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5 Tips for Saving Energy in the Family Room. Courtesy of Todd Stewart of Stewart Construction and Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties.

Reduce your electricity bills by systematically purging your family room of wasteful energy practices.

The three biggest energy hogs in the family room are the plasma television, DVR/Tivo box, and digital cable box. Image: Steven Errico/Digital Vision/Getty Images

The fun-a video game console, TV, DVR, DVD, and stereo system-that your family room provides comes with a price. By reducing standby power, using rechargeable batteries in remotes, and replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, you could save up to $130 a year in energy costs.

And if you're in the market for a new TV, you can save even more energy by being flexible on the type you buy.

1. Reconsider that plasma TV. The three biggest energy hogs in the family room are the plasma television, DVR/Tivo box, and digital cable box, says the nonprofit American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, which promotes energy efficiency to consumers and government policymakers.

A typical plasma TV (less than 40 inches) consumes 441 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, according to ACEEE. That translates into about $50 (based on 11.3 cents per kilowatt hour). Next up are TiVo devices at $41 annually, followed by digital cable boxes at $27. Both devices are always fully on because they constantly receive and download data.

Opting for an LCD (liquid crystal display) TV will cost about $8 to operate annually-for an annual savings of about $42 over the plasma. Of course, weigh your decision against the cost of a new TV.

2. Reduce standby power. Vampire power-the energy that's wasted by electronic devices that are plugged in, but not in use-represents about $100 per year in the average household's electricity costs, says Energy Star. Assuming the family room represents about 15% of your electricity bill, you could save about $15 per year with smart standby practices.

Unplug rarely used electronics (like that karaoke machine) altogether and cluster other appliances, even adapters for cell phones and digital cameras, onto power strips ($3-$12 for a six-outlet strip). Then you can fully turn off all attached electronics with one switch.

Unfortunately, some family room electronics, such as set-top boxes and downloading devices like TiVo, can't be turned off, because that would disrupt the digital data-gathering you've programmed them to do. But with a so-called smart power strip (about $20 to $40 through online retailers), you can completely turn off your TV while leaving the always-on DVR plugged in.

3. Opt for Energy Star-rated electronics. They're anywhere from 6% (audio products) to 75% (DVD players) more efficient than non-rated electronics. Take Energy Star-rated television sets. They use about one-third less energy than their nonrated counterparts.

If you can't live without plasma, consider an Energy Star model for which you'll pay $18 less per year in operating costs than for a nonrated one. If you use an Energy Star-rated digital cable box (ask your provider if any are available for no charge), you could pay 30% less for energy-an annual savings of about $8.50. Energy Star hasn't yet published data on swapping out a DVR or Tivo device.

4. Invest in rechargeable batteries. No, they won't help you save on your electric bill. But you'll save on the cost of batteries for your video game system and other entertainment remotes, according to PJ Stafford, founder of Green Irene, an eco-consulting company that provides energy and environmental makeovers to homeowners. You'll help the environment, too. For every rechargeable battery you buy, you prevent at least 500 single-use batteries from entering the waste stream, Stafford says.

Consider a game system charger station, which runs about $25, or outfit your media room with 10 rechargeable batteries and two chargers for $55 to $65. (Rechargeable AA and AAA batteries cost $3 to 3.50 apiece, versus 75 cents to $1 for disposables; a charger costs $25 to $30.) That investment in rechargeable batteries and chargers, in lieu of 500 batteries over four years, adds up to about $310 to $445 in savings. Buying a charging system for your video game system eliminates the need to buy batteries for the controllers.

Call your local trash collection service to find out which batteries can be recycled or taken to a transfer station versus being thrown away. If you're doing a major sweep-out of old batteries and appliances, consider Big Green Box, which lets you send your devices and batteries to a sustainable processing facility. Recycle old rechargeable batteries for free via programs like Call 2 Recycle.

5. Replace bulbs with compact fluorescents. By replacing one 60-watt incandescent bulb with the equivalent compact fluorescent in a family room where ights are on for four hours per day, you could save $7 per year. CFLs cost between $2 and $15. By: Jane Hodges

New Construction Homes for Sale in Clifton Park NY, Burnt Hills NY and All of Saratoga County. Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez and Stewart Construction Inc. Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems

Maintaining gutters is the most important thing you can do to prevent water damage to your home.

