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HOMES PLUS JANUARY 2016 6 K i t c h e n s | B a t h s | D e n s | C a b i n s | O f f i c e s | R e c R o o m s Work With Experienced Design Professionals "We Specialize in Cabinetry" 1005 Richards Road, Hartland | 262.367.9439 www.kitchencreators.com Cabinetry For Every Room, Every Budget! WE OFFER: NORCRAFT CABINETRY MID CONTINENT CABINETRY OMEGA CABINETRY DYNASTY CABINETRY WOODLAND CABINETRY 248002004 Check out our new Rustic Hickory display! Nobody does Rustic like Kitchen Creators! Also, remember we have many displays on sale. Our showroom is ever changing, call for an appointment today! We Beat All Big Box Stores and all Competitors | Visit Our Showroom By Appointment (BPT) — When winter is at its worst, most homeown- ers bundle up and hope for the best. But savvy do-it- yourselfers know that preparations and regular maintenance throughout the season can prevent cost- ly damage down the line. So grab your toolbox and try out these projects to help prepare your home to withstand the wintry weather. ■ Check and replace worn weather stripping: Checking and replacing weather stripping on doors and windows not only keeps your home from becoming cold and drafty, but it can help save on heating costs. To remove old stripping, heat caulk with a blowtorch to loosen and use a paint scraper to peel away the old layer, prepping it for the new one. ■ Thaw frozen pipes: There's nothing worse than discovering that the water in your copper pipes has frozen — and it happens all too frequently in winter. To fix the problem on your own, grab a blowtorch, like the Bernzomatic TS4000 Trigger-Start Torch. Turn on the faucet to allow water to flow freely once it melts, and be sure to cover and protect around the area you are working on with a wet rag or special heat cloth. Continuously move the torch flame over the pipe, not holding in one area too long, to restore the pipe to its natural temperature. This trick also works great with frozen doorknobs and locks. Just remember to fol- low the torch's safety instructions and also wait until surfaces cool before opening or touching. ■ Replace furnace filter regularly: Before you start your fur- nace, check the filter. If it looks dirty, it definitely needs to be replaced. Regu- larly changing the filters in your heating system can drastically improve both its longevity and efficiency, so you'll save money in the long run. The average cost of a new filter is around $10. When using your heat daily, aim to replace your filter every four to six weeks. ■ Remove snow and ice: Snow and ice can quickly pile up around inconven- ient areas, making side- walks, driveways and porches slippery. You can use a blowtorch to quickly and effectively melt snow and ice in small areas. Sim- ply heat a patch of ice or snow with the flame until it starts to melt. Then, use a shovel to clear the rest away. While this method isn't practical for clearing large surface areas, it is a productive way to quickly remove large chunks of ice or snow without needing to chip or scrape away at them. ■ Cover bare floor- boards: During the winter, non- insulated floors cause up to 10 percent of a home's heat loss, according to the National Energy Founda- tion. If you have wooden floors, consider adding rugs and blankets to help reduce some of that heat loss. As an added bonus, they'll help keep your feet warm as you're padding around the house. Additionally, if there are cracks or gaps in the floor, using a silicone-based filler can also help. Five do-it-yourself projects to help your home beat the cold weather blues BPT There's no tool like a blowtorch when it comes to thaw- ing plumbing pipes in the winter. Another winter project includes covering bare floors. (BPT) — Here are four key projects to help you stay warm and save money this winter and beyond. 1. Stop letting money slip through the cracks. An easy way to winterize and keep heat in is to find drafts and seal them. In fact, drafts can waste five to 30 percent of a home's ener- gy usage, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Keep drafts at bay by simply plac- ing a rolled bath towel under doors and seal gaps in windows with caulk, or apply weath- er stripping or window winterizing film to keep the warm air from escaping. Can't find the drafts? Simply run your fin- ger around edges of windows and doors to feel where air is leaking; or use a flashlight to see where light passes through. 2. Save water year-round. The kitchen is one of the hardest working areas in the house, and installing a low-flow faucet can help cut back on your water bills. Choose an option with a pulldown spray wand, like the Kendall kitchen faucet from Moen, that helps conserve water as well as make tasks in and around the sink easier. 3. Get smart with heating. You may think your old thermostat is doing just fine, but the truth is a new one can save you up to 12 percent on heating and 15 percent on cooling, according to The Nest. The Nest Thermostat is a new-age way to conserve resources through its ability to learn your schedule and teach you how to save through notifications. In turn, it'll save you money, since you'll be heating and cool- ing your home only when necessary. 4. Water heater cool down. The furnace isn't the only place to save by turning down the temperature. Many water heaters are set to 140 degrees, which can actually be dangerous and cause scalding. Simply lowering the temperature 20 degrees can save you $36 to $61 annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This will also slow mineral buildup and corrosion in the water heater and pipes, saving signifi- cant money in the long run. More ways to save money BPT A low-flow water faucet can cut water bills not only in winter but year-round.

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