Lifestyle

When winter arrives, it can be tempting to think that a good clean up can wait until spring. However, there are some important jobs to do during the winter months that will help to protect your home and make sure that your garden is ready for spring. This year, why not spend some time winter cleaning your home, so you can make the most of spring when it finally appears?

Here are some winter jobs you should start with.

Clear gutters and check your roof tiles

If you have tiles on your roof, then it is a good idea to have them checked before every winter, so that you can have repairs done before the bad weather damages your home with potential leaks. You should be able to find a service that will check your tiles for you and clear your guttering, as this is another important job that will stop your guttering breaking, blocking, or overflowing.

Jet wash the patio

Over winter, when it gets colder, your patio is likely to get slippery, which could be dangerous. This is why getting it jet washed will ensure that there is no potentially slippery mud and debris. You can usually hire professional help to jet wash for a reasonable price, and in this case it is important to check that they have suitable insurance such as pressure washing insurance by Next Insurance in case they cause any damage to your home or garden. As well as being safer to walk on, your garden will look much tidier once the patio is jet washed.

Put garden furniture away

If you have any garden furniture, you can protect it by storing it away for winter, or covering it with suitable materials to protect it from the bad weather throughout the winter when it is not being used.

Have a clear-out

Traditionally, people tend to have their big clear out in the spring but why wait until then? If you have a family who gets a lot of big gifts over Christmas, then you probably find that you run out of room in the house to fit everything in. This is why it is a good idea to do your clear-out before Christmas. This also means that you can take your clothes, toys, and similar items to charity shops, which will hopefully be able to help people over Christmas time.

Clear the outside of your windows

If you haven’t been able to clean the outside of your windows for a while, winter is a good time to do so, seeing that this is the time when they are usually dirtiest with the debris from nearby trees having settled around your window frames in autumn. If you like putting up lights around the exterior of your home for Christmas, then you can do them at the same time, instead of getting the ladders out twice. Having clean windows will add some extra sparkle to your lights.

Why wait until spring to do your interior and exterior clean when these important tasks all need to be done in winter?

When you can have all the water you want by turning on the faucet, it seems silly to have a water tank, right?

Wrong. Water tanks don’t only help the earth, but they can save you money on bills as well.

Think of how many things you use water for in your home. The dishwasher, your shower, flushing the toilet, rinsing dishes, washing your hands – and more!

Every time you use that water, you’re paying a company for it. You pay them to filter it for you, to deliver it through the pipes, and even, in some cases, to come to turn your access on!

That’s a lot of money you’re spending on something that falls freely from the sky.

If you invest a one-time in a water filtration system and buy one of the best water storage tanks below, you can cut your usage in half- if not more!

Plus, you’re saving the energy it takes for the water to get to you from the company, and that, in turn, helps save our dying earth.

The Best Water Storage Tanks: Size Matters

When you’re buying a water storage tank, you need to think about what size you need. Containers are graded in liters, or sometimes gallons, depending on where you live.

The size of the water tank that’s right for you depends on what you’re using the water for.

If you’re keeping water on hand to drink in case of an emergency, you can get away with multiple 3-5 gallon stackable tanks.

But if you’re using it for a business, you’ll need much, much more than that.

When you shop with The Water Tank Factory, you can choose between 340-liter options, all the way up to hundreds of thousands of liters.

Keep in mind that if you are consuming this water, it will still need to be filtered. You’ll have to set up a separate water filtration system to use your water-tank water for consumption.

Characteristics of Great Water Tanks

There are a few things to look for when you buy a water tank, other than size.

You want to make sure they’re made out of high-quality plastic, or even metal. If you buy a soft-plastic tank, chemicals from the plastic can sink into your water, poisoning it over time.

Consider where you’ll store these water tanks too. Some larger cisterns can be buried underground or concealed in a room, depending on what you’re using them for.

Finally, keep costs in mind when shopping for water tanks. The larger and higher quality they are, the more expensive they should be.

