New year, new beginnings, new challenges, new opportunities. We like to believe that the way we start our year will directly reflect the way we finish it, but that's not entirely true. There's always time to make changes and improvements, even after January. But why not start your year off on the right foot?

If you're looking for ways to upgrade your life this year, we recommend starting at home. We learned in 2020 just how much time we can spend at home and probably made extensive lists of all of the things we like and dislike about them. Use 2021 as an opportunity to turn those parts of your home that you don't love into your favorite spot in the house.

Kitchen Upgrades

In the last year, we found ourselves at home more than ever before, and if you're like our families, you spent a lot of time in the kitchen. There's nothing more comforting in trying times than some good comfort food. But do you know what else can make you feel more at ease? Cooking in your dream kitchen.

If you've been contemplating a kitchen renovation but never actually made it happen, then consider this the sign you've been waiting for. A kitchen upgrade will not only make you feel great right now, but it will also have long-term benefits. Kitchen renovations are one of the top things people look for when purchasing a new home, so a renovation now will increase the value of your home!

Appliance Upgrades

Just like upgrading your kitchen can do a lot to increase the value of your home, upgrading your appliances will have the same effect. Newer appliances not only look nicer and upgrade the aesthetic appeal of your home, but they also have the added benefit of higher efficiency. So you can rest well knowing that you're not spending too much money on utilities.

The appliances we would recommend upgrading, whether you're looking to sell your home or not, include:

• HVAC system, including thermostat
• Water heater
• Dishwasher
• Washing machine and dryer
• Refrigerator

Bathroom Upgrades

Second to the kitchen, we spend a lot of time in the bathroom. It's estimated that we spend an average of 3 years of our lives in the bathroom, which includes time spent on the toilet, brushing our teeth, showering, getting ready for work, etc. That's a lot of time. So it's worth it to make the space as comfortable and desirable as possible when you get the urge to redecorate or remodel.

Bathroom upgrades also have a huge impact on your home's value, and depending on the time of plumbing fixtures you add, you could save a ton on water expenses!

Air Quality

Another improvement to consider, which might be the most important, is upgrading your indoor air quality regimen. Check-in with yourself and make sure you're replacing air filters every 1 to 3 months, scheduling duct cleanings once or twice a year, and add some new plants to your home to help filter out toxins.

If you've been thinking about making some changes to your home, don't waste another minute. Our homes are our sanctuaries, and they should be structured and designed in ways that make us happy. For all of your heating, air conditioning, water heating, and air quality upgrades, contact our team of experts at Kern Heating & Cooling Co.. You can learn more about our team and our services on our website, or contact us directly by giving us a call at (847) 383-0350.