Home & Garden

When it comes time to design the home of your dreams, the process can feel a little overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider. You need to worry about money, hiring the right contractors, and finding a way to turn your dream into a reality.

However, once finished, having a custom home design will be incredibly rewarding. You’ll have a brand new home that’s 100% unique to you and your family.

We want to help simplify your process and make things less stressful for you. Keep reading for our top five tips on how to design a home and keep your sanity.

1. Determine Your Budget

First, you need to start out by determining your budget. It may be worthwhile to get preapproved for a new home loan to verify how much money you’re working with. It would be terrible to spend countless hours designing a home you have no hope of affording.

Figure out your budget and look into the local housing market to begin the process of designing your home, starting with finding the right lot. Then you can start thinking in terms of size, features, etc.

2. Come Up With Design Plan

Now comes the fun part – coming up with your design plan. Will you choose a rustic, bohemian, or modern look? What about architectural features?

You probably already have a good idea of how you want to design and style your home. However, here are some interior design styles you can use as a reference. It never hurts to have some inspiration.

3. Identify Your Top Priorities

Next, we recommend coming up with a list of your top priorities when designing a house. Things will likely come up that will eat into your budget, set you back, and make you change directions. While this is to be expected with custom home design, you should determine ahead of time where you are and are not willing to compromise.

4. Don’t Forget About Function and Flow

Learning how to design your dream home means paying attention to the function and flow of your home as well. It’s not just about interior design and decoration. You need to make sure your home provides a comfortable space for all of your family members.

This means carefully planning the layout, size of rooms, number of bathrooms, storage space, and more.

5. Communicate Clearly With Your Home Builders

Finally, one of the most important home design tips is to make sure you and the builders are on the same page. They need to understand and embrace your vision for your custom home design. This also means establishing a reliable method of communication.

If you have a question or concern, you need to be able to get ahold of your builder. Similarly, they need to be able to contact you as soon as possible should any issues arise during the building process.

Need More Help With Your Custom Home Design?

If you need more help figuring out how to finalize your custom home design, we’re here for you. Our blog is dedicated to helping people like you with things in their everyday life. Be sure to check out some of our other articles for more tips and advice about home improvement, decor, and design!

In 2015, the National Association of Home Builders discovered that the average cost to build a single-family home was $460,000.

If you have the money to build a custom home, it’s one of the best options to choose to ensure that you get everything you want in your house.

But are you on a time crunch? You may be surprised to learn that the time it takes to custom build a home may not be as long as you think.

A Good Rule of Thumb

In general, most houses can be custom built in as little as a year or as long as two years. This will largely depend on all kinds of things, and that time may end up being shorter or longer than you anticipated.

If you want to custom build a home but don’t want to wait that long, you can choose a partially-customized home that can be built in around six months to a year. However, a lot of things will have to go perfectly right for it to be built in six months.

However, this time frame is based solely on how long the construction process will take to actually construct the home. This doesn’t factor in designing and pulling everything together before construction.

With those phases factored in, you might want to add another three to nine months, depending on who you hire and if you know what you want.

Other Factors That Come Into Play

While each person’s custom house will take a different amount of time to build, there are some things that can play a factor in how slow or fast the whole process goes.

There are some obvious things, like the size of your house, what details you want, and what extra additions you’d like added.

But there may be some other factors you didn’t even think about.

The Authorization Process

Before the company can start building your house, they’ll need to get permits and approval from the Planning and Building Departments. The requirements will be different depending on where you are trying to build.

However, getting these approvals can take up to a month (or more if there is a zoning or property issue).

Weather

The weather could also potentially delay your home’s construction.

This will depend on where you live, what weather is there, and what season you decide to build in. A little bit of bad weather here and there won’t cause too much of a problem on your home’s timeline, but there are some issues that will stop the progress altogether.

For example, if it’s raining too much, they won’t be able to build the home. Whether it’s snow, sleet, or rain, your home will have to wait. Even when it stops raining, there could still be issues with construction. For example, there may be too much mud caused by the rain to do anything.

