Northwest Herald / NWHerald.com • Thursday, January 12, 2017 • furniture without thinking about how it affects airflow. Take a walk through your home and make sure there is at least an inch or two’s worth of clearance in front of every air vent. Blocking vents can cost you more money as you are likely to crank up the heat to compensate, which causes your furnace to work even harder. Let your thermostat do the work: Many homeowners assume they know how to use their thermostat, but often there is much more it can do. Some thermostats can actually learn homeowners’ preferences and automatically adjust to save energy. Architect and home lifestyle blogger Ronique Gibson of Stagetecture encourages homeowners to take time to educate themselves on how to properly use their thermostat. Check out more of her tips for homeowners this winter season on her blog, www.Stagetecture. com. Don’t forget your dryer: Tossing towels and blankets in the dryer to warm up on frigid days? Make sure your dryer isn’t clogged first. A clogged dryer exhaust is not only inefficient, it’s also a dangerous fire hazard. In most cases, all it takes to clean it is loosening the clamp to the exhaust and then gently pulling it off the back of the dryer. A vacuum attachment should be able to remove the lint and clear the vent. Trust the pros: During the colder months, your heating system or furnace can run double duty trying to compete with outdoor temperatures, so make sure to have your unit professionally serviced to ensure it is working up to its potential. Also, consider a home warranty plan to help protect against unexpected costs associated with breakdowns and repairs. Visit AHS.com to find the right warranty for your home.
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