DIY Home Repair That Saves You Money

Fixing your home can be easy, and can help you save a lot of money. From simple changes to your routine, to smart appliance purchasing decisions, and even making your own cleaning supplies, there are plenty of DIY home repair and maintenance tricks you can use to maintain a healthy functioning home.

Here are a few of our favorite DIY home fixes to get you started.

Super Simple Fixes

Are you limited on time, but still interested in DIY? Fortunately, many fixes like these require only a minimal amount of effort.

• Close closet doors. By closing doors to your closet, hallway, or garage, you’re effectively lowering the square footage that needs to be heated or cool. It also improves insulation, reducing air leakage in rooms that are not often used. You can save around $50 per year on your energy bills.
• Lower the thermostat on the water heater. Most homes have the water heater thermostat set at high temperatures to reduce the wait time for a hot shower. Lowering this temperature will not interfere with a nice hot shower, you’ll just have to wait a fraction longer.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with halogen bulbs. Compared to incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs are more expensive upfront, but you’ll end up saving more over time. Halogens are more energy-efficient and have longer lives, meaning you’ll save on the electricity bill and won’t have to replace the bulbs as often.
• Make your own cleaning solutions. There are several ways to concoct your own cleaning solutions using things you already have in your kitchen. For example, you can mix vinegar and baking soda to create an all-purpose cleaner. Search the Internet for different recipes that save you from buying their commercial counterparts, and contain less toxic chemicals.
• Set your computer to sleep. A desktop computer uses a lot of power and can drive up an electricity bill if left on. Set your computer to go into sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity. This can save you up to $75 per year on your power bills!

DIY Fixes that Require a Little More Effort

Ready to take on a DIY project that requires more effort? These home fixes require tools and will cost you money upfront, but you’ll end up saving more down the road.

• Install dimmer switches. In addition to getting halogen bulbs, switch out flick switches for dimmer switches. Depending on the time of day or your general mood, you don’t always need full lighting in every room. Dim the lights and reduce your power bill.
• Insulate water lines. There are foam insulation tubes designed to wrap around the hot-water lines in your home. Identifying where the hot-water lines are located can be difficult depending on the layout of your home, but insulating them shortens the time it takes for hot water to reach your faucets. As a result, you’ll end up saving around $50 per year.
• Install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are often used in warmer seasons, but running one during the winter can reduce your heating bill. They recirculate the warm air that rises, keeping rooms warm without having to blast the heat.
• Install a water filter. There are many different types of water filters, some are easier to install than others (faucet-mounted filters are the easiest). Regardless of which filter you choose, it’ll help keep you from buying bottled water, which can get expensive quickly. An added bonus: you won’t be disposing as many plastic bottles, which helps the environment.
• Remodel your home with in-stock materials: If you’re gung-ho about DIY and are planning to remodel your entire home, choose materials that are available in-stock. Retailers prefer to sell items in inventory, rather than having to order it. You can use this to your advantage and negotiate a better price.

DIY home repair has never been easier. These simple tips are just the starting point to fixing up your home and best of all, saving money!

What are some DIY fixes you’ve used that saved you money? We’d love to hear them, so share your tips and tricks in the comments below!