Energy Costs
Feel like you are paying a lot more for energy? You probably are. Studies show that since 2001 energy costs have more than tripled, rising from an average of $600 annually to $1,900. The October 2006 Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine suggests plenty of ways to trim costs, starting with Jimmy Carter's advice from the energy-scarce 1970s: Turn down the thermostat and wear a sweater. That alone could save you $100. There are a lot of other ideas suggested, including links to sites that help you give an energy assessment or arrange for a professional energy audit, and a chart to determine what a typical household could save. Go to the article.

Interactive Maintenance Scheduling
If you are like most of us, you lose track of the various maintenance tasks you need to perform in, on, under and all around the house to keep things running properly and efficiently. The Frugal Life says, "It's easy to understand how things can fall into disrepair. There are at least 80 to 90 owner maintainable systems in the typical home, each with their unique maintenance schedule and maintenance process." An interactive maintenance guide is a great way to keep up with what needs to be done and when. Simply enter the various structural, mechanical, appliance, furniture, indoor and outdoor items you have to see their recommended maintenance schedules. You can set up automatic reminders as well as access a complete online home maintenance library, find professional contractors in your area and get great tips on energy and safety.

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Basic Forced-Air Furnace Maintenance
A little maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your forced-air equipment working properly, according to a Hometips.com article. Go to the article and then go to the "Basic Forced Air Maintenance" link at the bottom of the Topics on the left side of the page for a seven-point maintenance checklist. In addition to your own inspection, the Department of Energy says that regular maintenance is the key to heater function, efficiency and safety and recommends a yearly inspection by a qualified service technician and replacing or cleaning filters on a monthly basis. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association website has a feature to help you find and hire a professional contractor you can trust.

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Wood Floor Maintenance
The winter weather many of us experience is especially hard on wood floors. Proper maintenance may be easier than you think. The Wood Flooring Association has some good suggestions for regular wood flooring maintenance, a link to help you locate a professional in your area and 10 preventative maintenance steps that can minimize maintenance and help preserve the beauty of your wood floors.

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(ARA) - Advances in science and technology have allowed millions of people to enhance their appearance almost immediately through cosmetic surgery. In 2005, Americans spent more than $12.5 billion to make themselves more attractive. Thanks to a cooling housing market and the resulting surge in home improvement projects, this same obsession with appearances can be applied to home exterior renovations, with far more permanent and cost-effective results. See the complete article at HomeHints eNews.

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure up to 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), there are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of the outlined precautionary tips about preventing Christmas tree fires, inspecting holiday lights, holiday decoration safety and holiday candles you can greatly reduce [http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/safety/tips/holiday.shtm] your chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

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Household Cleaning for the Holidays

Claim victory over those annoying stains that just won't come out. This section from doityourself.com gets down with the dirty and brings you all the secrets. It reaches every nook and cranny of your home, covering any cleaning question you may have and important safety tips. Learn how to remove that grease stain that ruined your favorite shirt, or eradicate the still slightly visible remnants of your pet's mess on the carpet. Find out if you may be at risk from, or even how to prevent household hazards like asbestos, mold/mildew, carbon monoxide and lead.

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Home Repair - Thermostats

Now that the cold weather is upon most of us, it's a good time to get dialed in with your thermostat and know how to troubleshoot it. The thermostat is the brain behind your furnace's proper operation. Some have mercury switches inside, some use mechanical switches, some are digital, and programmable electronic models will do everything except wake you up in the morning! 

Do you know how to troubleshoot a thermostat? And did you know a little tiny adjustment arm on a thermostat device called a heat anticipator can make your furnace cycle on or off frequently or cause your furnace to not hold a proper temperature setting? About.com's Bob Formisano has good articles to help you understand how thermostats work and how to troubleshoot one.
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 Protect Your Child from Electrical Accidents

The tendency of small children to stick their fingers in places where they don't belong can sometimes create a problem for mom or dad. But the result can be much more serious--in the form of a painful experience, or even a fatality, when children poke around electrical outlets. A Leviton Institute article suggests that you cover exposed electrical outlets with protective devices. There are many types to choose from, including outlet caps that completely close off unused outlets, tamper-resistant outlets, and tamper-resistant wall plates and adaptors. The latter allow you to use an outlet, while preventing a child from inserting fingers, pencils or other objects. The article suggests many other ways to protect children from the power of electricity.