8 Costly Homeowner Tips That Offer Short-Term Benefits But Have Long-Term Consequences

As a homeowner, you constantly seek innovative strategies and practical solutions to manage your home effectively and save money. This may involve tapping into the wealth of experience and knowledge of your parents, who have been homeowners for longer than you’ve been alive or conducting thorough research online for the most effective tips.

However, it is important to note that popularity does not equate to efficiency. Despite being widely shared and reposted, many popular home management tips need to be revised and can save you money. Here are eight such tips, commonly believed to be useful advice, but which are, in fact, costly myths.

Myth #1: Lemons are a Miracle Cleaner for Garbage Disposal

Costly Consequence: High Plumbing Costs

Be careful with this widely shared home improvement trick. While citric acid is a natural deodorizer, it can also cause corrosion in your disposal’s metal components, clog pipes and damage the grinding elements. Instead of risking a plumber’s visit, try the following: turn on your disposal and, while running cold water, dump in two or additional trays of ice cubes. This method safely removes buildup on the walls and impellers and improves the performance of your disposal.

Myth #2: Use Duct Tape to Seal Ducts

Costly Consequence: Increased Energy Bills

Be aware of the name – duct tape is unsuitable for sealing leaks in your HVAC’s ductwork. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy has shown that the glue deteriorates rapidly in hot air, resulting in conditioned air escaping, which increases energy costs. For a long-lasting solution, use duct mastic, which dries to a solid state and seals metal and flexible ductwork.

Additionally, use a layer of fiberglass mesh for holes larger than 1/16 of an inch. Use gloves while working with metal ducts, as they can be sharp, and mastic can be messy.

Myth #3: Bleach as a Solution for Mold

Costly Consequence: Threat to Health and Costly Expenses

Contrary to popular belief, using bleach to eliminate mold is unreliable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that bleach is ineffective on porous materials such as grout, caulk, drywall, insulation, and carpet, which are common hiding places for mold. The use of bleach only serves to mask the appearance of the mold rather than eliminate it. In addition, diluting bleach may even promote mold growth, as mold thrives on the water absorbed by porous materials.

The Better Option: Utilize a commercial anti-fungal product to eliminate mold at its source. If the affected area is less than 10 square feet, you may attempt to remove the mold, but it is essential to use protective gear, such as a chemical-resistant glove and respirator. If the affected area is larger, it is recommended to call in a mold remediation specialist with the expertise and knowledge to safely remove mold without spreading its harmful particles.

Myth #4: Change Your HVAC Filter Monthly

Costly Consequence: Approximately $100 annually

While it is important to maintain the regular replacement of air filters for the efficient functioning of your home’s HVAC system, this suggestion is a general guideline that may cause unnecessary filter replacements and expenditures.

According to Tina Gleisner, a homeowner advocate from Home Tips for Women, “It is easier to advise changing the filter every month, but in reality, it may only need to be changed every three to four months.”

The Better Option: The Department of Energy suggests inspecting, not necessarily replacing, the air filter each month. If the filter appears dirty, it should be changed at least once every three months.

Myth #5: The Need for a Rinse Aid for Spot-Free Dishes

Costly Consequence: Unnecessary Expense

Today’s dishwashers often come with a built-in dispenser for commercial rinse aids and even include a free sample to get you started. The convenience of spot-free dishes may lead to adding rinse aid to your shopping list, despite the cost of almost $4 for 8 ounces.

The Better Option: Before relying on a rinse aid, try running your dishwasher without it. If your water is soft, you may find that your dishwasher delivers spot-free dishes without needing extra help. If spots persist, fill the rinse-aid dispenser with plain white vinegar, which costs less than 50 cents for 8 ounces.

Money Saving Tip: Rinse aid does help dishes dry faster, preventing wet drips from the top rack to the bottom when unloading. To save money, unload the bottom rack first and allow the top rack to air dry instead.

Myth #6: Home Renovation is Always a Great Investment

Costly Consequence: Thousands of dollars in dissatisfaction

Want to make all your dreams come true by upgrading to a home of your own? That’s the beauty of being able to do it. Beyond renovating, you can also transform your home into the home of your dreams.

Keep in mind that not every upgrade will earn you compensation, but you’ll almost certainly receive it for most upgrades. In general, renovations return 52% of their cost. Research and speak with a real estate agent to determine if the payback is important to you.

Myth #7: Put Dryer Sheets in Air Vents for a Fragrant Scent

Costly Consequence: Increased energy bills and a possible fire hazard

There’s no need to follow this hack if you wish to avoid a pricey HVAC system renovation or fire. Thousands of pins and shares can mean something other than a great or safe remedy. Blocking air flow in your vents can make your HVAC system work harder and cost you more money. The blockage can even trigger a fire. To stay pleasant, plenty of alternatives are available that won’t make your home burn down.

Mold, mildew, sewage, and gas leaks can cause health problems. The Better Option: The best way to eliminate unpleasant odors is to burn all-natural scented candles, sprays, oils, or aromatherapy treatments in every area. You should search for and eliminate the source if you desire to mask an offensive scent.

Myth #8: Product Warranties Will Save on Restoration Prices

Costly Consequence: $50 to $100 or more

You can purchase a warranty or service plan when buying a major appliance or even a hand mixer. These contracts can cost more than you would ever spend to repair an item and keep in mind that most manufacturers provide at least a 90-day warranty anyway.

The Better Option: Rather than paying for a warranty on an appliance, maintain it as recommended by the manufacturer and stash the dollars you would spend on a warranty in a repair fund. Also, get a major credit card, such as AmEx or Visa, to improve your chances of getting a warranty extension. It might be worth checking if your credit card company extends product warranties.

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It is a technology that is used to control the temperature, humidity, and air quality of indoor environments. The HVAC system consists of several components that work together to create a comfortable and healthy living or working space.

The heating aspect of the system is used to keep the building warm during cold weather. This is typically done through the use of a furnace, which burns fuel such as natural gas or oil to create heat. The heat is then distributed throughout the building using a system of ducts.

The ventilation aspect of the system is used to bring fresh air into the building and remove stale air. This is important for maintaining good indoor air quality and for removing pollutants and allergens from the air. This is typically done through the use of an air exchange system, which brings in fresh outdoor air and removes stale indoor air.

The air conditioning aspect of the system is used to keep the building cool during hot weather. This is typically done through the use of an air conditioner, which removes heat from the indoor air and releases it outside. The cooled air is then distributed throughout the building using the same duct system used for heating.

The HVAC system also includes a thermostat, which is used to control the temperature of the building and turn the HVAC system on and off as needed. Modern thermostats can be programmable, allowing the user to set the desired temperature at different times of the day, and some even have the ability to be controlled remotely through a smartphone or tablet.

In summary, HVAC technology is a combination of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that are designed to provide a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. It works by controlling temperature, humidity and air quality, it uses different components like furnace, air conditioner, ductwork and thermostat to achieve this goal. It also helps in reducing energy costs and environmental impact.