Water Tanks for Homes and Businesses

The best water storage tanks for one person aren’t necessarily the best for another. Don’t be afraid to shop around and make sure you’re getting the best selection and the best deal.

It’s your money and your water, after all!

For more helpful lifestyle articles like this, browse our blog categories, above.

Artificial grass?

When did people start putting fake grass in their yards? People have been using fake synthetic grass in their yard for years now.

While it might not be common, people are starting to see the benefit of fake grass. The benefits are especially clear in areas where it might be difficult to grow grass.

Continue reading this article and learn more about the benefits of fake grass so you can see if it’s right for you.

1. Durable

If you have kids and pets that like to play rough out in the yard, you’re going to love artificial grass. This durable grass can stand up to even the roughest playmates.

You’ll be glad to know that it has a long life expectancy even if kids are pets are present.

2. Appearance

If you’re worried that people are going to hate the way your yard makes the neighborhood look, you must be thinking about turf of years gone by. Artificial turf looks amazing now and you’ll be the envy of your neighbors.

You’ll likely see a few of them changing over to artificial turf themselves.

3. Save Water

If you live in an area where there are issues with lack of water then artificial grass is a no-brainer for you. If you use too much water when you’re under a water watch, you could get fined.

Taking showers and even running the pool shouldn’t get you into trouble but if you’re watering the lawn frequently, that can get up to a lot of water.

Those that live in the West are likely some of the best candidates since that is where many residents go through water bans.

4. Mud Puddles Be Gone

Even if you live in an area that doesn’t get a lot of rain, your yard can get puddles and mud when you run your sprinklers. If your kids or fido decide they want to play, you’re likely to find some of the mud from your yard has made its way into your otherwise clean house.

There is really no way you can keep your yard from having puddles without redoing your landscape and this can be pretty expensive.

5. Set It And Forget It (Almost)

Once you’ve got your synthetic turf installation finished, you’re pretty free and clear when it comes to maintenance. No more riding the mower around your yard, or even worse — pushing the mower!

Blow off the debris that might make its way to your yard and keep an eye out for anything your pets might leave behind and you’re pretty much good to go.

Is Artificial Grass In Your Future?

Now that you know more about these artificial grass benefits, are you ready to get yours?

If you’re not ready to stop learning, we have many other articles on our site that can help with your DIY projects and beyond.

Browse our site, find your favorite section, drop a bookmark and come back soon for more great reads.

If you want to protect your home and make it a pleasurable place to live, you should start by handling your plumbing utilities. Each bathroom in your home should have shower filters that deliver nothing but the purest most comfortable water possible.

This is particularly useful if you live in a community that has hard water problems.

When you’re shopping around, it pays to look for the best shower filters that you can find. Consider these shower filter models below.

The Best Shower Filters on the Market

Hard water is an issue a lot of people deal with, that can have plenty of undesired results.

The water is considered “hard” when it has a lot of calcium and magnesium deposits. If you have hard water in your shower, it can leave deposits and soap scum on your skin, make it hard to get a lather, stain your tub and shower, and cause minerals to build up inside of your pipes.

In order to avoid this, you need to spare no expense when it comes to buying one of the following shower filters:

1. Filtap

You absolutely can’t go wrong with a Filtap shower filter.

This shower filter uses a 4-stage alkalizer system, along with the most sophisticated filtration technology. People that install Filtap filters in their bathrooms say that the water becomes cleaner and chemical-free, which also makes your home more eco-friendly.

2. AquaBliss Universal

By using the AquaBliss Universal shower filter, you’re making an investment in your beauty as much as you are your bathroom. This shower filter is known to rid your water of its impurities, which allows you to have stronger and longer hair, along with healthier nails and skin.

Having this filter is a must if you have a sensitive scalp and want to regrow and condition damaged hair.

2. Berkley Shower Filter

This shower filter gets rid of 95 percent of chlorine build-up and deposits. As such, you can prevent scaling and dryness, while also keeping your tub and shower as clean as possible.