Mesh covers keep debris from clogging gutters, but they can sometimes be more expensive than the gutters themselves. Image: dmr-gutters.com

New Construction Homes for Sale in Clifton Park NY, Burnt Hills NY and All of Saratoga County. Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez and Stewart Construction Inc. Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems

Gutters are designed to do one thing-channel water away from the foundation-and they're critical to protecting the structural integrity of your house. But in order for gutters to do their job properly, they have to be kept in shape and free of clogs, holes, and sags.

Luckily, most common gutter problems are easy for homeowners to fix themselves. And it's worth the effort. "Gutters are one of those things where routine maintenance and inspecting them can really prevent bigger problems down the road," says Jason Stutzman, director of home maintenance and repair for Brothers Redevelopment in Denver.

Here are the gutter problems that the pros see most often, and the recommended solutions.

Clogged gutters

This is the most common problem of all. Left untended, gutters and downspouts get so clogged with debris that they're rendered useless. The excess weight of leaves, twigs, and standing water can also make them sag and pull away from the fascia.

Clean them at least once a year, and twice a year if you have a lot of trees nearby. Gary Mindlin, managing partner of New York City-based Top Hat Home Services, schedules gutter maintenance four times a year, with additional checks after big storms.

You can clean your own gutters if you're comfortable on a ladder, don't mind getting wet and dirty, and don't have an extremely tall house. After you've cleared the muck, flush them with a garden hose to make sure they're flowing properly. If you'd prefer, you can hire someone to do the job for you for between $50 and $250, depending on the size of your house.

Another option for dealing with chronically clogged gutters is to outfit them with gutter covers. These include mesh screens, clip-on grates, and porous foam. They still need regular maintenance, though, and the cost can be more than the gutters themselves.

Sagging gutters and gutters pulling away from the house

This is usually a problem with the hangers, the hardware that secures the gutters to the fascia. They might have deteriorated over time, the fasteners may have backed out of the wood, or they're spaced too far apart to support the weight of full gutters. The cost to fix it yourself is cheap; hangers generally cost $10 or less apiece, and the fasteners run about $1 each.

New Construction Homes for Sale in Clifton Park NY, Burnt Hills NY and All of Saratoga County. Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez and Stewart Construction Inc. Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems

Leaks and holes

Leaky gutter joints can be sealed by caulking the joint from the inside with gutter sealant, says John Eggenberger, vice president of training and corporate development for the Mr. Handyman franchise of home repair companies. A tube costs about $5. Very small holes can be filled with gutter sealant. Larger holes will require a patch. If you can't find a gutter patching kit at the hardware store, you can make a patch from metal flashing.

Improperly pitched gutters

Gutters need to be pitched toward the downspouts for the water to flow properly. You want at least a quarter inch of slope for every 10 feet. Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter; if there's standing water, it's not pitched properly.

To correct this yourself, you'll need to measure from the peak to the downspout. Snap a chalk line between the two and find the spots where the gutter is out of alignment. You might be able to push it up into place by bending the hanger. If that doesn't solve the problem, you might need to take a section down and rehang it. If you have seamless gutters, call the company that installed them to correct the problem.

Downspouts draining too close to the foundation

Downspouts need to extend several feet from the house, or they'll dump right into the basement. Gutter extensions attached to the bottom of the downspout will discharge water well beyond the foundation. They're inexpensive and easy to install. "I like the downspout material extended four or five feet and screwed on," says Reggie Marston, president of Residential Equity Management Home Inspections in Springfield, Va. Cost: less than $20 per downspout.

Missing gutters

If your house has no gutters at all, consider investing in a system. The cost depends on the material. Most residential gutters are aluminum, which is lightweight and durable. "Unless an aluminum gutter is damaged by something, it will last forever," says Scott McCurdy, vice president of Jacksonville, Fla.,-based disaster repair contractor Coastal Reconstruction. Vinyl, galvanized steel, and copper also are available options.

Aluminum gutters range from about $4.50 to $8.50 per linear foot installed. On a 2,000-square-foot house with about 180 linear feet of gutters, that's roughly $800 to $1,500. By: Pat Curry

New Construction Homes for Sale in Clifton Park NY, Burnt Hills NY and All of Saratoga County. Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez and Stewart Construction Inc. Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems

New Construction Homes For Sale in Burnt Hills NY, Clifton Park NY and Throughout all of Saratoga County. 5 Tips for Inspecting and Maintaining Your Garage

Routine maintenance will help your garage retain its value and keep it trouble-free for decades.

