Home Pro Home Inspections - Rochester MN » Monthly Home Tip

Protecting Your Home From Rodents This Winter

rickerickson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:25:35 +0000

It’s winter and the critters living outside are looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Your home offers everything that mice, chipmunks, and squirrels are looking for, warmth, water and food. Last winter I had a chipmunk find a small opening at the base of my outdoor hot tub. Between the chipmunk and the mice, they had a great time staying warm… and destroying insulation and wiring.

Rodents can be cute in cartoons and movies, but it’s not so cute when they find their way into your home. Your house, especially your kitchen provides all that a mouse could possibly ask for.

These critters are a threat to you r home as they can carry disease, cause structural damage to your home, and contaminate food. Wiring that has been gnawed on by mice have been known to start fires in homes. They spread disease through their urine, feces and bites. Ticks and fleas can also be brought into your home and can carry infections to humans after feeding on rodents.

Rodent proofing your home can be fairly easy. Rats can fit through a hole roughly the size of a quarter, and a mouse can get through a hole smaller than a dime. Your first line of defense is to block all access and keep them from getting into your home in the first place.

* Replace any damaged or missing weather stripping and seal cracks at exterior doors.

* Place ¼ inch screen over all external openings and vents.

* Seal any gaps at your foundation.

* Trim back branches and shrubs that come into contact with or hang over your home.

* Keep all ground vegetation trimmed back at least 12 inches from your home.

* Keep the interior of your home and garage clean.

* All food and garbage should be stored in sealed containers

* Do not leave pet food or dirty dishes sitting around over night.

If you have done everything you can and still have rodents in your home, it is important to contact a professional. Mice can colonize under concrete and porches, in your attic and other hard to reach places. A professional exterminator will have the tools and techniques to rid you of these unwanted pests.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

rickerickson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:25:20 +0000

Here we are, the end of October. Summer is over and we need to start thinking about preparing for winter. Below are some recommended home maintenance tips you should consider before the snow starts to fly.

Gutters and Downspouts

If you live in an area that has tall trees, you may have gutters full of leaves and debris. Check your gutters and clear any debris from them. Make sure that your downspouts are clear so that the gutters can drain properly. Also make sure that he downspouts discharge is directed away from the home. You may have to do this a couple of time during the season to insure that any water from the roof easily flows from your roof and out into the yard, away from your foundation.

Storm Windows

If your home has storm windows, now is the time to make sure that they are clean and in good condition. Preparing them for installation now while the temperatures are still mild will make it easier to install when you are ready to pull the screens and install your storm windows in a couple of weeks.

Doors and Windows

Doors and windows should be inspected to insure they close and seal properly. The most commonly damaged seal on doors is the threshold seal at the bottom. Make sure it is in good condition. Replace if damaged. Check the weather stripping around the rest of the doors and windows. Adjust, add or replace if there are gaps or damage. Proper weather stripping and seals will keep the moisture and cold air outside where it belongs, and will help to control your energy costs.

Dryer Vents

You should perform an inspection of your dryer vents at least twice a year. Make sure that they are not have lint build up and that the exterior flapper works properly. Short runs can be cleaned with a shop vac. Longer runs may need to have a brush snaked through them, or be cleaned professionally. Clogged dryer vents result in longer, energy consuming, dry times as well as a potential fire hazard. A half inch build up of lint in a 4 inch duct reduces the opening by 5.5 square inches.

Exterior Openings

Rodents know winter is coming so they are on the lookout for their winter homes. Make sure that all exterior openings are sealed. In addition, make sure that all exterior vents are screened. Mice can squeeze through a ¼ inch home, so if you leave openings larger than that, you will most probably have some winter guests.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Small Water Savings Tips That Have A Big Impact

rickerickson — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:59:58 +0000

Water and Sewer bills can be as high as $500 for the average household. According to the EPA, you can save up to $170 per year and conserve resources by making just a few small changes in your water usage. From replacing old and inefficient appliances to making small changes in your home, you have the potential to realize savings. Below are some tips for you to follow:

Bathrooms

The single largest use of water in your home can be attributed to your toilets. A leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water in a single day. That’s a lot of water over the course of a year. It is estimated that 20% of all toilets leak, and some so slowly that a leak can go undetected for years.