People love this shower head because of its ability to protect your health and the fact that it has a long lifespan of use.

3. Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe

You will enjoy this shower filter because it is completely adjustable. It is an eco-friendly model since it uses carbon from coconuts to filter out impurities.

People that use this filter in their shower report that it is simple to install and cost-effective.

Purchase the Best Shower Filters For Your Bathroom

These are some of the best shower filters you fill find anywhere. You will be glad that you have them once you’re able to bypass your hard water problems and keep your shower gleaming and scale-free.

The three shower filters above are useful for any bathroom in your home. Not only will you enjoy a safer bathroom environment, but your filtered shower water will also help improve your hair, skin, and nails.

Consider these tips and check back for more home design advice.

Interested in renting an apartment? You might find that a good one is hard to come by.

There are more than 20 million apartments situated throughout the country at the moment. But experts are warning that the U.S. needs for almost 5 million new apartments to be built between now and 2030 to keep up with the rising demand for them.

It’s not always easy to track down a great apartment in a city of town, even if you’re very familiar with the area. But by learning how to pick an apartment, you can give yourself an advantage over others searching for apartments and put yourself in a better position to find the right one for your lifestyle.

Check out some useful tips that will help you choose an apartment below.

Look for an Apartment in the Right Location

You’ve no doubt heard the cliche “location, location, location” used time and time again in reference to real estate. But there’s a good reason for that: Location is the most important aspect when shopping around for a home or apartment.

If you absolutely love spending time shopping and eating out in the middle of a big city, the last thing you want to do is rent an apartment on the outskirts of town where you won’t be able to do those things. You need an apartment situated near the places you like to be day in and day out.

Your apartment should also be at least semi-close to school or work so that you don’t have a hard time getting to where you need to be every day. You’re going to make life harder than it has to be by picking an apartment on the wrong side of town.

Consider Which Type of Layout You Like for an Apartment

Do you want an apartment that is one big open space—or would you prefer one that has a bunch of different rooms that each have a specific purpose?

You’re going to want to ask yourself this question before you begin looking at apartments. You can narrow down your options by choosing the type of layout that you like from the very beginning.

Some people don’t mind studio apartments at all. They’re able to use different design tricks to make them feel larger than they are.

Other people need for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas to each have their own designated areas. It’s all a matter of personal preference and what you like the most.

Create a List of Amenities That You Need in an Apartment

There are certain apartments that come with hardly any amenities at all. There are others, like these apartments, that seem to have every amenity in the world.

Which amenities do you need to see in the apartment that you rent? Do you want an apartment that has:

• Furniture already in it?
• A washer and dryer?
• A parking spot that comes with it?
• Internet and cable services included?

You will, of course, have to pay the price for these amenities. But if you consider them to be must-have items for your lifestyle, you won’t mind shelling out a little extra for them.

Check Out Who Lives in Neighboring Apartments

When you’re taking a look at an apartment, you should be prepared to scope out more than just what’s happening inside the apartment. You should also be aware of what’s going on around it and, more specifically, who is living in the apartments that surround it.

If you’re a young person who enjoys having people over and letting loose on the weekends, you might not want to rent an apartment that has nothing but families or older people living in it. If, on the other hand, you’re a middle-aged person who enjoys peace and quiet, an apartment building full of young people might not be ideal.

Try to find out who your neighbors would be if you were to move into an apartment. They could make or break the experience of living in the apartment for you.

Make Sure an Apartment Isn’t Out of Your Price Range

How much can you afford to spend on an apartment every month? This is yet another important question that you should consider prior to starting your search for one.

The average cost of an apartment in your city or town is going to depend on where you’re located. The median cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Wichita, Kansas is under $500, while the median cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Atlanta, Georgia is up over $1,500.

But generally speaking, you should take the same approach to budgeting for an apartment no matter where you live. Crunch the numbers to see what you can afford and resist the urge to talk yourself into renting something out of your price range.

