Eating healthy food, getting a better education, losing weight, and saving money are a few popular New Year's resolutions for you as an individual, but have you considered making a few New Year's resolutions for your home? Here are a few inexpensive self-improvement items your home might greatly appreciate. 1) Check smoke and CO alarms- The batteries should be replaced once a year, smoke alarm every 10 years, and carbon-monoxide detectors every 5 years. 2) Install a programmable thermostat- Programmable thermostats are extremely cost effective especially when used properly. By programming the thermostat to automatically reduce your homes temperature 5-10 degrees during the night time or while you are out, the thermostat will pay for itself in less than a year. 3) Properly maintain your HVAC system- Select Best Filter Capacity, Replace Filters (every 1—6 months),Clean Evaporator and Condenser Coils (once or twice a year), and Inspect Area Around Air Intake (twice annually).

Blog inspired by article featured in Consumer Reports and can be seen here:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/january/home-garden/new-years-resolutions-for-your-house/overview/new-years-resolutions-for-your-house-ov.htm