their 2x a year program to come clean and maintain the HVAC. We have 3 zones, so they charge $189 for first + $80 for each thereafter + $80 for hepa type filters totaling $439/year. If we need any repairs or parts we would receive a 25% discount. Considering my husband is willing and able.. can we come close to caring for these units ourself to get the most out of the units lifespan, or is this a good (preventative) value?

expensive and potentially dangerous furnace malfunctions. Read on to learn the steps to a happy furnace.

what you are and are not doing around your home or place of living. The second step is to study your electric bills and observe the amount of energy you are using in a month. You will need to train yourself to focus on the number of kilowatts (or kilowatt hours – abbreviated as kWh on your power bills) you are consuming rather than strictly the dollar amount of each power bill. After you learn to look at your power bill in terms of how many kWh are used, you can begin saving energy and money.

Your home energy savings will come mostly from your temperature-related appliances. You will find the largest energy consuming products are your refrigerator, washer, dryer, hot water, and dishwasher. Those are the culprits that are responsible for kicking your kilowatt-hour usage into high gear. You can make a substantial difference by keeping those temperatures down. For instance, instead of using the heat dry option on your dishwasher, you can towel dry your cups and not consume any energy. When you run a load of clothes through the washing machine you can set the temperatures to warm instead of hot, or use cold water all together. One of the more logical, yet easily forgotten things you can do is remember to turn off your lights as you're exiting a room. All of these little habits will help you save energy in the home which translates to saving money.

Another main focus should be the temperature of your home throughout the seasons. The highest home energy usage occurs during the winter and summer months. This is due to your air-conditioner or HVAC unit working extra hard to keep your home comfortable. If you keep them running at a high pace while you are at work all day, you will only be keeping your purse strings and power company happy. Most of this seems logical to a person who has already started the process, but let's face it, our lives are super busy these days. How many times have you left your home in a rush to get to work on time only to remember halfway there that you forgot to turn off a light or appliance? We are all guilty of living with a multitask mentality, but if you can train yourself that saving energy is saving money, you will become more aware of home energy usage which will lead to lower power bills and more money in your wallet.

Once your kilowatt-hour consumption is measured and reduced, your home energy savings will begin to show. We have all seen the reports that energy prices have been on the rise and are expected to continue getting more expensive over time. If you reduce your kilowatt-hour consumption and the cost of power (price per kilowatt-hour) goes up, your bills will not rise as much because you have created a level of immunity through energy efficiency and conservation.

Bottom line – remember that saving energy is saving money.