Wall heaters in bathrooms (at least stub in 20 amp wire w/ switch at
door for future installation) Model #Nutone 9819ND 1920 watts 120v. This
comes in handy when a cold winter day blows in before you switch your
heaters on. You can also save energy by setting your thermostat a little
cooler in the winter and just warm up the bathroom for showers.
80 CFM exhaust fans in bathrooms (50 CFM is standard and just make
noise) 80-CFM fans are usually better quality, move more air and are
quieter. I've had the best luck with the Broan
ultra silent series.
Digital thermostat for evap coolers. American Excelsior Co. Model
082-0222
Upducts to attic if using evap. Cooling. The product I've used in the
past is Up-Dux, by Mission Manufacturing. PO Box 21465, Phoenix Arizona
85036. Home Depot carries them.
Aero single pad evap cooler (AeroCool not MasterCool) with 12 hr run out
pumps to keep the water fresh. (MasterCool models require tools just to
check the float level etc. Other brands have easy lift out panels.)
Barometric dampers at air handlers and coolers. So you won’t have to
manually open and shut the damper when you switch between cooler and A/C or
between Cooler and heat.
A note on evaporative coolers: With today's highly
insulated homes and high efficiency A/C units, it may not be worth the
trouble to run an evaporative cooler. Coolers are high maintenance
appliances that only work well during the hot dry months. The little
you save during those months probably won't pay for the added maintenance
costs.
CATV and phone wires should terminate at a common point or in a "smartbox"
– no loop drops
Use 4 pair Cat 5 or 6 unshielded twisted pair wire for phone lines. Cat 5
wire can also be used for computer networking and stereo speakers in
addition to phone lines.
5 pair minimum – phone line drop from phone company to house even if
you're just planning on having one phone line. This is usually done for
free if you let the Phone Company know before the ditch is covered.
Standard drop is usually only 2 pair, you have to ask if you want more.
110 outlet near water heater for recirculating and solar pumps.
110 outlet under cabinet in master bath (and maybe in the main
bath). Plug in a switched power strip like the ones used for computes
and mount it under the counter. Then you can plug in your curling
irons and curlers, etc. and keep them put away under the cabinet. The
switch on the power strip turns it all on or off.
Wire to mail box for light. Usually can be dropped in the electric or
water service ditch for little extra expense.
Photocell circuit for front light and mail box light. We like to have
all outside lights on a photo cell circuit so they will turn off during the
day if you forget to turn them off, or while you're away.
Switched outlets with photocell at front of house for Christmas lights.
Photocell night-light circuit in kitchen, halls and bathrooms. Could
also incorporate a UPS in the night-light circuit if power outages are
common in your area. (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
Smoke detector or heat sensor in garage. Often, fires start in the garage
and can go undetected until it's too late.
No floodlights. Use standard or fluorescent lights for a softer more
even outside lighting. Floodlights are high wattage and expensive to run.
Also, they create a bright spot with dark shadows. This makes it harder to
see because your eyes adjust to the bright light and also makes it easier
for someone to hide in the shadows.
Use 48" fluorescent lights wherever feasible for interior lighting.
Pre-wire for ceiling fans in all rooms even if you're not planning to
install them now.
Stub for pool electric if a pool may be in your future. It’s much
cheaper to run the line now if the electric panel is on the opposite side
of the house.
Alarm pre-wire – include drop for dead bolt sensors. Dead bolt sensors
will let you know if all the doors are locked when you set the alarm, not
just if they are closed. Pre-wire usually only costs $200-$500 during
construction. If you don’t pre-wire and decide to add an alarm later it
could cost thousands more, or you will have to use wireless battery
operated sensors.