5 New Year’s Resolutions All Homeowners Should Make — and 2 to Skip

Another bit of advice, says Paul: Stay on top of replacement costs. Since the pandemic, prices for construction materials have increased more than 35 percent, and the cost of labor has risen 30 percent. But just 30 percent of homeowners increased their insurance coverage during this period, according to a report from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. The rising cost to rebuild your house if it burns down or floods, for example, could leave you without adequate coverage in the event of a claim if you haven’t taken the cost increases into account. 

Improve indoor air quality

You might be surprised to learn that the air inside your home can be more seriously polluted than the air outside, according to the EPA. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to headaches, dizziness, nose and throat irritation, and fatigue.

Make a resolution to breathe easier in the New Year. Controlling humidity levels, with a humidifier or dehumidifier, replacing filters in the HVAC system, using air purifiers, boosting air flow by running exhaust fans or leaving windows open as weather permits, and avoiding harsh cleaning products and items with strong scents can help you improve indoor air quality.

Schedule a home energy audit

The cost of heat, hot water, and running appliances and lighting adds up, and you could be spending more than necessary on your home energy bills (not to mention having an outsize impact on the environment). A home energy audit is a resolution that could cut costs and carbon.

John Karasaki, an energy efficiency specialist for Portland General Electric, in Oregon, describes a home energy audit as a comprehensive examination of your home’s energy use to calculate where improvements can be made.

“Without a comprehensive audit, which will prioritize and order which systems should be addressed first, customers tend to go after what they feel will give them the biggest benefit, but may not really do so or be the most cost effective,” Karasaki adds.

Your energy utility or nonprofit organizations like Earth Advantage can help you connect with home energy auditors. The average cost for a home energy audit ranges from $200 to $700, according to Angi.​

Hire a chimney sweep

The chimney sweep isn’t just a character in Mary Poppins. These experts inspect and clean chimneys, fireplaces, smoke ducts and flue pipes to ensure your fireplace is in good working order. Annual chimney cleaning also helps remove creosote, a byproduct of burning wood, which can build up on the interior of the chimney.

“Chimneys that are not properly cleaned and maintained carry an increased risk of fire and the presence of carbon monoxide in the home,” says Susan McKelvey, communications manager for the National Fire Protection Association.

Resolve to schedule chimney cleaning in 2024. The average cost is $129 to $380, according to Angi, which, while not small change, is a small price to protect your health and home.

2 New Year’s resolutions to skip

Air duct cleaning

Companies promise that using a high-powered vacuum system to stop dust and debris from finding their way into your home’s vents will improve system performance, reduce allergies and cut energy costs. But there’s no evidence that these services are effective. In fact, Kevin Brasler, executive editor of Consumers’ Checkbook, notes that the service, which costs between $268 and $493, according to Angi, can have a negative impact.

“For decades I have called duct cleaning ‘a solution in search of a problem,’ ” Brasler says. “If the company doesn’t properly apply vacuum pressure to the ductwork system, some of the dust that settled in the ducts will be loosened by the agitation and blown into the living space after the cleaning.”

Instead, Brasler suggests making a resolution to change your HVAC filters at least four times per year (or more often if your filter is difficult to see through when you hold it up to the light). The simple maintenance task will keep your HVAC system functioning optimally, which could extend its lifespan.

Furniture protection plans

Whether your New Year’s plans include splurging on new living room furniture or upgrading your mattress, Brasler notes that pricey protection plans aren’t worth the cost.

“Furniture protection plans … are highly profitable for the companies that sell them but usually bad buys for consumers,” he says. “These policies always include numerous exclusions and excuses to not pay claims. … Even if you have what the company agrees is a covered problem, you often must jump through multiple hoops to get it sorted out.”

You should have insurance to cover the contents of your home, including your new furniture, in case of a house fire or other catastrophic event, he adds.