With soaring energy prices and cold temperatures on the way Chicago-area homeowners will be facing cost increases heating their homes this winter. Collen Burns, The Mom on the Run, is a mother of five boys and she knows all about trying to stretcha dollar. Colleen has some tips on how to save money on your heating bills while keeping you homes healthy and warm.
Colleen recommends buying:
- A cost effective humidifier that keeps home feeling warmer while keeping the thermostat down
- A setback thermostat that's easy to read
- A reusable filter that helps clean the air
- An easy to install CO Detector
Here are some more energy saving tips:
- Use energy-saving settings on air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers.
- Turn down the temperature of your water heater. And if your water heater doesn't have an insulating blanket, install one yourself or have your home heating contractor do it. If the water heater is ready to be replaced, consider a more efficient "instant-on" model.
- Install a whole-house humidifier to keep indoor air quality at a healthy level and allow you to lower your thermostat by a few degrees.
- Replace your incandescent lights with compact fluorescents (CFLs).
These lamps can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents and last up to 7 years. New CFLs come in many sizes and styles to fit in most standard fixtures, including track and puddle lights.
- Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator and washing machine. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model. Look for the Energy Star label.
- Replace standard furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters with more efficient pleated filters.
- Apply weatherstripping to leaky windows.
- Insulate hot water pipes with snap-on foam insulation.
- Install a programmable thermostat that will set your thermostat back automatically at night and when you're at work.
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Pure Air Control Services, Inc.
1-800-422-7873