Be Decisive When You Find an Apartment You Love

At some point, you’re going to find an apartment that you love while hunting around for one. It’s going to have the location you want, the layout you’re looking for, and a price that you can afford.

Don’t hesitate to say, “I’ll take it!”

When you’re thinking about how to pick an apartment, it’s very easy to overthink things. You’ll drag your feet at times and hem and haw while trying to make a decision.

If you do this, you could miss out on the perfect apartment for your lifestyle. So be decisive and snatch up an apartment as soon as you know that it’s what you want.

Learn How to Pick an Apartment Before You Begin Looking for One

Many people make the mistake of starting an apartment search without learning how to pick an apartment first. This often makes the process more stressful and challenging than it has to be.

Rather than going in blind and trying to learn how to pick an apartment on the fly, use the tips found here to prepare yourself in advance. You’ll have a much easier time finding an apartment, and you’ll enjoy the experience so much more overall.

Learn more tips for finding great apartments by poking around on our blog and reading through our other articles.

While you know that redecorating your home to give it a new feel is a refreshing experience, you likely didn’t know that there are scientifically proven health benefits to doing so.

Redecorating a room helps to improve mental health by giving the person who lives there higher self-esteem and lowering the risks of depression. It also helps people to move forward with the times ensuring they’re not mentally stuck in the past.

One of the biggest factors that makes a room great is an area rug. Since large area rugs are such a prominent feature in any room, there’s no getting around the need to find the perfect one. These central features to any room come in a variety of shapes, styles, and colors that tie the rest of the decor together.

Here, we’re going to give you a few pointers on how to choose a large area rug to go with any room in your home.

Do Your Research

Before deciding on what kind of rug you want to buy for any room in your home, it’s crucial that you do your research. This means that you’ll want to look at images on sites like Pinterest to get home decorating ideas. You can then emulate what you like and make more informed decisions about your rug purchases.

Another important thing to consider is your budget for redecorating your home. It isn’t worth going into debt because you want a ridiculously expensive rug. You’re also going to want to save for other parts of your home decor, so don’t spend all your money on one thing.

Instead, head over to this site and shop for rugs in a variety of styles at an affordable price!

Look at Varying Styles

There is an infinite amount of aesthetics for home decor, and therefore there are an infinite amount of rug types that you can choose from for your home. Some of the most common styles are shag carpets for that 80s groove, soft wool carpets that feel luxurious between your toes, and silk that gives your room an aristocratic feel.

When selecting a style of rug, whether or not you want it to be patterned is also a consideration. Solid color rugs are nice, but why not add a border to it for a multicolor scheme? Also, geometric and oriental rugs make almost any room look alive because of their creative and unique patterns.

Sizes and Shapes

Once you know the aesthetic you’re aiming for, you’ll need to take care of practical concerns regarding the size and shape of your area rug.

Before you can get shopping, get out a tape measure and figure out how much space you have to cover. Be sure that you’re precise with your measurements. A miscalculation of even an inch can look awkward, and you can’t cut part of a rug off.

You’re also going to need to consider the shape of your room when selecting a rug. Unless your space is a perfect rectangle, which is unlikely, then you may have to get creative. You can get multiple area rugs and lay them out across the space if you want to fill the entire floor up!

Consider Your Colors

It’s a scientific fact that color affects our mood. It puts us in specific states of mind, making us associate the space we’re in with certain emotions. This means that choosing the right color area rug is crucial in making your space somewhere you enjoy being.

Of course, everyone is different. We all have our own likes and dislikes, so simply getting an area rug in your favorite color and using varying shades of it for decor is a great way to go!

If you aren’t sure what you want, though, color psychology can help. For a calming, mellow space, blues are likely the right option for you. If you want to feel energized in a space used for productive purposes, yellow’s a great choice.

Decide on Your Decor

A lot of people forget to match different parts of their decor to each other, but this becomes incredibly problematic once the varying items are installed. For example, if you choose a bright pink area rug but fail to remember the forest green lamps you bought earlier, that all will clash pretty badly with your dandelion sofa.