You can perform a leak inspection yourself to see if your toilets are leaking by adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If there is a leak, you will start seeing the colored water in the bowl within a few minutes. Once you determine whether you have a leak or not, flush the toilet to clear out the colored water and to avoid staining the porcelain. If you are unable to fix the leak, you could consider purchasing and installing a new high efficiency toilet. Some of these high efficiency toilets have a dual flush system which will allow for a 0.8 gallon or a 1.6 gallon flush. There are also toilet retrofit flush mechanisms that will allow you to convert an existing toilet to a dual flush. These dual flush options can save up to 6000 gallons of water over the course of a year.

Kitchens
Did you know that a faucet in the kitchen, dripping one drip per second can add up to 3000 gallons of wasted water per year. A drip may seem like a small deal but it can cost you a bunch in the long run. Faucet drips can typically be fixed by replacing the seals. Seal kits are inexpensive and fairly simple to install.

Only use your dishwasher when full. Running partial loads wastes water and electricity. There are dish washers out there that have half load options or express wash cycles that can be used for small loads or lightly soiled dishes. You may want to consider one of these models if you are in the market for a new dish washer.

Lawns

Of course we all want to have a nice green lawn. Keeping your lawn and garden green can account for at least 30% of your household water usage. There are some smart watering techniques that you can use to help reduce your water usage outside. Watering in the cool morning will reduce evaporation. Sprinklers should be positioned so that they aren’t watering sidewalks, driveways or the street.

By keeping your eye on a few of the potential water wasting areas of your hole, you can help to conserve a precious natural resource and save yourself utility costs.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Garage Door Opener Maintenance Tips

rickerickson — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:39:07 +0000

If you have a garage, chances are that you also have at least one garage door opener. Your garage door opener is one of those things that runs day in and day out for years..until it doesn’t. Like anything, your garage door opener will operate properly, for a long time if it is properly maintained.

There are two main types of garage door openers used today. The Chain Drive is the most widely used, followed by the Screw Drive. At least a couple of times a year you should inspect your garage door and make any necessary adjustments and maintenance. Below are some tips to help you keep your garage door opener maintained and operating properly for years to come.

Loose Bolts/Hardware

The major problem with garage door openers is the vibration as a result of the door going up and down. Take a screwdriver, ratchet or adjustable wrench and make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are snug up and tight.

Lubrication

Keeping your chain or lead screw oiled will help to reduce wear, noise and corrosion. A properly oiled chain and lead screw will operate more smoothly and last longer. You should also make sure that the garage door rails and wheels are properly greased so that they slide easily without binding.

Chain

As I point out at many home inspections, it is important that the chain does not have excessive slack. Excessive slack will cause your door to close hard, and not travel smoothly. In some cases the uneven and jerking movement from a loose chain can result in cracking at the top panel where the lift mechanism is attached. Make sure that your chain is taught, and not over tightened.

Electric Eye and Auto Reverse

These safety features help to prevent the garage door from coming down on and crushing or pinning an object, human or a pet. Make sure that the electric eyes are un-obstructed and clean. With the door traveling downward, simply pass an object into the light beam. If they are working properly they should reverse the door to open. The auto reverse has two screws located on the garage door assembly that are used to adjust how much force will be applied before the door reverses. If physically obstructed in the downward travel, the door should easily reverse. If the door does not reverse when lightly obstructed, simply adjust the down force screw until the door reverses with only a slight amount of obstruction.

Light Bulb

One of the most underrated areas of your garage door opener is the light bulb. Most people never even think about the light until it quits working. It’s a good idea to change your light bulb every 18-24 months just to make sure that it works when you need it.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Rochester MN Home Inspection Company Discusses Wet Basements

rickerickson — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:04:01 +0000

I just had a home inspection client cancel his home inspection this past Monday on a vacant home. The Realtor and plumber met at the property in the morning to turn the water on and reported that there was standing water in the basement that was seeping in through the foundation. As a result, the client decided to cancel his offer on the property.