Steel garage doors are low-maintenance, yet inexpensive and tough. Image: Amarr Garage Doors

New Construction Homes For Sale in Burnt Hills NY, Clifton Park NY and Throughout all of Saratoga County. 5 Tips for Inspecting and Maintaining Your Garage

If you're like many homeowners, you cruise in and out of your garage without giving the space much thought. While your garage is low-maintenance, it's not a no-maintenance part of your home. Here are five tips for preserving your home's value by keeping your garage in top shape.

1. Keep your garage door running smoothly

Most newer garage doors come self-lubricated or with plastic parts that need no oil, according to builder Fred Cann, owner of JRS Solutions in Melville, N.Y. You'll need to annually oil older doors with metal rollers, hinges, and tracks. "Use a leaf blower to blast all the grit, grime, dust, cobwebs, and dead bugs from the door's parts," advises Mark Secord, brand manager for PremierGarage in Mobile, Ala.

Occasionally check the rubber seal on the bottom of your garage door. It can harden or chip away from wear and tear, allowing the elements to seep under your door. Replacing the seal costs less than $100. Your door may be hitting the ground too forcefully and jarring all the parts, crushing the rubber seal, or allowing light to peek through at the bottom when the door is at rest. To correct those problems, says Secord, use a screwdriver to alter the travel limit adjustment located on the door opener's control box.

Regularly test the garage door's sensors to be sure they still prevent it from closing if something-like your child or pet-is in the way.

2. Clean your garage floor

Hose down your garage floor annually to prevent slip hazards, stains, and pockmarks caused by road salt and auto fluids, recommends Secord. You may notice hairline cracks in your concrete slab, but those are generally no cause for concern, says Paul Fisher, owner of Danley's Garage World in Chicago.

If there's a serious trip hazard because of concrete that's crumbled or separated ¼-inch or more, take action. You can try a do-it-yourself patch with a $5 concrete mix from your local hardware store. But patched concrete often doesn't adhere to the original slab, says Fisher, especially if a car regularly passes over the patched area. If necessary, ask a licensed concrete contractor for an estimate on replacing your slab, which typically costs about $5 per square foot.

Experts disagree on whether to treat a garage slab with a sealant. "Sealants don't protect the slab at all; they're just for aesthetics," says Cann, who worked as an engineer for the city of New York for 10 years. "We had more problems after we sealed and painted garage slabs. The paint would chip, discolor, or become slippery. I'd leave concrete alone."

Secord, however, sells garage floor sealants and says they protect the concrete, prevent discoloration, and are easier to clean than bare concrete. Do-it-yourself sealants for an average two-car garage cost about $800 to $1,200 and need reapplication every three to five years. One-time, professional applications cost $1,500 to $2,000, says Secord.

New Construction Homes For Sale in Burnt Hills NY, Clifton Park NY and Throughout all of Saratoga County. 5 Tips for Inspecting and Maintaining Your Garage

3. Monitor your garage walls and foundation

Inspect interior and exterior walls and the foundation twice a year for moisture and cracks. If you see discoloration or mold, moisture is seeping in from the roof or the walls. Call a building or roofing contractor for an inspection and repair estimates.

Wall and foundation cracks smaller than ¼-inch wide that aren't causing water damage are typically harmless. "Anything larger than a hairline crack is something to be concerned about," says Cann. "If one side of your ceiling appears a little lower than the other, the foundation or footing has settled." That's sometimes hard to evaluate with a visual inspection; if necessary, get out your level.

Structural concerns require an expert evaluation. Cann suggests hiring a structural engineer, who will charge $200 to $300 per hour but won't hype potential problems to secure the repair work.

4. Clean interior doors and gutters

Once a year, clean and inspect the interior door. Make sure the door is properly weatherstripped and that the threshold seal fits snugly against the bottom of the door.

Most building codes require the door allowing entry to your home to be fire-rated and self-closing. If the door is damaged or the self-closing mechanism has failed, repair or replace it. You'll pay $250 to $300 for a new fire-rated door, plus $25 to $75 for installation.

