath where you normally park your car, your vehicle may be leaking fluids. Note the color and consistency of the fluid and then call your mechanic to determine which fluid is leaking and how to fix the problem. Stick to manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules. Whether your vehicle is brand new or has some tread on its tire, consult the owner’s manual for manufacturer recommendations with regard to changing fluids and replacing filters. Many recent models can now be driven roughly 5,000 miles before they need an oil change, but check your owner’s manual for the guidelines established by your vehicle’s manufacturer, and adhere to that schedule religiously. If you drive an older car, recognize that the vehicle may benefit from more frequent oil changes and tuneups. In addition, read the manual for additional guidelines, such as how often to replace the air filter, headlight, turn signal and brake lamps, windshield wipers, and other vehicle parts that can wear down over time. Look under the hood as well. While many drivers feel that the area beneath their vehicles’ hoods is best left to the professionals, you can still lift up the hood every so often to see if there are any glaring problems that demand attention. Inspect rubber belts for signs of wear and tear, and know that such belts may need to be replaced every 50,000 miles or even more frequently depending on your driving habits. Lifting the hood is also necessary when checking fluid levels, which you should check periodically and before and after any long trips. Drivers who notice or suspect damage when performing simple vehicle maintenance should bring these concerns to the attention of their mechanics as soon as possible. nMetro Creative Connections WWW.BROADCASTERONLINE.COM