Save Money on Heating and Cooling Your Home

With all the talk recently of cleaner greener energy use, I thought I'd start a series here with different ways to save energy, since saving energy also means saving quite a bit of money, something we all can use in this economy. So, here is a short list of things you can do to save money and energy with the heating and air conditioner systems of your home:

- Clean or Replace Filters on your furnace at least every 2 months
Dust buildup can lead to less air making it's way into your home, meaning your furnace will need to run harder, longer. It can also be a carbon monoxide hazard.

- Install New Smart Thermostats
New thermostats allow the owner to program them so that at certain times of the day, according to ones schedule, the temperature can be switched higher or lower. It is pointless to heat or cool a home when you are not there.

- Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas such like the attic and crawlspaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss.
Up to 60% of the heat produced by your furnace can be lost by poorly insulated ducts. Considering that half of a families electric bill can be used on heating their home in the winter, that means the average bill could be reduced about $30 a month with proper duct insulation.

- Install and Use Fans during the summer months.
A fan causes a windchill effect. Having a fan on will allow you to increase your thermostat in the summer 4 degrees F, and still feel just as comfortable. Also, in the Winter, a fan can be used to circulate the warm air that has risen to the ceiling down toward where you are.

I will try and continue this series with other energy tips throughout the next few weeks. I thought that since we are in the Summer months here in the US, I would provide the Heating and Cooling section first.