Questions tagged [cost-effective]
The cost-effective tag has no usage guidance.
32 questions
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Mini split instead of central AC to save money
just purchased a 3/3 1450sf two story townhouse. We work from home in the upstairs office. We run our central AC to cool the office and the bedroom at night, but realize it’s a waste to cool the ...
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If my 120 volt toaster oven draws 14 amps on high & my oven draws 12 amps on high, which one would use less electricity to bake a pizza?
An article from my AARP magazine suggests using a toaster oven vs a regular full size electric oven to bake a pizza, make a dinner, bake a pie, etc because it would use about half of the electricity ...
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Real world difference between a 0.18 W/m^2k U-value and 0.22 W/m^2k U-value
I'm currently choosing the thickness of the PIR insulation I will use for the ground floor (first floor US) in my house. It's a traditional (UK) suspended timber floor build with concrete foundations ...
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How to estimate and compare operating costs of gas vs electric furnace?
My home has an old electric, central furnace. All of my neighbors are on natural gas. I pay 5-6 times as much as they do on my heating bills during winter months.
I can either convert my home to ...
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stats on *total* cost of high-efficiency boiler?
Not trying to start a subjective debate here, just looking for some objective statistics.
I get that high-efficiency boilers are much more efficient, and will save big bucks over their lifetime in ...
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What affects the cost of a concrete driveway installation?
We have an existing wraparound driveway, and with our daughters looking to get cars we're looking to add a few pads on the side for parking. I called around to talk to different contractors, as well ...
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Building a Retaining Wall Next to Fence
I would like to replace an existing retaining wall (pictured) which is falling apart with one that is as close as possible to the fence line to reclaim some of our back yard from the drive way. Our ...
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How can I trust a local window manufacturer? What to research or check?
I'd like to support local and there's 3 companies nearby that offer custom made vinyl windows. They all seem to be >30 year old companies, which I respect a lot.
I did a ton of research it seems ...
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Is there a trick to make an electric screw driver with adjustable torque from a nonadjustable drill?
I have an electric drill without a feature to adjust its torque. Because too many bolts and screws to fasten as quickly as possible, I need an electric screwdriver.
Using a screwdriver bit directly ...
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How to minimize waste when installing the subfloor
I need to replace floor in a shed. Existing floor is a hodgepodge of pieces and materials (flat-edge OSB, particleboard), so I'd like to arrange floor from scratch using T&G OSB. What are the ...
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Laminate Flooring fixes
Within the last year I remodeled my house and a contractor put in some new laminate flooring. It was great because it was very dense, heavy quality stuff that didnt scratch at all. We really like it.
...
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Most cost effective thermostat setting: consistent temperature vs. lowest temperature possible
The problem: Our heating bills are about 25% higher than our average neighbors according to our bill, yet our temperature is always as low as we can stand it (mid 50's), we have excellent insulation ...
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When calculating rebuilding costs for insurance purposes, should foundation replacement be considered?
In this question I asked at what temperature a foundation becomes unusable for rebuilding purposes. The answer was a fairly low 570°F (~299°C). A house fire that burns a structure to the ground would ...
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Cost effectiveness of fireplace with insert vs electric furnace
Now that winter is here I have been using my fireplace (that has an insert) more and more instead of my furnace that has a electric heater. I was wondering which method of heating would be the most ...
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Why would you ever choose open-cell spray foam?
I've been researching spray foam for the attic in my Maryland house built in 1901. Currently it's a vented attic, and we've decided to spray foam the bottom of the roof deck, turning the attic into ...
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LED strips quit working
I replaced all of my under-counter fluorescent light strips with Connecting LED strips two years ago.
I thought they were supposed to last forever?
Last week, one strip went out. A week later two ...
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How to calculate theoretical long-term projected savings for a DIY solar powered fridge? [closed]
I went on energystar [dot] gov and used their product finder to find the lowest "annual energy use" compact refrigerator. For my use, that turned out to be the FURRION - FCR43ACA-BL which has an ...
user74623
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Why is woodwork relatively meager in modern homes? [closed]
I notice that older houses tend to have much more massive and finely wrought woodwork than new homes. For example, here is a railing from an early 20th century house:
Notice the elaborate paneling on ...
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When are energy/water consumption specs important in regards to the price?
I am comparing 2 washing machines that have 148 euros difference.
The cheapest one has in the specs:
Annual energy consumption:
174 kWh
Annual water consumption:
10.840 l
Energy ...
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Selling house, and want to put in the easiest lowest cost patio in backyard
Putting the house on the market soon, and the back door steps currently step right down to the lawn. I would like to put a patio-like landing area there, maybe 10'x 10'.
Approach: I'm considering ...
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Floor lamps vs ceiling lamps [closed]
Is there any difference in cost between floor lamps and ceiling lamps?
If I would prefer the lowest consumption of the 2 which is more suitable?
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How to reduce my electric bill [closed]
Update Learned a ton about heat pumps, and wondering about Solar. Does anyone in the northeast have solar roofs? (solar shingles)
I live in an all electric home (single family detached house) in New ...
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Cheap wood-ish replacement for glass panel in door
This question is similar to another one already on SE but this one focuses on the task as a repair issue rather than as a remodeling one.
How can I cheaply and easily (I am a layperson) create a ...
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Cost of adjusting the thermostat
Is it more cost effective to (1) play with the thermostat by lowering it at times that you're not home or needing the heat and raising it back later or (2) leaving the temperature on a set amount and ...
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Emergency Heat Coils vs Space Heaters
I have two heat pumps, in an all electric house. Unfortunately they both seemed to have stopped working at nearly exactly the same time. I have called for qualified repairman, but they won't be out to ...
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Calculating total energy savings for LED lighting
I'm redoing all the electrical in my entire house, and I was running some numbers just for fun on the energy efficiency gains by just having LED, vs incandescent bulbs. I know the basic LEDs use much ...
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Best cost efficient plug-in heating devices / radiators
We moved to a 2-bedroom apartment that has baseboard heating devices installed. Our first electricity bill was huge (around $400) and we only used 3 of them and not all day long.
Here is a pic of the ...
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Which is better indirect or tankless hotwater heater
I am in the process of getting my boiler and hot water heater replaced. One company gave me a quote for a Weil McLain boiler and indirect hot water heater. Another company gave me a quote for a bosh ...
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Cheaper to use 8" electic stovetop coil or 6" coil?
I found out that my Kenmore electric stove small 6" burner is really 120v.
The larger 8" coil is 220v. Based on the wattage of replacement coils:
6" elec burner(120v) 1500w = 12.5amps
8" (220v) ...
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Can upgrading my boiler save me money?
I've just received my annual gas usage statement. It came as a surprise to me that I'm using almost the average gas consumption in the UK. The average is 16,500kWh and I used 15,000kWh over the year.
...
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Are products like redguard fit for use as a waterproofing membrane for shower pans or floor applications?
Given that you pour your own pan - lets not worry about the exact material but obviously it would be porous. Can you use a "waterproofing paint" to create your pan without any other waterproofing ...
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How can I refresh the finish on my kitchen cabinets?
I am getting ready to put my house on the market and I would like to clean \ "restore" my kitchen cabinets. They are an oak cabinet that aren't painted, they are stained. I don't know exactly what ...
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