Another thing that could be an issue is shifts in temperatures. Depending on where you live, weather that is too hot could be dangerous for the crew working on your home, causing them to have to stop. For weather that’s too cold, they may not be able to work on the home because concrete won’t harden or the paint can’t dry.

Location

The weather will also factor into the location aspect of what could be a potential problem with your home.

Before you decide where you want to build your home, make sure that you research everything that you can about it. You’ll want to search for things including what type of soil is on the site.

If it’s soil like clay, it will be even harder to dig up and put a house there.

There might be other things like rocks or hills that could cause potential problems. Talk to the construction crew about the environment of the plot of land before you commit to building a home there.

How to Make the Process Faster

While these factors can hinder the progress of your new home, there are a few things you can do to help smooth out the process.

Following these few steps can make it less stressful and potentially shorten the time it takes.

Choose the Right Company

Before you even start designing or building your home, you should research a bunch of different companies, like these custom home builders.

When you interview a company or call them for a quote, pay attention to a few things. Do they seem organized and professional? Or do you feel like they’re running around trying to meet deadlines and can’t communicate with each other?

Ask them about who the architect, subcontractors, interior designers, and other vendors are. You should make sure they have a good team to work with. If they don’t, this could cause you delays later on down the road.

Figure Out What You Really Want

Once you’ve found a good custom home builder, you’ll need to decide what you really want. Before you start planning with an architect, you should have a rough idea of what you’re looking for.

Make sure you do your own research and take your time making the right decisions. You’ll have to plan out every single thing, from where the lights are to where the outlets are.

It’s better to get this ironed out now so you aren’t changing it halfway through the design process and prolonging the construction.

Discover More Tips on How to Custom Build a Home

This is only a rough estimate of how long it takes to custom build a home, but it really depends on all kinds of factors.

Building a new home and moving into it can be exhausting and overwhelming, but thankfully we have you covered.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more just like this one!

Searching for the best AC systems for your home can feel quite overwhelming as you begin your journey to find the right one for your home and family. But, with a little research and patience, you can land on the one that suits you best in no time!

In this article, we’re looking at a few different AC systems to help make your decision a little less stressful. Let’s dive right in.

What Are the Best AC Systems

Your home AC system is one of the most important features of your home. That’s why so many homeowners tend to stick with name brands they can trust. Lennox, Trane, and Carrier are a few of the top name brands for a reason – they are efficient and they last.

Let’s take a peek at some specs below.

Lennox

With 11 different models to choose from, Lennox is a reputable brand that features low running costs and an even better sound rating.

Trane

Trane is rated as one of the best AC systems on the market earning the number two spot on a recent Consumer Reports survey. It touts a high-efficiency rating with fair pricing.

You can select your unit from 9 models that vary from single stage to variable capacity. Not to mention the standard 10-year warranty that covers both parts and labor.

Carrier

While the Carrier brand is a little more expensive, it earns a place on this list for the pure fact that it’s been a trusted brand for over 100 years.

Carrier is one of the quietest AC systems on the market with single-stage and two-stage models.

What About a Split System AC?

Many homeowners have never heard of a Split System AC. This is quite unfortunate because they make great cooling systems on a budget, both installed and on your monthly electric bills. Here are a few reputable brands to consider.

Rinnai Split System AC Unit

The best feature for this system is the cooling and heating capacity. It’s dimes in the bucket for split system installation compared to traditional AC systems and suitable for all living areas in your home.

The Rinnai Split AC has a modern design with WiFi controls and a 5-year warranty!

Pioneer Mini Split AC Unit

For cooling up to 2700 square feet, the Pioneer is one of the best ductless air conditioners for a single room. It features an LED display so you can set and read your desired temperature, or you can use the remote control.

