Your home is your greatest investment and also your largest expense. The average family spends ,400 a year on energy bills and nearly half that is spent on simply heating and cooling their home. These helpful suggestions can save you money and make those mortgage payments a little more bearable.
During summer months
Set your thermostat to around 80 degrees and make sure you raise the temperature at least four degrees when you leave for a few hours or more. However, you don't want to raise the temperature too high because it will cost more to re-cool your home.
Open your windows and use portable fans to help cool your home.
Remove lamps, TV's, and appliances from near your thermostat because they produce heat that will make your air conditioning unit run longer.
Make sure your attic is well ventilated and isn't unnecessarily trapping heat.
Shade your windows with white drapes, curtains, blinds, or install awnings.
Plant trees and shrubbery around your house since they can greatly reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs.
Use energy efficient light bulbs such as fluorescent light bulbs
During winter months
Make sure there are no cracks around your windows and doors shut snuggly.
Make sure if you replace old heating equipment you don't go too big, you'll end up paying much more in energy costs.
Check to see if your air ducts have any holes or leaks, especially check the duct leading outside. You also want to make sure no vents are obstructed.
Check with your local utility provider and see if there are any rebates or specials on heating equipment.
If your heating unit is more than 10 years old, you may want a professional inspection to see if it needs to be replaced. An individual contractor should be able to give the most unbiased opinion, since they're not trying to sell something.
Set your thermostat to a lower setting, 68 is efficient and still comfortable. As in the summer, you'll want to make sure you lower the temperature when you leave but not drastically.
Make sure your walls are properly insulated. You can also insulate wall outlets to completely insulate your home from the elements. Try asking a professional at Home Depot or Lowes to see what might work best in your home.
LOWES ELECTRIC FIREPLACES
If you are spending more on your biggest expense than necessary, it may be costing you thousands. You can prevent needlessly frittering away your hard earned money by doing just a few simple things around the house.
14 Ways to Save Money Year Round LOWES ELECTRIC FIREPLACES
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