I can only guess the reason for the water intrusion, but as I discuss with all of my home inspection clients, Gutters and Down Spouts, when properly installed can go a long towards helping to keep your basement dry.

The number one culprit for causing water penetration into the basement of a house is rain gutter downspouts discharging rain water right alongside the foundation. All downspouts should discharge the water at least five feet or more from the foundation. If a downspout is discharging water right alongside the foundation, I recommend installing downspout extensions. That is an easy job that most people can do themselves.

Getting the water away from the foundation will help to avoid water penetration into the basement. Close-to-the-house downspout discharge is not the problem of all water problems in the basement, but it is certainly one of the major ones. If a water penetration problem develops in the basement, before you call in a waterproofing contractor, check the downspout discharge area.

As already mentioned the correction may be as simple as installing extensions on the downspouts and discharging the water away from the house.

One other tip on water penetration and downspout discharge, if your downspout discharges to an under ground discharge pipe and you are getting water penetration in the downspout area, you may have a damaged underground discharge pipe. That pipe may be discharging water right alongside the foundation causing the water intrusion. To determine whether or not the in-ground pipe is damaged and causing the problem, disconnect the downspout from the in-ground pipe and put a five foot extension on the downspout. This will allow the water discharge to occur above the ground. If the water penetration into the basement stops, is will be evident that the broken in-ground pipe line is the problem. If that’s the case, you can either dig up and repair the pipe or just stay with the above ground discharge extension.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Summer Storm Damage – Now What?

rickerickson — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:28:34 +0000

It’s Summer, and if you haven’t noticed yet, we have had a few storms. Once a storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, make a careful inspection of the exterior of your home and repair any minor damage that may have occurred. These things don’t take care of themselves, so taking prompt action for minor problems can help ensure they don’t end up being a major headache.

Below are a few guidelines for assessing and dealing with storm damage:

Roof
Use a pair of strong binoculars to perform a preliminary inspection of your roof from the ground or eaves. No sense of getting on the roof if you don’t have to. Check the roof for missing or lifted shingles. Check the edges, valleys and ridges for damage. Also take a good look around protrusions such as vent pipes, attic ventilation and chimneys. If you have to go onto the roof to further investigate, make sure that you can do so safely, and take precautions to prevent injury.

If accessible, view the underside of your roof from the attic assess. Discoloration of the wood or decking could signal water infiltration problems. If flashings have been damaged, there may be light coming in around vent pipes, exhaust vents, or the chimney.

Even if you are a seasoned do-it-yourselfer, always consider difficulties and potential dangers when considering roof repairs. If you have any doubts about your abilities, ask for professional help at your local home improvement store or higher a professional.

Gutters & Downspouts

The checklist below will help you detect obvious signs of a failed gutter system. Clogged or damaged gutters will not properly route water away from your house and can result in moisture problems in your basement. As many of you have heard me explain – a one inch rain fall on a thousand square feet of roof surface is 630 gallons of water. We want to make sure that water isn’t pooling around your foundation.

* Gutter(s) that are hanging off the roof
* Downspout(s) that are disconnected from the gutter or house
* Missing gutters
* Water in the basement or elsewhere inside the house
* Leaking or dripping gutter seams
* Overflowing gutters

Again, if you are handy, you can easily repair minor leaks or sags yourself by patching or adding hanging brackets. Visit your local hardware store for advice and the proper hardware for these fixes. More serious gutter damage may require a professional.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Rochester MN Home Inspector Asks: Is Your Air Conditioner ready For Summer?

rickerickson — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:37:16 +0000

When was the last time that you had your air conditioning serviced? Last year? Two years ago? Never?

We’re at the beginning of June and Summer will be here before you know it! Have you taken the time to make sure that your air conditioner is ready to handle the hot summer days and muggy summer nights to come.

In addition to cooling the air inside of your home, your air condition actually “conditions” the air. The air is cooled, dehumidified and filtered. This is why it is so important to keep your filters clean and change them regularly. Make sure that you install the correct size filter and insert the new filter in the proper direction of the air flow indicating arrows. Always make sure that you can put the filter cover securely in place. You can reduce your energy consumption by 5% to 15% by replacing your filters at the prescribed intervals. Dirty filters result in your air conditioner having to work harder to move and cool the air. Cold air is harder to move that hot air which makes it even more important to keep them filters clean and changed.

Taking the time to perform a little outside inspection and maintenance will also help with your air conditioners performance. Be careful not to blow grass clippings in the direction of your compressor unit when mowing the lawn. Also maintain at least a minimum of one foot clearance around the compressor unit to allow for proper air flow and cooling of the coils.

Once a year, or when you compressor unit appears dirty, you can rinse the unit with a garden hose. Use the water stream to remove debris from the fan blades and the cooling coils. Clean coils and fans move the air more efficiently through the unit.

Never run your air conditioner if the outside temperature is below 65 degrees F. This can damage your compressor. Also, if you shut the power off to your air conditioner in the winter months, make sure that you turn the power back on at least 24 hours minimum prior to using your air conditioning system. There is a small heater in the compressor that keeps the lubricant at the proper operating temperature. If the lubricant temperature is too low you can damage the compressor unit.

You can use your ceiling fans to help move the cooled air in your home can make it more comfortable with your air conditioner set to a higher temperature than in summers past.

If you feel real energetic you could set some time aside to go through your home to ensure that the ductwork is properly insulated, especially in the attic or garage. Be sure that there is no furniture covering up the vents and cold air returns in each of your rooms. As you would in the winter, inspect the weather-stripping around your doors and windows to see if it needs to be replaced. Making sure that your windows, doors and fireplace dampers are completely closed helps to prevent cooled air from unnecessarily escaping your home too.

Try doing laundry or using the oven early morning or late evening. This will help to keep your home cooler during the day when the outdoor temperature is typically at its warmest.

Lastly, it is highly recommended that you have your air conditioning unit inspected by a licensed and insured service technician every couple of years. You want to make sure that your air conditioner will keep your home comfortable for years. Periodic service can prevent unexpected failures, and save you money in the long run.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Protecting Your Home From Costly Water Damage

rickerickson — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:10:14 +0000

Home ownership requires constant vigilance. From the foundation to the roof, you need to keep an eye on your home to guard against damage and to protect your investment. Homeowners should be periodically checking many of the same items covered in a Home Inspection.

One of the most common problems that a homeowner needs to watch for is water damage. It is important to be on the lookout for potential water damage inside as well as outside of your home. Inside the home, appliances like washing machines dishwashers and water heaters can be the leading cause of water damage.

You can save yourself a lot of grief and stress if you catch water leaks and damage early. These things don’t heal themselves and ignoring a small leak could cost you a lot of money in repairs.

Water damage signs can be subtle. You may notice a ripple in your wall paper, or a hint of a yellow stain on your ceiling. If you see something like this it is best to investigate as soon as possible. There are a few places that you should keep your eye on with respect to potential water damage. The list below will help you to keep on top of any potential problems.

The kitchen has the most potential for water damage to your home. You will want to do periodic inspections of hoses and connections under the sink for leaks. Typically the area under the sink is full of cleaning supplies with areas of potential concern hidden from view. It is well worth taking the time to pull a few articles out from under the sink periodically and doing an inspection of the area. Your dishwasher also poses potential for leaks at water connections and door seals. Check under and around the unit to insure that there are no puddles when your dishwasher is running. Occasionally on home inspections I come across leaks at the door seal that result in water on the floor. Carefully pull your refrigerator out and check to see that there are no signs of leaks at the water line hook up. Dry stains on the floor may be an indication of past leaking. If you find any leaks in the kitchen area, make sure to make proper repairs before they become a big problem.