YMGI Mini Split AC Unit

The YMGI Mini Split AC can cool a minimum of 400 square feet up to 2000 square feet with up to 5 remotes for the various rooms in your home. It features quiet operation with automatic air vents and wide-angle distribution.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, there are many options available for cooling your home.

I hope you found this article helpful while you’re searching for the best AC systems. Keep checking our Home and Garden section for more tips and tricks to enhance your living space.

 

Besides enhancing curb appeal and aesthetic value, your roof also serves a functional purpose. It shields your home’s interior and its occupants from adverse outside weather. That’s why you should take your time when picking out a roof for your home.

The roofs of residential homes are mostly sloped on at least one end to allow for proper drainage during rain and snowfall. Hip roof and gable roofs are historically among the most popular types of roofs in the country because they serve both aesthetic and functional purposes pretty well.

Both hip and gable roofs are ideal roof types for your next roof replacement. However, the better option depends on a couple of factors that we’ll discuss later on.

Keep reading as we highlight the pros and cons of both gable and hip roof, and see which is best suited for your case.

The Gable Roof

Gable roofs are among the most popular roofs in the country, and possibly worldwide. You can spot a gable roof from a mile away due to its iconic triangular shape. Gable roof is the most rudimentary roof design that consists of two plain sheets conjoined at the top to form a ridge.

You can trace gable roofs way back to the ancient Greeks who used them for their temples. Nowadays, they have become a staple for homes all across Europe, the US, and much of the world.

Types of Gable Roofs

Over the years, Gable roofs have diversified into a few types. Here are the main types of gable roofs

Side Gable- A side Gable has two equal-sized panels joined and pitched at the center. The door of the house will be placed on the side, under one panel of the gable roof.

Front Gable- Classic triangular gable roof with a center pitch and a door at the front of the house.

Box Gable- Similar to the classic triangular pitched gable, but they have a boxed roof section at the end

Cross Gable- These roofs consist of two or more intersecting rooflines. This means the roof will have the two or more ridges running perpendicular to each other.

Dutch Gable- You can think of the dutch gable roof as a combination between a gable and a hip roof. The gable roof sits on top of the hip roof which makes for a very spacious attic.

Advantages of Gable Roofs

There’s a reason why Gable roofs are so polar across the world. Here are some advantages of gable roofs:-

Cost-effective- The simplicity of its design and its ease of construction makes the gable roof a very cost-effective roofing solution. With such a high demand for gable roofs, the cost of production is also lower than that of hip roofs.

Plenty of attic space- Gable roofs give a little extra space that you could use for storage and other reasons.

It looks good- The minimalist design of gable roofs is excellent for those not looking to take a chance with their roof design.

Great ventilation- You can’t compare the ventilation you get with a gable roof with a hip roof’s ventilation.

Disadvantages of Gable Roofs

Gable roofs aren’t without their downsides. The following are some disadvantages of gable roofs:-

Cannot resist strong winds- Gable roofs are likely to fail under high-velocity winds. This makes it unsuitable for windy areas.

Low aesthetic value- For the chic individual, the simple minimalist designs of gable roofs may not suit their taste.

That pretty much sums up all the downside to gable roofs. Remember, to get a reputable contractor like Sonshine Roofing for your gable roofs. Improper installation is the number one reason gable roofs fail.

The Hip Roof

If you’re not a huge fan of gable roofs, then hip roofs are more your fancy. Hip roofs have three or more pitched planes with downward slopes. A ridge at the top of the roof joins all planes, and the slope makes for excellent drainage.

Hip roofs date way back to the 18th century but became a hit with American houses in the 1950s. If you take good care of your hip roof, it can last you more than 50 years.

Type of Hip Roofs

There are many types of hip roofs for your consideration. Here are the most common types of hip roofs.

Simple hip- This is the most basic version of the hip roof. It consists of two polygons and two triangles that sit opposite of each other.

Cross hip- A more stylish variation of the conventional four-sided hip roof. It consists of two hip roofs either in an “L” or “T” shape installed side by side.

