The Pros and Cons of Heated Flooring

While you might be considering adding heated flooring to your new home, there are a lot of questions to ask before you put your money into this luxury feature. If you’re looking for another level of comfort in your home, it’s a great option—but it does come with a hefty price tag. Here’s what you need to know:

Pros 

• Durable and reliable. This method of heating lasts longer than a regular home furnace—with proper care it can last up to 35 years.

• Comfortable. There’s no better feeling than a warm floor on a cold day, especially when you first get out of the shower. No one enjoys stepping on cold tile, so bathrooms are particularly popular options for heated flooring.

• Saves you money in the long term. Since radiant floor heating warms from the floor up, you’ll be able to set your thermostat at a lower temperature to feel just as warm.

• Quiet. Because it does not require a blower, there is no extra noise produced when running it.

• Distributes heat evenly and consistently throughout each room.

• Better for allergy sufferers, since traditional central air heating pushes dust, dirt and pollen through the vents and around your home.

• Customizable. Electric floor heating allows for the option of only having heated flooring in certain rooms—so you can customize where you want it.

• Hidden, so your home has more space and less unattractive radiators.

• Versatile. Can be installed under any flooring.

• Profitable. Increases the value of your home.

Cons

• Costly. Installation will cost more than replacing a furnace, and hydronic systems are more expensive than electric.

• Not ideal for older homes as you will have to tear out existing flooring in order to install them. Wait until it’s time for a remodel before considering it.

• Repairs are costly. Because the system is under the floor, this also means repairs to the system are more costly as well. Since heating elements are out of sight, it can be hard to find the problem area.

• Slower to warm up the house than traditional heating. Especially true for water heating, which can take a few hours to circulate enough hot water to warm the home (but since they retain heat well, this allows for use in off peak hours, saving your utility bills).

5 Easy Ways to Brighten a Room

Do you have a room in your house that always seems dark no matter what? Perhaps it’s due to low ceilings or minimal windows. Maybe the walls are painted a darker color than you would like. Whatever the reason, don’t worry. Below are a few simple ways you can brighten the space.

Remove or minimize window coverings. A dark room will only seem darker with heavy window hangings. Choose something light and gauzy, or remove window coverings altogether to welcome the sunlight.

Paint it white. From the ceilings to the floors, painting surfaces a white or off-white color will brighten your space and make it appear larger.

Add mirrors. We all know the old mirror trick can make a space seem larger, but did you know it can brighten it, too? Mirrors reflect light, so the more mirrors, the more light you will have reflected. Try a mirrored wall or a mirror-topped coffee table.

Remove (some) furniture. The less crowded a room, the more space for light to bounce around. Nix any unnecessary furniture, knick knacks or clutter.

Trim the trees. Okay, so you’ve cleared the curtains, added a large mirror and painted your dark wood floors white. Does the room still seem dark? Head outside and look for any trees or shrubs that may be encroaching on your sunlight.

Reduce Your Electric Bill by Avoiding These 10 Things

With homeowners across the country feeling the pinch of inflation, there’s no better time than now to take steps to reduce your electricity bill. When it comes to saving money on energy costs, it’s all about the small steps we tend to avoid, assuming they won’t make much of a difference. In this case, however, seemingly minor measures add up and result in significant savings. Try these ideas:

All You Need to Know About Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are becoming more and more popular as homeowners need to upgrade. While they are often a larger upfront investment than their traditional counterparts, tankless heaters can have some interesting long-term advantages. If you’re considering a water heater update soon, here’s all you need to know about tankless water heaters.

6 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Saving Money

The savings rate in America is pretty abysmal. Fifty-seven percent of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts, according to a 2017 GOBanking Rates survey.

How to Dispute Credit Report Errors

If you’ve checked your credit reports lately for errors, congratulations! That’s a smart first step to improving your credit score, which can make getting approved for home loans and credit cards, along with getting the best interest rates, a lot easier.

Cash-Back Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid

A cash-back credit card can result in 5 percent or more back on your purchases, essentially giving you a small discount for everything you buy with a credit card.

But that perk can cost you some money in the long run, if you’re not careful. Here are some mistakes to avoid with a cash-back credit card: