If you’ve been in your home for some time, you’ve probably made a few changes. A year ago, you painted the living and dining rooms a new color that suited your tastes better. That Berber carpet was replaced with hardwood, and the bathroom tile was updated to give it a modern look.
How you feel about the way your home appears and functions greatly influences what upgrades you do. So does the potential to recoup your investment if you decide to sell. While many homeowners think about cosmetic changes that transform style, there may be potential upgrades you haven’t thought of yet.
These renovations may not alter how your house looks, but they can improve energy efficiency and the performance of major components. By adding these modifications to your list, you can lower your utility bills and take advantage of the latest tech. To improve the way your house lives, consider these three home upgrades:
1. Enhanced Wi-Fi
If you’re still using traditional Wi-Fi to connect smart devices and work from home, you’ve probably noticed some performance issues. Connecting the smart thermostat and video doorbell might not have impacted your network that much. But as soon as you started adding in smart lightbulbs, TVs, and kitchen appliances, things started getting spotty.
You’ve reached out to your ISP to up your bandwidth and plan. Yet the laptop in your home office continues to randomly disconnect. Plus, it takes a minute rather than seconds to load web pages or send email attachments. You know you can’t continue to work like this, and it would be nice to stream your favorites without buffering.
Fortunately, there’s a better solution than spending extra on plans that promise more bandwidth but don’t always deliver. Advancements in AI technology have started to infiltrate the world of home Wi-Fi. Adaptive Wi-Fi solutions like HomePass from Plume epitomize the common saying “Work smarter, not harder.”
The AI behind these solutions adjusts the bandwidth you have according to how you use it. If your streaming habits demand more of your home network at 7 p.m., the solution allocates additional capacity. Less bandwidth will go to the lightbulbs that are off in the bedrooms and bathrooms. The same goes for the stove, the coffee maker, and the doorbell waiting for commands. Instead, your TV will get the capacity it needs to prevent interruptions.
2. High-Efficiency HVAC Systems
For a typical household, approximately 43% of annual utility expenses come from the use of an HVAC system. While a furnace will usually burn through more energy than an AC unit, older and inefficient systems can increase bills. Not only do they use more gas and electricity, but they’re more likely to break down or need repairs.
Following a yearly preventative maintenance schedule for your HVAC system can help catch problems before they get worse. Preventative maintenance, including regular filter changes, will also keep your existing system running as efficiently as possible. But no amount of maintenance or care will change the efficiency rating or make the system last forever.
Upgrading from an 80% efficient furnace to one with an efficiency rating of 95% or 98% can lower your monthly bills. Combined with other Energy Star appliances, you could reduce your home’s energy use by as much as 35%. Some utility companies and government agencies also give out rebates and tax credits for high-efficiency HVAC systems. These reimbursements help bring down the initial costs of installing these furnaces and AC units.
High-efficiency HVAC systems can also appeal to eco- or energy-conscious buyers. You might get an offer sooner if you decide to sell your home while your system is still relatively young. For owners of townhomes or condos competing with similar units for sale, a high-efficiency HVAC system can give you an edge. If your home has improvements buyers find desirable and the other units don’t, yours could attract more interest.
3. Energy-Efficient Windows
Double-pane windows tend to last an average of 20 years. Aging homes that still have the original builder’s set are usually due for an upgrade. But before you choose a standard vinyl double-pane replacement at your local home improvement store, consider energy-efficient options instead.
A home’s windows account for 25%-30% of its energy use from heating and cooling. Outdated and drafty windows are doing more than letting in dust and insects. They are letting heated or cooled air escape and untreated air to get in, causing your utility bills to go up. Windows that are no longer performing well might also be icing up in the winter. Built-up ice on a window’s interior can lead to mildew and accelerated deterioration of the surrounding window sills.
When upgrading to more energy-efficient options, you’ll usually see both double and triple-pane varieties. They’ll also have the Energy Star rating and could feature a gas fill. The Energy Star rating means the windows can insulate the air within your home more efficiently. During colder months, the warm air in your home won’t escape as fast. In the summer, the inside air will stay cooler longer.
Energy-efficient windows with low-E glass ratings produce the same effects, but the coating controls the sunlight’s energy. In warm climates, these windows are manufactured to stop heat from coming in through the glass. For colder climates, the coating keeps the heat from the sun’s infrared and ultraviolet light inside. Either way, the furnace or AC won’t have to work as hard to keep the home comfortable.
Conclusion
Renovating a home is something most owners need to do, especially as parts of it become dated. You might love your house but not everything about it. Both cosmetic and functional changes allow you to put your personal touch on the place you call home.
Making obvious and not-so-obvious upgrades will turn any living space into something you — and potential future occupants — can benefit from. Advancements in technology and manufacturing standards mean it’s possible to make functional upgrades you might not have thought about. A fancy new backsplash and stainless steel appliances will improve your home’s ambiance. But it’s the enhancements to your home’s major working parts that will change how well you live.