Hip roofs have many variations, and there’ no limit to what designs you can choose for your home. However, just like a gable roof, hip roofs require extreme care and precision during installation.

Pros of Hip Roofs

Hip roofs are a popular choice for homeowners across the country. Here are a few reasons why this could be so:-

Weather-resistant- Hip roofs can withstand harsh weather conditions, unlike gable roofs. This makes them ideal for windy and storm-prone areas.

High aesthetic value- You can design hip roofs into intricate designs for a visually stunning roof. It has more design variety compared to gable roofs.

Material variety- You can construct hip roofs with a variety of materials, including shingles, and even metal panels.

Seamless guttering and eves- The eves and guttering that surround the roof can be consistent on all sides.

These are just a few reasons why people across the country swear by hip roofs. However, hip roofs also have their cons.

Cons of Hip Roofs

Owning a hip roof comes with its own set of problems. Here are some cons of hip roofs.

Hard to build and design- Hip roofs have intricate designs that make them pretty hard to construct.

Less space- Compared to gable roofs, hip roofs give less attic space for storage or any other reason.

Expensive- You might have to dig deep into your pockets to get yourself a hip roof. Hip roofs are marginally more expensive than gable roofs.

For most homeowners, the pros of owning a hip roof outweigh the cons. That’s why you’ll see most homes rocking this kind of roof.

The Choice Is Yours

There’s both a good side and bad side to choosing either a hip or gable roof for your roof replacement. Ultimately, the choice of roof replacement you pick solely depends on you and your personal preferences. Regardless of your choice, remember never to compromise on your roofing contractor.

For most homes, the roof is the icing on the cake. Bringing the best out of your home takes a lot of hard work and commitment. For helpful reads on how to do exactly that, make sure you check out the other pieces on the site.

 

Foundation problems are often an unfortunate part of life for many homeowners. However, the truth is that you don’t have to just live with these foundation issues. There are plenty of foundation problems that a foundation repair expert can help you fix for good. In fact, many TV shows and movies showcase a variety of foundation problems that you may also have. Here are some of the most famous basements in movies and TV that may have problems you’re also experiencing.

Stranger Things

The idea behind Stranger Things is that it’s a small, unassuming little town that starts to experience a huge amount of paranormal activity because of an unknown event. However, that leads to a variety of problems for them, including a basement that has electrical problems and a crack in the wall from a demon.

Although you probably haven’t experienced a demon’s wrath anytime recently, it’s true that your basement may have cracks and fractures from general settling or from another accident. Fixing these things is crucial if you want to get your basement back on the right track.

Ghostbusters

The Ghostbusters keep their office in a firehouse building, which has a containment unit on the lower level. At one point, an EPA inspector orders an electrician to cut the power to the building, which makes the containment unit explode.

Many people have experienced electrical system instability to some extent. If you often have light flickers in an area of your home, for example, that can indicate that there are instabilities in the electrical system. You can install a backup generator and rewire the home to remove these instabilities.

BlacKkKlansman

One of the characters of this movie, Felix, has an office in the basement of his home in Colorado. As a Klu Klux Klan member, he uses it to map out his movements. However, it’s clearly poorly maintained, with dampness evident around the basement.

Many people have to deal with dampness in the basement; especially if you live in a very wet area, you may experience some kind of dampness on a regular basis. A basement repair expert can help you assess the root cause of the dampness and fix it.

Home Alone

In one especially memorable moment from Home Alone, Kevin goes into the home’s basement, where he encountered the furnace. It seemed as though the furnace turned into a monster. Plus, as he entered the basement, he noted that it smelled funny.

Sure, you probably don’t have an actual furnace demon in your home. However, you could very well have a non-functioning furnace or strange smells emanating from the basement. If either of these are the case, you may need to replace your furnace or install a dehumidifier.

Ozark

Marty and his family move to Missouri during the course of this show, an area known to be very damp, and settle in a lakefront home. The general family took the top floor, while Buddy moved into the basement; however, the dampness of the basement exacerbates Buddy’s terminal illness.

In especially humid areas, you may need a different approach to handling dampness in your basement. If you do live in a generally very humid area, you might need to install a dehumidifier in the basement even if it’s fully waterproofed. This is a great way to avoid unnecessary moisture in the area.

Conclusion

Sure, not everything in movies and TV shows are exactly the same as they would be in real life. However, it’s important to know that there are plenty of things in movies and TV shows that do interact with the reality of your basement. If you’re having problems that are in any way similar to the problems in these movies and TV shows, consider talking to a basement repair expert that can help you fix those problems.

 

Thinking of perking up your sleeping quarters? You don’t need to spend extravagantly on them. You may want to consider having a fitted bedroom, but it does not have to be costly. Many companies can offer bespoke packages for your room at reasonable rates. Also, there are many other things you can do to enhance your bedroom inexpensively.

Repositioning your bed

The bed is the bedroom’s centrepiece. What you do with it has a significant impact on the look and feel of the room. For example, putting it by the window and facing the west can instantly create a new character. The new position can provide a nice place for your reading or knitting with natural light coming from the back. You might also find improved ventilation relaxing or freshening.

If you are the superstitious type, you may want to use feng shui to guide your bed positioning. Conventional feng shui dictates that you should be able to see the door when you are lying on the bed but not directly in line with the door. Also, your bed should be in line with the toilet door.

Wall decorating with tapestries

If you find your walls boring, but you do not have the budget for a nice paint job or wallpaper installation, you can use fabrics as alternatives. They are easy to put up and inexpensive. Also, you can change the design or take them off easily if you end up not liking them. However, avoid having tapestries if you have asthma or respiratory conditions. These decorative cloths attract dust easily and require regular, thorough cleaning.

Reducing your things

Sometimes, enhancement entails reduction. It might be a good idea to take out some of the furniture you have in your bedroom. You could be having a hard time moving around in your bedroom because of your furniture. Consider relocating the chairs, tables, or cabinets you rarely use. Remove unused fixtures to free up space in your room.

Organising your things

You may not really be having problems with your space, room arrangement, or aesthetics. A little decluttering could be the improvement your room needs. Organise your things and see possible spaces you can free in your room. Consider digitising documents, including your photos and other multimedia files. You can even save your digital files on the cloud to secure them better.

Mounting cabinets and shelves to the wall

Another excellent idea to bear in mind is the relocation of standing cabinets onto the walls. Doing so can open a lot of space on your floor, which should make your bedroom feel more spacious and comfortable. Be careful with the installation, though. Don’t cause an accident just to save space in your room.

Again, you don’t need to spend a lot to make your bedroom look better and become more comfortable. Start with the basics. Do some cleaning, organising, rearranging, and decorating. You can then search for more creative ideas that may cost you more but will yield significant enhancements.

There is a homeowners association near me which I tried to join when I first moved into my property but I couldn’t as I was just outside of their area. The people who ran that HA however did offer to help us get started if I could get enough people together in my area and so I began knocking on doors and around 6 weeks later we managed to get enough people on board to have our very own HA. I was a member of an HA where I used to live but it wasn’t a very active one, ours however is very different and here is why I believe everyone should set one up in their neighborhood.

Community

The first point to make here is that just in the setting up of the HA you have a lot more contact with your neighbors and that brings everyone closer together. You don’t have to get on with all of your neighbors of course but it is so much nicer when you can all be cordial with one another and you can form a mini community. This helps in so many ways from supporting one another to adding security in and around your home.

Presentation

There is a common rule which is followed in a HA which surrounds keeping your property looking good and making sure that the public spaces are also kept litter free and looking in good shape. This is not only nicer for the residents but it is also far more likely to ensure that anyone new who comes into the area is aware of what is expected of them. There is a theory that if you live in a dump you will treat it as such, which is why doing the opposite can be so beneficial.

