Owning a home comes with a lot of upkeep and responsibility; that’s why we’ve decided to help lighten the load with a list of things to be sure to pay attention to and clean.
How To Maintain an Up-to-Date, Comfortable Home
Keep Allergens Out of Your Home
Allergens in your home can contribute to your home feeling uncomfortable and stuffy. One way to deal with this is to ensure that you clean and change the filters around your house regularly to remove any pet dander, dust and pollen.
Another great practice is ensuring you are properly ventilating your home, especially in areas like your bathroom and kitchen. Ventilation can come in the form of having fans or opening your windows. To keep the allergens out when your windows are closed, be sure they're tightly sealed to avoid any air leaks. A properly installed window will keep your home comfortable, free of drafts and energy efficient.
Keep Your Home in Good Shape
Maintaining your home is important to protecting it and making it last. Some areas to regularly check are your HVAC system, safety features like fire alarms and the structure's foundation. You also want to check your home for any drafts or cold air making their way in. Drafts can significantly affect the comfort of your home and increase your utility bills. Replacement windows are a great way to eliminate these issues.
Cleaning is another vital part of home ownership. Many areas need to be dusted and wiped down. This includes behind appliances and vents. During this time, you can also look for anything needing a repair, such as a broken window, lifted flooring or chipped paint.
Important Areas of Your Home To Pay Attention To
The exterior of your home is another place to maintain and look after. You want your home to last, so proper upkeep and quickly remedying any issues is vital for its longevity. Some places to regularly check are your roof and gutters to ensure there are no cracks or blockages.
Doors
Doors are an essential part of your home as they're how you get in and out. Two popular patio door choices for homeowners are hinged and sliding patio doors, as they require minimal upkeep.
We installed a new patio door into this Whitehall, PA, home. The new sliding patio door is energy efficient and offers excellent access to their deck. The traditional grilles on the new sliding glass door also maintained the home’s aesthetic. The grilles were set between the glass, and we installed our Rolscreen to provide the homeowner with convenience and low maintenance.
Windows
Replacement windows are a great way to update your home and keep it comfortable. Our windows are professionally installed to ensure a tight seal to avoid any air leaks coming into your home.
Our windows are also proven to be durable and long-lasting. For example, we have wood, vinyl and fiberglass products, each with its own benefits and durability. Our fiberglass window frames are extremely strong and durable and require minimal maintenance. Our vinyl windows are similar in that regard and a great choice if you're looking for something low-maintenance. Lastly, we have various wood products that are protected from the elements with our aluminum cladding.
Add Energy Efficiency
You should evaluate your home for energy efficiency. Some things you may notice that indicate your home isn’t energy efficient include feeling cold air coming into your home or high utility bills.
There are multiple ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency — a big one being window replacement. At Pella, we have a range of energy-efficient and ENERGY STAR certified products. For example, our Lifestyle Series wood windows and our 250 Series vinyl windows are top of the line when it comes to lowering your utility bill and creating a comfortable environment in your home year-round.
Our windows have several key factors making them energy efficient, including double-pane glass with insulating argon gas between the panes to slow heat transfer. You can also add optional triple-pane glass to your windows for enhanced insulation and better sound control.
In addition, our windows feature Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass to improve the energy efficiency of your windows and doors. This glass coating reflects heat back into your room during the winter to keep it warmer inside, and in the summer, the Low-E glass reflects the heat away from your home, keeping it cooler. The glass also blocks out most of the sun’s harmful UV rays to prevent the fading of your carpet, furniture and window treatments.
When we installed vinyl single- and double-hung windows into this Jamison, PA, home, the new windows improved the home’s functionality and energy efficiency, while the grilles enhanced the home’s aesthetic by adding charm and visual appeal.
Another energy-efficient task we took on was in this Zionsville, PA, home with old, drafty wood windows. The homeowners were ready for new high-quality, energy-efficient replacement windows, and we were there to help! We installed wood double-hung windows to give the homeowners excellent ventilation, ease of use and of course, outstanding energy efficiency.
Keep Your Home Up to Date with Pella
Having a home is a big responsibility, and there’s a ton to do. We hope these homeowner tips will help you stay on top of things, but in case you're in need of a window or door replacement, we're here for you! Schedule a free in-home consultation today.