The utility room or service area is another area where occasional inspections can prevent big problems. Check you washing machine hoses and connections for signs of leaking or bulging. A split water hose on a washing machine can pump a lot of water is a short amount of time. Replace hoses if they show any signs of leaking or bulging. A thorough inspection around the water heater to make sure that you’re temperature pressure relief and drain valves are not leaking is worth the time.. Any signs of water from under the water heater will indicate a tank leak. Your furnace also has potential for water leaks. Whole house humidifiers are often not properly maintained and can result in water running into your furnace ducting which will cause the ducts to rust. Lastly, make sure that your condensate lines for the air conditioner and combustion chamber are draining properly. If these lines are plugged, water may accumulate within the furnace chassis, causing rust and potential damage to the furnace electronics. These types of issues are commonly observed during the home inspection process.

In the bathroom, we have sinks, tubs, showers and toilets that can leak. Sealants are key in helping to protect against many potential water damage problems. Make sure that the sealant around sinks, tub and shower enclosures in good condition. Also make sure that your shower head, tub spout and faucets are properly sealed. Remove and reseal any areas that have deteriorated or where sealant is missing. Again as with the kitchen, you should check all plumbing under the sinks. Lastly, check the toilet water connection, and make sure the toilet is secure to the floor. A loose toilet can result in a slow leak that will eventually result in rotted floor boards. Wet grout or staining within the vinyl flooring indicate a leak at the toilet flange connection.

Once you have performed a thorough inspection of the inside of your home, make sure to give the exterior a full inspection for any potential for water damage. Check the roof, walls, gutters and downspouts for cracks, openings or other areas that may let water into your home. Also check your grading to insure that the soil is sloped away from the foundation.

A careful inspection of your home for signs of potential water damage can save you the time, money and stress that come with having to make major repairs. When you’re confident that your property is protected against costly damage, you can sit back and enjoy the comfort of your home.

Home Inspectors, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Protecting Your Home During Severe Winter Weather

rickerickson — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:36:56 +0000

It’s the end of January, and with that comes cold, bitter weather here in the Rochester MN area. Higher energy costs, burst or frozen pipes, ice dams, chimney fires and power outages are just some of the hazards and inconveniences that winter can bring.

There are a few precautions that we can all take that can help protect you from disruption and serious loss to you and your home. Protecting your home is vital to keeping you and your family safe and comfortable during the coldest part of our winter.

Indoor flooding

Home fires will make the headlines before water damage, even though water damage is more common and often just as damaging. Water damage typically sees a surge during the first three months of the year. Pipes are most likely to freeze when it’s the coldest outside. Make sure to insulate any exposed pipes to help prevent freezing.

If you leave your home in the winter and set your thermostat at a lower temperature to save on energy costs, never set it below 55 degrees. Don’t be tempted to go lower. The pipes that route through your external walls and foundation will reach temperatures much lower than your thermostat setting. Although not a guarantee against freezing, 55 degrees will typically protect against frozen or burst pipes. Have someone check on your home daily while you are away.

If you really want to protect your home against broken or leaky pipes any time of the year, you can install an automatic water shutoff system. This system installs on your main water line. In the event of a burst pipe or increased water flow, the system will automatically shut off your water supply. Check with your insurance company to see if there are discounts to your policy as a result of installing an automatic water shutoff system.

Back up generators

Power outages can cause many problems from food spoilage to basement flooding. Install back-up generators to power all of your home’s critical systems including sump pumps, security and fire alarm systems, and heating systems.

Winter power outages can result in plenty of problems from food spoilage, to freezing and flooding. Installing a back-up generator can be used to power critical systems in your home. You will want to make sure your heating systems, sump pumps, refrigeration, fire and security systems are all backed up. A back-up generator can protect you in the event of an extended power outage.

Chimney and furnace fires

While fire presents a year-round risk, certain causes of fire occur more frequently during the winter. Chimneys, boilers and furnaces are particular risks. Approximately 25,000 residential fires begin in a fireplace or chimney every year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Home fires can happen at any time of the year, however certain causes are more frequent in the winter months. Fireplace, chimneys and heating systems are of particular risk. Chimneys and fireplaces account for approximately 25000 home fires annually.