This can also happen with patterns, and a lot of people accidentally mix and match in ways that become a terrible eyesore. If you have opposing patterns or make the room too busy by having too much going on, it can really make the head spin. Be sure that you have a good mix of similar patterns and corresponding colors.

That isn’t to say that you need to make everything exactly the shade of purple. There are productive and gorgeous ways you can mix and match your decor to make each piece both stand out and blend in.

Get Large Area Rugs

While redecorating is always a challenge, it’s also a lot of fun. Choosing an area rug for each room is one of the most fun tasks of all. After all, there’s a lot to explore and a lot of ways they can be used to give your home a fresh feel.

Now that you know how to choose the best large area rugs for every room in your home it’s time to learn more about decorating so you can draw everything together. Check out the “lifestyle” tab on our page to get more tips for living your best life.

Everyone knows that Australia is home to some nasty critters, and there is no reason why it’s a surprise. The climate provides excellent chances for numerous reptiles, creatures, and more. Not only that, but if you have loved ones or children, you want to know they’re safe, and that your pool is safe from intruders, and so much more. That’s when you’ll want to consider glass pool fencing, especially if you’re in the Gold Coast area. In this guide, we’re going to talk about how you can find and buy the best glass pool fencing on the Gold Coast.

Standards of Quality are Important

If you’re looking to build a glass pool fence, you need to know that every single panel must conform with Australian standard regulations, which state that they can’t be manufactured with equipment or in processes that are outdated, and that are conventional. Otherwise, you can also make sure that each glass panel is properly certified with the highest grade possible.

Consider Your Thickness

If you’re looking to get the most out of your glass panels, you want to ensure that your panels on average are anywhere from 6mm to 12 mm in thickness. If you’re wanting extra security, you can even choose thicker panels. Most people recommend thick panels, because they’re more durable, and can hold up to not only extreme punishment and abuse, but also from the various weather ailments that plague the Gold Coast area.

Size of the panels also matters on how choose you want to make your thickness of each individual panels. The larger the panel, the thicker it should be. This is because you’ll avoid breakage a lot more, and every panel needs to be big enough that people won’t try to climb over them and hop into your pool for security measures.

Framed or Frameless?

This is a matter of personal choice really. Some people think that framed glass panels are more secure, but that’s merely an illusion. Anything that’s glass can eventually get broken. Therefore, it’s important to know that framed glass panels, while being only a little bit more secure, can add some design elements, but it doesn’t give you the full visibility of having beautifully crafted frameless panels. That being said, you need to know this could actually make your pool more visible to people, and attract attention to your area. Not only that, but if you’re at the wrong angle, you may not see someone fall into the pool due to the fact that frames are in the way.

Conclusion

Total Vision pool fencing offers high grade quality panes of glass specifically designed for your pool or hot tub area and you can find more info here. This allows you to have full visibility, and have the elegance and style of living in luxury, even if you don’t. If you have any questions, they have accredited registration and licenses in order to professionally install any of your glass pool fencing solutions as well. The company is a family owned company and they’ve been around since the early 2000’s.

 

Bathrooms are reclaiming their throne!

Kitchen renovations are stepping down and bathrooms are stepping up. Studies show a bathroom update is the first choice for 81% of homeowners.

So, why are kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms making their way to the bottom of the to-do list? People are realizing the impact a less expensive, small scale bathroom renovation has to offer.

All across the country, homeowners are transforming their ordinary bathrooms into extraordinary spaces. On top of enjoying the space more, they also are saving money, improving reliability, increasing their home’s value, and more! Read on to learn the 5 key benefits of remodeling your bathroom.

1. Increase Value with a Bathroom Update

You can add value to your home with both major and minor bathroom renovations. A minor bathroom remodel would include things like replacing the tub, floorings, fixtures, and vanity. To add in even more value, you would want to go a step further by adding in an extra coat of paint.

If your main goal is to add value, rather than enjoy the space, you’ll want to plan accordingly. Rather than adding in the colors or decor style you prefer, you’ll need to think long term.