If your garage has gutters, clean them every spring and fall and inspect them for damage. While you're at it, check your roof for damaged or missing shingles or tiles.

5. Watch for pest invasions

Insects like termites and carpenter ants can furtively damage your garage walls. Inspect dark, cool, and moist spots, especially where garage walls meet the foundation, for borings from carpenter ants or termites. "Termites digest the lumber, but carpenter ants tunnel it," says Cann. "If you see trails of sawdust, it's carpenter ants. If you see chewed wood, it'll likely be termites." Call in pest-control experts for an inspection and treatment. By: G. M. Filisko

New Construction Homes For Sale in Burnt Hills NY, Clifton Park NY and Throughout all of Saratoga County. 5 Tips for Inspecting and Maintaining Your Garage

New Construction Homes for Sale Clifton Park, Burnt Hills and All of Saratoga County. Cleaning and Caring for Siding.

Cleaning and repairing your home's siding once every year will pay off in the form of a long life and increased value for your home.

Power washing a house is tricky. If done incorrectly, the water can strip paint, gouge wood, and cause other damage. Image: iStockphoto/Briss

New Construction Homes for Sale Clifton Park, Burnt Hills and All of Saratoga County. Cleaning and Caring for Siding.

If you'd like to prevent costly home repairs and add to the value of your house, clean your siding. With proper care and a little regular maintenance, your home's exterior could be trouble-free for 50 years and more. Cleaning siding removes dirt and mildew that may shorten the life of your siding. A clean house protects your investment, too. "A good first appearance on a home can add as much as 5% to 10% to the value of the home," says John Aust, a past president of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers.

Cleaning wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, fiber-cement siding

All types of siding benefit from a good cleaning once every year to remove grit, grime, and mildew. The best way-whether you have wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, or fiber-cement-is with a bucket of warm, soapy water (1/2 cup trisodium phosphate-TSP, available at grocery stores, hardware stores, and home improvement centers-dissolved in 1 gallon of water) and a soft-bristled brush attached to a long handle. Divide your house into 20-foot sections, clean each from top to bottom, and rinse. For two-story homes, you'll be using a ladder, so keep safety foremost.

Cleaning an average-sized house may take you and a friend every bit of a weekend. If you don't have the time-or the inclination-you can have your house professionally cleaned for $300-$500. A professional team will use a power washer and take less than a day.

You can rent a power washer to do the job yourself for about $75 per day, but beware if you don't have experience with the tool. Power washers force water through a nozzle at high pressure, resulting in water blasts that can strip paint, gouge softwoods, loosen caulk, and eat through mortar. Also, the tool can force water under horizontal lap joints, resulting in moisture accumulating behind the siding. A siding professional has the expertise to prevent water penetration at joints, seams around windows and doors, and electrical fixtures.

New Construction Homes for Sale Clifton Park, Burnt Hills and All of Saratoga County. Cleaning and Caring for Siding.

Inspect for damage

Right before you clean is the ideal time to inspect your house for signs of damage or wear and tear. A house exterior is most vulnerable to water infiltration where siding butts against windows, doors, and corner moldings, says Frank Lesh, a professional house inspector in Chicago and past president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. For all types of siding, look for caulk that has cracked due to age or has pulled away from adjacent surfaces, leaving gaps. Reapply a color-matched exterior caulk during dry days with temperatures in excess of 65 degrees F for maximum adhesion.

Other defects include wood siding with chipped or peeling paint, and cracked boards and trim. If you have a stucco exterior, be on the lookout for cracks and chips. For brick, look for crumbling mortar joints. Repair defects before cleaning. The sooner you make repairs, the better you protect your house from moisture infiltration that can lead to dry rot and mold forming inside your walls.

Repair wood, vinyl, and fiber-cement siding

Damage to wood, vinyl, and fiber-cement horizontal lap siding often occurs because of everyday accidents-being struck by sticks and stones thrown from a lawn mower, or from objects like baseballs. Repairing horizontal lap siding requires the expertise to remove the damaged siding while leaving surrounding siding intact. Unless you have the skills, hire a professional carpenter or siding contractor. Expect to pay $200-$300 to replace one or two damaged siding panels or pieces of wood clapboard.