Installations

If you would like to have certain installations in and around your property such as kid’s area, pet area or perhaps even a public pool or bench, doing it on your own isn’t much good but doing it collectively with fellow homeowners can be a far more efficient way of getting things done.

House Value

A well managed HA will help to maintain the value of the properties within it and it will also make your property more desirable to those who are coming in. A tidy area with less breakages and repairs outstanding, not to mention the security benefits which this will offer and the community feel, all of this is very attractive to a new homeowner.

The key to getting a HA set up is to first get around your neighbors and take their temperature on whether or not they would be up for this. Once that is done, set up a very informal meeting with them so that you can all have a chat about what you are looking to get out of such an agreement, and how you will manage it going forward.

Covid -19, the global pandemic that has caused a complete change up on how we live and function as a community as altered nearly every facet of modern living. Considering that most of our living and working takes place without built up urban spaces, it’s little wonder why such drastic precautions are required to help stem the infection of our population. Staying in is certainly the new going out, and despite the application of online conference platforms to maintain professional work duties, the home is firmly, despite the slight easing of lockdown, a place for work, rest and play.

As such home based activities have become more popular, games and computer consoles have seen a renaissance in their popularity in retail as well as taking up new hobbies online.
Another aspect people are becoming aware of is the growing unease in property prices. A global recession is deemed highly likely, which will result in less people being able to afford to sell their homes and move.

Under these strained circumstances, however, there is good reason to breathe some new life into your home. Loft ladders with handrails is a familiar way to go when modernizing an area for your home. Think of a games room for all those fun new toys as well as adding an additional value to your home.

Add loft ladders with handrails and other space saving quirks

Functionality and quirks are what make a space for living in. And as such this can prove very attractive to a potential buyer.

Consider space saving cupboard inside existing furniture or unused spaces. Having cupboards inside steps is a nice touch to bring space saving and style to the loft stairway.
A really simple but effective intervention in the lot conversation is adding loft ladders with handrails to create a sense of support and permanence to the space.

Temporal aluminum fold up ladders are fine but having a spiral staircase with handrails adds a homely sense of permanence to the additional room is makes for a safer way of stepping into the loft.

That 80’s bedroom style – think Goonies!

That all time childhoods favorite movie had a great sense of fun. Think about using areas of the home that are collecting dust.

The loft is an ideal area to consider for a games room. Clear out the unwanted items, get a good clean on and lay down some simple full sheet boards.

Install a window
Natural light is an immediate investment into any living space. Bringing in daylight into those darkened crevices of your home makes a space more inviting and airy.

Install a window into your loft conversion. It will be the costliest part of the transformation but will fully convert the space into another room. By investing £10K into a basic loft conversation, the property value can increase by £50k with a little living adjustments made into the space over time.

When water pipes burst or leak, the damage is unparalleled.

If you’re trying to avoid this problem in your home, try figuring out the lifespan of your plumbing. Besides determining the age of your pipes, you can also evaluate the condition of your home’s plumbing to figure out how soon it will need replacing.

Before you plumb the kitchen and bathrooms, check out these tips for deciding if it really needs work.

Toilet Plumbing Replacement

Inspect the toilet for cracks or damage if plumbing a bathroom is on your to-do list this season.

Replacing the toilet isn’t really a problem if there aren’t any cracks. If you have some tough stains you can’t remove, you may want to update the stool for a better aesthetic, but it’s not required.

You may have to do repairs and regular maintenance sooner than that, though. The wax seal may need replacing after about 20 years.

If it won’t flush without holding the handle down you may need to replace the handle. Other signs it needs replacement are running water or having to jiggle the handle to get the water to stop running.

Outdoor Plumbing Replacement

Any pipes that run to or through your house don’t usually need replacing until they’re at least 80 years old. Supply pipes and drain lines are both long-lasting and aren’t something to worry about. If you’re searching, “What is a plumbing line?” then consult with an expert about how old they think your pipes are and whether they need replacing.

