| By :
Mark Etinger
Congratulations! Your new home is a sanctuary, a refuge from the trials of the external world. But before you kick off your shoes and put your feet up, there are some things that you need to get started on the right foot. 1. Call the Utility Companies: Gas, water, electric, cable, telephone, garbage services, and a host of other companies will make your life function. 2. Label Your Circuitry: Find your main circuit breaker, and if it's not already, label each one. 3. Change Your Address: Call up the regular mailers, magazine companies and credit card companies to alert them that you have moved. You can change your address online at the post office website. 4. Home Warranty Insurance: Now that you have made an investment of such a large size, you want to protect it. Home warranty insurance can help you down the road if your central heating or your dishwasher breaks. Home warranty service can wind up saving you a lot of money on maintenance issues. 5. Insulation Station: Check your attic to see if you need more installation. Make sure there's at least 6 inches or else you could wind up spending a lot more money on heating and cooling than you ought to. 6. Install a Thermostat: When you have a programmable thermostat you can allow your home temperature to fluctuate when you are at work or sleeping in order to save money. When you want the home to be a certain temperature, you program it for a specific time. 7. Lower Your Water Temperature: No one uses water hotter than 120 degrees – you can be burned if you do. Set your water heater down to this level, since it is the most energy efficient. 8. Maintenance: Remember that every month you should check to see that your home is working properly. When you first move in, walk around your home with a checklist to see that your appliances are functional and what they will need to remain that way. For example, if you have central heating and cooling, make sure that weeds and debris don't build up around it, since they can ultimately cause malfunctions. Other appliances that need maintenance include: Garbage Disposal: Clean it by grinding ice cubes and running water. Run water while it's in use and for a few seconds after it's off. Dishwasher: The water filters at the bottom need to be replaced regularly. Use the appropriate amount of detergent. Refrigerator: Clean the shelves of your fridge every 3 months and keep it at 37 degrees Fahrenheit. If you take all these steps you will be on your way to living in a greener, more cost efficient home. You won't see issues down the line and you will live more comfortably and proudly.
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