Will the colors you’re choosing still be trendy in the future? Renovating a bathroom just for resell purposes means having to predict what sellers will be looking for.

Avoid redoing your bathroom with any extreme new styles that only you might prefer. Instead, you’ll need to choose decorating trends that are likely to stay popular for years to come.

2. Improve Bathroom Functionality

When a bathroom isn’t intentionally designed and decorated, it invites in a hodgepodge of clutter. When you give your bathroom a makeover you can add in extra storage space to get rid of the mess.

Here are a few suggestions to improve the storage space in your bathroom:

• Extra towel rack
• Dual-purpose mirror
• Basket shelf
• Tiered storage
• Adhesive hooks

Now towels, toiletries, kids’ toys, and cleaners will all have a place to go. It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel walking into a decluttered bathroom.

On top of looking and feeling better, decluttered bathrooms are also safer. No longer will you have to worry about tripping on items laying about the floor.

Instead of looking like a disaster your bathroom will be a place of peace. An area you look forward to spending time in.

3. Save Money

You probably don’t think of saving money when you hear the words “bathroom update”. After all, aren’t updates supposed to cost money, not save it?

Well, it turns out updating your bathroom can do both! When you update your bathroom with energy-efficient technology you’ll save money over time. In some cases, the money you save outweighs the entire expense of the update.

One of the best ways to save money with your bathroom remodel is to install low-flow fixtures.

These fixtures reduce the amount of water used and the energy needed to heat the water. There are a lot of water-saving products you have to choose from.

Here are some of the different low flow fixtures that can save you money:

• Low-flow toilets
• Low-flow showerheads
• Low-flow faucets

Studies show that these water-saving fixtures can reduce water consumption by 20% or more. For example, a regular shower head uses 2.5 gallons every single minute, while a low-flow showerhead only needs to use 2 gallons of water per minute. This can save over 2,000 gallons of water every year!

4. Enjoy More Luxury

Do you dream of living a more luxurious life? A bathroom update is a fast way to turn a boring room into a special spa-like experience.

It may be hard to imagine your restroom as a place for serene relaxation. However, with a few simple additions, you can easily add in a little luxury.

The best part is, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your bathroom area appear expensive. Here are a few ways you can turn an ordinary bathroom into a place of luxury:

• Gold accents
• Potted plants
• Chic containers

Gold accents made the top of our list because of their ability to transform small spaces. Gold-toned metals will infuse your bathroom with a warm and welcoming feeling, similar to the feeling someone might have when using a bathroom at a 5-star resort.

Realistic-looking fake plants (or real potted plants, if you have a window) will help bring your bathroom space to life. Choose plants that have a fresh look to help brighten up the room. If you want to make your bathroom into a tropical paradise, pick plants that have colorful flower blossoms.

5. Re-Energize Your Day

Every day you get up and look at yourself in the mirror. What if instead of looking in a regular boring rectangular mirror, you were looking into a piece of art? Installing unusual looking mirrors can elevate your bathroom decor to a whole new level.

Try installing a larger than a normal-sized mirror that has an unusual shape. Here are a few of the different types of unique mirrors you should consider:

• Oval
• Triangle
• Circular
• Oblong

Next, make sure the mirror you choose has an original type of finish. A tortoiseshell or gold finish will be sure to help your mirror stand out from the rest.

Find Inspiration

Now you know more about the benefits of completing a bathroom update. Saving money, enjoying your space, and living in luxury are all motivating factors to start remodeling today.

As you approach your upcoming bathroom remodel, you might find yourself wondering, “Where do I begin?” If you’re looking for inspiration, make sure to check out the other articles on our site.

Approximately 87 percent of homes in the U.S. have an air conditioning system. In fact, air conditioning is more common in homes these days than garages, dining rooms, and even dishwashers.

An air conditioner is a must for many homeowners, especially those who live in warm parts of the country. They can definitely be a drain on your energy bill, though, especially when you don’t set them to the right temperature.

