Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks from flying out.  Do not burn paper in your fireplace.  Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.  Put ashes in a metal container with a lid outside and at least three feet from your house.

Turn ceiling fans on slow in reverse during the winter months.  This will circulate the warm air that rises to the ceiling without creating drafts.  Also winter is a good time to let the sun in.  Open blinds and drapes during the day to take advantage of natural solar heating.  At night, close drapes and blinds to hold in the heat.

Healthy Air and Allergy Reduction

Any home activity can cause indoor air pollutants such as dust, mold spores and allergens to become airborne and travel throughout the home. These pollutants can can affect the health and well-being of residents, particularly with individuals who suffer from allergies. Home air filters capture these airborne pollutants as the air is circulated back through the HVAC system, and greatly increases the quality of indoor air. When dirty, however, the filters cannot remove any of these pollutants, and the particles are redistributed through the home.

Optimal System Efficiency

When air filters are not changed regularly, the HVAC systems must work harder to circulate air through the home. Dirty filters clog and hinder air movement, causing the system to consume more energy to continue circulating the air throughout the home. This causes the system to consume more energy, resulting in higher energy bills for the homeowner.

Keeps the System Running Smoothly

Air filters not only clean circulating air, but they also keep the system’s interior clean and working properly. Clogged filters allow dust and other airborne debris to become trapped in the inter-workings of the HVAC system, which can ultimately cause the system to fail long before it would with proper filter upkeep.

Changing the Air Filter

Air filters should be changed or cleaned at least once a month or as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions. If you have any questions or believe that your HVAC system is not functioning properly, call a trusted heating and air company for a HVAC tune up and maintenance today.

Reduce your hot water temperature.  Set your water heater to the “normal” setting or 120 degrees Fahrenheit, unless the owner’s manual for your dishwasher requires a higher setting.  Savings are 7 – 11 percent of water heating costs.

Keep a 2 to 3 foot clearance around your outside air conditioning unit to ensure proper circulation. At the same time, one can plant trees or shrubs to shade an air conditioning unit, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity.

If you have a pool, consider slowly reducing pool filtration time by 30 minute increments daily.  Keep on reducing the time as long as the water appears clean.  You may find you only need to run your pool filter six hours a day.  Install a timer to control the length of time that the pool pump cycles on.

Improve plantings around your house

Most heat that accumulates inside a house comes directly from the sun shining onto the roof or through window, and heating the house directly.  Plating leafy trees around the building’s exterior will stop the sun from shining inside your home.  If the trees or shrubs shade your air conditioner, you could increase your air conditioner’s efficiency by up to 10% according to the U.S. Department of Energy.