While a natural disaster can destroy your plumbing, it’s unusual. You could also have tree roots grow through pipes. However, these aren’t typical problems you’ll have to worry about.

Plumb the Kitchen: Replacement Timeline

The sink is where most of your kitchen pipes go. The sink itself should last for many years, although you may want to update it for style. Porcelain sinks can, but otherwise, they should last for 50 years or more.

Your garbage disposal will only last about 10 years, though. If you notice any smells that linger or if the disposal has trouble breaking down food, you may want to check into replacing it sooner.

Your dishwasher should last about 9-12 years, depending how you use it. With regular maintenance, it may have no trouble reaching the further end of that range, although you may want to start saving for a new one sooner.

General Plumbing Updates Around the House

You can update your household plumbing anytime you’re ready for a change. While toilets and faucets are long-lasting, you may want to replace them to fit your current style preferences. Plumbing a toilet isn’t everyone’s favorite job, but it can help your home look more modern.

More energy-efficient plumbing becomes available as technology changes. Whether you want a toilet that uses less water to flush or an eco-friendly hot water heater, taking good care of the environment is a priority for many homeowners.

Plumbers may also recommend replacing faucets and other fixtures if they are under constant repair or if they reach a point where they can’t repair them any longer.

Do I Need New Plumbing?

Now that we’ve answered your questions about whether you need to plumb your house, you should be able to tell if the current plumbing is sufficient.

Make sure to check with an expert to confirm your suspicions before you make your final decision. If you choose replacement for style reasons, then you don’t need to worry about the age of the pipes and fixtures.

Did you find this article helpful? Check out the rest of our website for more information!

 

Nearly all adults in the United States have an electricity bill, but how many understand their bill? Recent information showed that the average residential electricity customer in the US used about 914 kWh of electricity per month.

After taking a look at your electricity bill, do you understand how your provider arrived at the numbers? Have you ever wondered if you could estimate your next month’s bill?

If so, keep reading to learn more about calculating your electric bill.

Reading Your Meter

If you have an energy bill, it is important to understand how to read your meter.

Being able to read your meter will help with being able to estimate your costs and will also allow you to ensure your provider is completing accurate readings and that your bill is correct.

Ceiling lights, phone chargers, your bedside lamp, and all of your appliances all contribute to your total electricity bill. Thankfully, once you learn how to calculate the cost of individual items, you will be able to moderate your usage of things that use more energy than others to lower your bill.

Smart meters and digital meters make the process simple. All that you need to do is look at your meter and take note of the first five numbers that you see.

Calculating Your Electric Bill

Calculating your electricity bill does not need to be complicated. Let’s take a look at some of the steps you need to take to get started.

1. Take a look at your most recent statement and find out what the last reading was and take note of the number.
2. Subtract the number you found on your previous bill from the current reading on your meter to arrive at the kilowatts per hour (kWh) used in the last month.
3. Look on your bill to find out what your provider’s charge is for one kilowatt-hour and multiply that by the kWh for the month.
4. Add on any fixed fees that are charged to that number, and you have your final bill amount!

Electricity rates vary by company, so once you have figured out this information, it is a good idea to shop around with other providers in your area.

Calculating Individual Items

To take things a step further from calculating your monthly bill yourself, you are also able to calculate an estimate for the cost of powering individual items.

1. Find the wattage for the device you want to estimate usage for. It is usually on a label and has a “W” after the number.
2. Estimate the number of hours the device is used per day.
3. Multiply the wattage by the hours of use.
4. Divide that number by 1000, and then multiply it by the kilowatt per hour rate for your provider.

That may take a little time, but it is well worth the effort to be able to lower your usage of devices that are negatively impacting your bill.

Use with Confidence

Once you understand the basics of your bill and how it’s calculated, you can take ownership of using your electricity wisely, lowering your electric bill and ensuring your bill is accurate.

For more interesting articles on home, DIY projects, and money, check out our site!