7 $20 Purchases That Can Save Homeowners Hundreds in Repairs
Written by
Jordan Rosenfeld
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Along with the joys of homeownership come the costs of maintenance and repair, which can add up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars, particularly if you don’t catch an issue early. From air and water leaks to fire risks, the sooner you can fix an issue, the more money you can potentially save.
Fortunately, you don’t always have to spend a lot of money upfront to protect your house from more serious problems down the road. Here are seven purchases for $20 or less that could save you hundreds.
Gutter Guards
Clogged gutters may seem like little more than an inconvenience, a task you save “for later” because it’s a hassle. However, clogged gutters can actually lead to water damage to your roof, walls and even foundation. Get ahead of the problem by installing gutter guards — simple cage-like metal mesh that keeps the big stuff from clogging up in there. You’ll pay just $10.58 per 4 feet of guards at GutterSupply.com.
Door Draft Stoppers
Sometimes the simplest purchases can save you the most money. Take door draft stoppers — plastic or rubber insulated stripping that makes sure you don’t lose any precious cool or hot air from your house beneath your doors. If you’re not sold yet, consider that as much as 25% to 40% of energy from heating and cooling a house is lost to air leaks, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can buy easy-to-adhere stoppers from Amazon for just $7.98 each.
Water Leak Detectors
Water leaks beneath sinks, from water heaters or any faucet can cause damage and even more serious problems if they’re near any electrical outlets. Alert yourself to leaks before they’re a problem with a simple water leak detector with alarm. You can get a basic model at Home Depot for $9.97, though more sophisticated models will cost more.
Faucet Insulating Covers
If you live in an area where it snows or gets cold enough to freeze water in your pipes, protecting your outdoor faucets is important. Frozen and burst pipes can cost you hundreds in plumbing costs, damage and replacement parts. Fortunately, faucet insulation covers are quite inexpensive. For just $4.59 each, you can get several covers and barely spend $20 at Ace Hardware online.
Smoke Detectors
While losing a home to fire would be devastating, you can’t ever place a monetary value on your life or the lives of family members and pets. For just $20.99, you can ensure that you’ll be alerted to the first sign of a fire. Of course, it’s a good idea to spend a bit more money on smoke/carbon monoxide combo detectors, too, but at the very least, make sure there’s a fire detector in every room.
Furniture Pads for Floors
If you’ve got nice hardwood floors, or even vinyl tile that mimics wood, you want to extend the life of your flooring for as long as possible. Furniture may look nice on your floors, but even a little movement of chair, table and couch legs can cause scratching. Save yourself on having to redo or replace your floors with these easy to use wool blended felt pads. A pack of 16 is just $15.99.
Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush
That little trap that catches the lint in your dryer can be a hidden danger if it’s not regularly cleaned out — catching on fire and doing more than just burning up some clothes, potentially destroying your entire home. Save yourself the worry and the possible loss with this $17.99 dryer vent clean-up kit, with bonus fireplace attachment from Amazon.
Editor’s note: Pricing is accurate as of April 29, 2025. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
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