Easy ways to save money at home

Don’t let your cash go down the drain or out the window. Consumer Reports suggests doing the following to save money at home.

Think seriously about solar

There has never been a better time to consider solar power. Over the past five years, prices have dropped 63 percent, based on a broad survey of manufacturers and installers by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the industry’s leading trade group. And plenty of generous incentives are still available to homeowners.

Tesla Motors, best known for its high-performance electric vehicle, also makes storage batteries for residential solar systems, and the company is developing solar shingles designed to mimic the look of a standard asphalt, slate or tile roof. Installing rooftop solar panels will defray electricity costs while shrinking your home’s carbon footprint. A federal tax credit will cover 30 percent of the installation (a savings of about $5,000 for most homeowners), but the incentive will start to be phased out at the end of 2019, and other state and local rebates are also drying up. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website (dsireusa.org) for a list of programs in your state. Go to CR.org/solar for more information.

Another option: solar water heaters, which can slash your water heating bills by 50 to 80 percent, according to the Energy Department. Given the steep upfront costs, the payback period for a solar water heater could be 10 years or longer, based on Consumer Reports’ past tests.

Make a video to protect your valuables

If you ever have to replace all your stuff after a household disaster such as a fire or flood, you’ll need to provide a detailed inventory of your belongings. But if the prospect of writing it all down as a precaution seems too daunting, grab your smartphone and make a video instead. Capture your furnishings, and don’t forget to open cabinets, drawers, closets and boxes, describing aloud what you see. Include contents of bookcases, walls with art and major appliances. Try to capture serial numbers and brand names. If your time is limited, focus on the big and the valuable, and skip, say, cleaning supplies inside the utility closet. Then store the video on the cloud or put it on a thumb drive and stash it in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe.

Eliminate drafts

Consumer Reports suggests this easy way to pinpoint air leaks that make for drafty rooms in the winter and can drive up annual heating costs by $100 or more. First, turn on every exhaust fan in the home, including a whole-house fan and kitchen range hood, and hold an incense stick up to suspected leaks around windows, doors and even electrical outlets. If the smoke blows sideways, you have a leak large enough to undermine your home’s comfort and efficiency. For around $30 worth of caulk, weather stripping and expandable foam sealant, you can plug the leaks for good.

To learn more, visit ConsumerReports.org.

2017, Consumers Union, Inc.

Distributed by Andrews Mcmeel Syndication for UFS