How to Save on Your Heating and Cooling Bill

We all know that the economy is not close to what it used to be. Many families, including, yourself, maybe are living paycheck to paycheck, just hoping for some kind of break. In the economic environment we are in today, we all could use a little extra cash right? Well, I put together a short but important guide on how to save up to $60 a month on your Electric bill, just by doing a few things to your air system in your home.

#1 Change or Clean your Filters every 50 days
The average homeowner will clean their filter on their heater and air conditioning systems once every 5 months. After just one month, air flow through the filter can be blocked by as much as 25%. This means your heater or AC unit will have to work overtime and will cost you 25% more than it would have if you cleaned or replaced that filter. After 5 months, the blockage can be so severe that your unit may be using up to 75% more power then it should be. Cleaning the filters both in the units and on the air vents can take an hour or so time, and replacing them is not very expensive. Stop being lazy, and start saving an extra $40 per month on your electric bill.

#2 Upgrade your Thermostat
If you are still using one of those plastic thermostats which have the temperature set feature and an on/off button, then get with the times. This is no longer the 80's. You can now purchase smarter thermostats which will act more like a computer than a switch. The new technology will allow you to set temperature thresholds for every minute of the day. This means that if you are not home from 5am to 2pm each day, you can turn the heater or air conditioner down during those time periods to save it from heating or cooling an empty house. A simply switch to the latest thermostat technology can save you $20 a month, or $240 or so each year. It will pay for inself in just a few months time.

There are plenty other little things you can do to cut down on your bill. Remember, be smart, make sure there are no leaks in your system, and don't use energy you don't have to.

Autor: Brian Krassenstein Brian Krassenstein
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Brian Krassenstein is a Web Entrepreneur with 10 years of experience in web design, advertising consulting, and domain name investing. Brian owns a portfolio of ... ...

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Added: August 8, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/