Repaint wood, fiber-cement

Houses with wood siding should be repainted every five years, or as soon as the paint finish begins to deteriorate. A professional crew will paint a two-story, 2,300 square foot house for $3,000-$5,000. If you've cleaned your house exterior yourself, you've done much of the prep work and will save the added cost that a painting contractor would charge to clean the siding before painting.

Fiber-cement siding, whether it comes with a factory-applied color finish or is conventionally painted, requires repainting far less often (every 8-10 years) than wood siding. That's because fiber-cement is dimensionally stable and, unlike wood, doesn't expand and contract with changes in humidity.

It's a good idea to specify top-quality paint. Because only 15% to 20% of the total cost of repainting your house is for materials, using a top-quality paint will add only a nominal amount-about $200-to the job. However, the best paints will outperform "ordinary" paints by several years, saving you money.

Repair brick mortar, stop efflorescence

Crumbling and loose mortar should be removed with a cold chisel and repaired with fresh mortar-a process called repointing. An experienced do-it-yourselfer can repoint mortar joints between bricks, but the process is time-consuming. Depending on the size of the mortar joints (thinner joints are more difficult), a masonry professional will repoint brick siding for $5-$20 per square foot.

Efflorescence-the powdery white residue that sometimes appears on brick and stone surfaces-is the result of soluble salts in the masonry or grout being leached out by moisture, probably indicating the masonry and grout was never sealed correctly. Remove efflorescence by scrubbing it with water and white vinegar mixed in a 50/50 solution and a stiff bristle brush. As soon as the surface is clear and dry, seal it with a quality masonry sealer to prevent further leaching.

Persistent efflorescence may indicate a moisture problem behind the masonry. Consult a professional building or masonry contractor.

Remove mildew from all types of siding

Stubborn black spotty stains are probably mildew. Dab the area with a little diluted bleach-if the black disappears, it's mildew. Clean the area with a solution of one part bleach to four parts water. Wear eye protection and protect plants from splashes. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Repair cracked stucco

Seal cracks and small holes with color-matched exterior acrylic caulk. Try pressing sand into the surface of wet caulk to match the texture of the surrounding stucco. Paint the repair to match.

Take time to inspect and clean your house siding, and you'll be rewarded with a trouble-free exterior. By: John Riha

New Construction Homes for Sale Clifton Park, Burnt Hills and All of Saratoga County. Cleaning and Caring for Siding.

Appliance Maintenance: Heating, Venting, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez an Agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties and Stewart Construction Inc.

Keep your HVAC systems running efficiently and reliably with this simple maintenance routine.

Experts recommend that you have your HVAC system professionally inspected every fall and spring.

Appliance Maintenance: Heating, Venting, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez an Agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties and Stewart Construction Inc.

"We recommend annual visits from an HVAC contractor each fall and spring," says Richard Ciresi, owner of the Louisville Aire Serv franchise. In fall, the technician will clean and inspect the furnace blower, burners, and heat exchanger. In spring, he or she will clean indoor and outdoor condenser coils, verify refrigerant charge, and inspect wiring.

Here's a list of maintenance tips to keep your heating and cooling system running efficiently and reliably:

• Every 90 days, install a new one-inch pleated furnace filter. Families with shedding pets should replace the filter every month. Expect to pay $10 to $25 per filter.

• Always maintain at least two feet of clearance around outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps.

• Weekly in summer, brush or blow off fallen debris from top and sides of outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps. Do not allow the lawn mower to discharge grass clippings onto the unit.

• Monthly, inspect insulation on refrigerant lines leading into house. Replace if missing or damaged.

• Annually, ensure that outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps are on firm and level ground or pads.

• Annually in spring, pour a cup of bleach down the air conditioner condensate drain to prevent buildup of mold and algae, which can cause a clog.

• In summer, shut off the water supply to the furnace humidifier. In fall, replace the humidifier wick filter, set the humidistat to between 35% and 40% relative humidity, and turn on the water supply.

• Never close more than 20% of a home's registers to avoid placing unnecessary strain on the HVAC system.

• Each spring, wash and dry filters and vacuum condenser coils on all window air conditioning units placed into service.

• Annually, replace the battery in your home's carbon monoxide detector

By: Douglas Trattner

Appliance Maintenance: Heating, Venting, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez an Agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties and Stewart Construction Inc.