Over time, fireplace and chimney surfaces can become coated with layers of unburned carbon based residue, typically referred to as Creosote. If the build up becomes excessive, it can ignite and result in a chimney fire. You can prevent chimney fires by having your chimney inspected and cleaned every year by a professional chimney sweep.

Furnaces, boilers, and water heaters should also be inspected annually to insure proper operation. Make sure that you don’t use your furnace room for general storage. Do not store paint, solvents, or other flammables in your furnace room as they pose a significant fire hazard. Books, papers, wood scraps and other flammables should also be stores elsewhere.

Ice damming and mature trees

Snow and ice storms can create a number of potential threats to your home. One of these is ice damming, which occurs in the days after a snowstorm.

Ice damming is another threat to your home. In the days after a snow or ice storm, ice damming can occur due to melting and re-freeze.

Even though icicles hanging from your eaves are beautiful and picturesque, they are usually an indication that ice dams are forming. An ice dam is a build up of ice at the edge of your roof eave. As more snow melts, the water is trapped behind the ice dam. The result is water backing up under your shingles, soaking through your roof and insulation, causing damage to your walls and ceilings. The most common causes of ice dams are gutters that do not drain properly, and lack of insulation in your attic.

Large, mature trees with branches that hang over your property are another winter hazard. Strong winter winds, and ice covering old branches can lead to failure and collapse, a clear threat to your home or other nearby structures. A competent horticulture expert can assess and make recommendation for pruning out suspect or unstable branches in your mature trees.

Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspector From Rochester MN Shares Ways To Save On Your Energy Bills

rickerickson — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:01:09 +0000

Each year, your average household can spend up to $2200 on energy costs. Our economy today is certainly challenging, and homeowners are looking for ways to stretch their monthly utility and household expenses. There are plenty of ways to come up with extra cash by making some simple, energy saving home improvements Here are 10 simple steps that your home inspector shares that can help you to start saving now.

* Install a new Energy Star rated programmable thermostat. Make sure that you actually take the time to program it, most people don’t. As we discuss during the home inspection prtocess, when programmed and used properly, a programmable thermostat can cut your energy costs by an average of $180 per year.

* If your furnace is more that 15 years old, you should consider replacing it. There are many state of the art furnaces introduced in recent years that can save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs. Older furnaces are typically 65% – 72% efficient, compared to today’s models that are up to 96% efficient. Your average savings is up to $800 a year

*Add some insulation to your attic. Approximately 20% of the homes built prior to 1980 are properly insulated. Adding extra insulation will keep your heating and cooling systems from having to work overtime. Having the right amount of insulation can save up to 10% on your energy costs. Average savings for adding insulation is $220 per year.

*Dial back the temperature on your water heater. Lowering the temperature from 145 degrees to 120 degrees will result in savings from $36 – $61 per year.

* Replace your 5 or so most used incandescent light bulbs with new compact florescent bulbs. These bulbs use less energy and can last up to 10 times longer. Motion sensors for your outside lights will help save by turning lights on only when needed. Average savings is $65 per year.

*Install low flow shower heads. Replacing your shower heads with a 2.5 gallon per minute low flow model and shortening your shower time by a couple minutes can save 5 gallons of water each time someone showers. Figure in less energy to heat less water and you will have an average savings of up to $145.

*Wash your clothes in cold water and save on the fuel you would need to heat that water. Make sure that you use a detergent formulated for cold water usage. Your average savings will be $24 – $40 per year.

*Fix dripping faucets. You don’t want your hard earned money going down the drain. Hot water dripping at 1 drip per second can waste 1661 gallons of water a year as well as the energy needed to heat that wasted water. Average savings is $35 per year.

* Keep your dryers lint trap clean. Increase the drying efficiency of your clothes dryer by cleaning the lint trap between loads. Average savings of $34 per year.

* Stop using standby energy. Unplug or shut down TV’s, computers and other digital equipment that consumes standby energy when not in use. Average savings $165 per year

Realize you savings by implementing a few or all of the suggestions listed. Not only do you have the potential of saving up to $1500 a year on your energy costs, you will be saving energy and be kinder to the environment.

Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com