If you’re not sure what the best temperature is for your AC thermostat, keep reading. Listed below are some tips to help you keep your house cool and comfortable during the hottest months of the year.

Choosing the Right Temperature

First of all, how do you determine which temperature is best for your thermostat?

Setting your thermostat to one temperature will help to regulate it and ensure that your house stays cool throughout the day. That way, you don’t have to turn it on and adjust it every time things get too hot to handle.

Daytime Recommendations

During the daytime, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees. This temperature, for most people, helps them to feel cool (as long as they’re dressed for the weather) without running up their energy bills.

If you really want to lower your bill, you may want to try raising your thermostat to 85 degrees. It will be warmer inside your home, but it can also cut your cooling bill by 5-15 percent.

Nighttime Recommendations

In the evening, since it’s naturally cooler outside, you can turn your thermostat up a little higher. If you set your thermostat to 82 degrees, you can lower your air conditioning bill quite a bit.

Many people find they can still sleep comfortably while doing this. For those who prefer a cooler bedroom, though, opening the windows or running a ceiling fan can be a good compromise.

If you sleep with the windows open, just make sure you close them early in the morning while it’s still cool. This traps that cool air inside so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your house back down.

Out-of-Town Recommendations

Nobody wants to come home from vacation to an extra-hot house. At the same time, though, they also don’t want to pay a ton of money to cool down a house that no one’s living in.

When you’re heading out of town, compromise and set your thermostat a little higher (88 degrees is a good setting for most people). This will keep your house from turning into an oven, but it’ll also save you from racking up unnecessary charges on your energy bill.

Maximizing Coolness

There are lots of other steps you can take to maximize the coolness of your home without being too reliant on the air conditioner. Keep these other strategies in mind so you can keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature while also staying cool:

• Draw the curtains or close the blinds to block out sunlight during the hottest part of the day
• Seal your windows and doors to keep cold air from flowing out
• Minimize the use of heat-generating appliances like ovens, stoves, and dishwashers, during the daytime

Installing and running ceiling fans can help you to spread the cool air from your air conditioner a bit farther. Ceiling fans use way less energy than the air conditioner, too, so try to utilize them whenever you can.

Maintaining the Right Temperature

Once you’ve set your AC thermostat to your preferred temperature, chances are you want to keep your home at that temperature while the warm weather lasts. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done, though, especially if your air conditioner is not functioning properly.

If you’ve noticed that it doesn’t maintain temperature after you’ve set it, it’s possible that you need to invest in professional ac repair or more thorough ac maintenance.

Here are some tips to help you keep your air conditioner working properly:

Change the Filter

During the hottest months of the year, when you’re running your air conditioner a lot, it’s best to change the filter once per month. This helps the unit to run in the most efficient way possible. It also helps you to improve the air quality in your home.

Clean the Fins and Coils

Keep the fins and coils on your air conditioning unit clean and in good repair, too. If you notice any damage to the fins, get them replaced as soon as possible.

Bent fins can cause inefficient airflow, and dirty coils can prevent your air conditioner from absorbing heat and running in an efficient way.

Inspect the Drain

Make sure you’re inspecting the condensate drain, too. If this drain gets clogged, your air conditioner won’t drain well and could be more prone to inefficiency or breakdowns altogether.

Schedule Maintenance

Finally, don’t forget to schedule regular AC maintenance.

Have a professional come out and check your unit at least once per year to ensure everything is in good working order. This will help you catch potential problems right away before they turn into larger, more expensive issues.

Time to Adjust Your AC Thermostat

As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the ideal temperature for your AC thermostat. Everyone’s preferences are a little different, of course.

If you keep the tips listed above in mind, though, you’ll have an easier time determining the best temperature that keeps you cool in your home without causing your energy bill to skyrocket.

Do you need more advice on keeping your home cool and comfortable? If so, check out some of our other home repair and home renovation articles today. We’ve got lots of great pieces on our site that will give you all the tools you need.