American Consumer News » utilities

Heating Your Home Without Going Broke

tisha — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:31:50 +0000

So many Americans never thought that heating their home would cause near-bankruptcy but with the winter months coming, that is exactly what many people fear. The rising costs of oil and the rate increases in electricity leave many people wondering how they will survive the cold, winter months. It is necessary to keep an oil tank filled at least a bit to keep it functioning properly but with the high costs, some people find they can’t even afford the basic minimum delivery amount many oil companies are now instituting.

There are some things you can do to help cut the costs of heating your home. It becomes important that people know their options for heating their houses safely. Too many families will utilize unsafe heaters and kerosene burners to keep warm and if used improperly, they can cause a fire.

Here are some safe ways to keep your family warm and safe this winter. Most of these things do require some financial investment, but over time, these tips can reduce your overall bill by half or more.

Make sure your home is properly insulated. Check for drafts at windows and doors and use towels or other insulating items to block the cold air from entering. .

Water pipes should also be insulated to help them retain hot water without using extra energy. This can save you up to 25% on your bills.

Keep your furnace in tip-top shape and pay for a professional cleaning each season. Not only could a dirt furnace be a fire hazard and lead to more damage, it will also cost you money in operating costs. The efficiency of your furnace is one of the biggest money savers.

For families who are really feeling the pain of rising oil costs, job losses and the overall increase in price of nearly everything, there may be government assistance programs that can help you meet your bills each month. Some programs will offer discounts and some will help you to repair your home to make it more energy efficient, by fixing or replacing windows. Some utility companies also offer assistance programs for qualified families. Do not let embarrassment be a factor to stop you from seeking assistance. These programs were established to provide help.

If you decide to use alternative heating sources, please make sure you keep your children away from danger and never place heaters too close to walls, carpets, or furniture. If you think it costs a lot to heat your home, think about what it costs to replace your entire home after losing it in a fire.

Heating Your Home Without Going Broke was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

You Can Live More Green and Save More Green at the Same Time

Debbie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:37:31 +0000

For most people, saving the environment is more of a question about whether or not they can afford to live a little “greener” or not. Luckily, there are many ways you can live greener to help the environment and save money at the same time.

Replace your doors with weatherproof, insulated versions. These doors offer 1.5 inch thick insulation and have been proven to keep in five times the amount of heat or cooling that a traditional wood door does. The styles can match your home, whether you have a traditional style home or a contemporary home. The prices range between $200 and $400 – but over the lifetime of the door you would see much more savings in your heating and cooling costs.
Recycle rain water for gardening and outside water tasks. There are specifically designed collection containers for doing this- that cost under $130 and are even outfitted with hose fittings, hand pumps and filters. You can direct your home’s roof downspouts directly into the collection containers to harvest as much of this water as possible. The water is better for your gardening than tap water, and it reduces your water bill as well as wasted water.
Create an all-natural windbreaker. Planting rows of evergreen trees around your property border will help reduce the effect of wind blowing through and around your home- and therefore reduce the amount of your precious heating that gets carried away with it! You’ll start experiencing savings within three to five years of planting the trees.
Install heavy draperies correctly. In the winter, many families cover their windows with heavy drapes. Not only does it help to keep the heat in and the drafts out; but it prevents people from peaking in, as well! Along with the draperies, you’ll want to install window cornices on the top to prevent warm air from being sucked up like a vaccuum from the bottom of the draperies, cooled as it moves past the windows, and then spit out like air conditioning from the top! The cornices will reduce the airflow that is pulled up from the back of the draperies, as will draperies that hang so that the bottoms just touch the floor. Draperies hung correctly can save 25% of your heating and cooling bills.
If your home seems either freezing cold or scorching hot at various intervals of the day, it may be time to replace your thermostat. Many older thermostats have trouble registering the actual temperature after the air conditioning system or heat has run for awhile and so the system runs longer than necessary. An inexpensive thermostat replacement offers an easy way to conserve on utility bills.

You Can Live More Green and Save More Green at the Same Time was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

FIND OUT HOW TO GET $80 WORTH OF COUPONS TOWARD GOING DIGITAL

tisha — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:18:12 +0000

Like many facets of technology, television broadcasts are going digital. A digital television signal takes up much less space that its analog counterpart and leaves room for other services including wireless internet, cell phones, and other services.As of February 17, 2009, the federal government will be requiring all broadcast television stations to switch from an analog signal over to a digital signal. Any households still using rooftop antennas, or “rabbit ears” as they are known, will no longer be able to view television without making a change. If you still use an antenna, there are three options you can make to ensure your reception is not interrupted.

Purchase a digital converter box and connect it to a television set that is not digitally capable
Purchase a new television that is equipped to handle the new digital signal
Subscribe to a cable or satellite television service, who will automatically convert the proper signal

Depending on the age of your television, a simple converter box will be all you need to make a smooth transition. All new televisions sold in the United States as of May 25, 2007 should have a digital tuner already incorporated into the system. Otherwise, the package must clearly state it does not. Your manual will provide information about the specifics of the set you purchased and will use terms such as DTV, ATSC, HDTV, Digital Tuner, or Digital Receiver to describe the digital capabilities of your set. However, descriptions that include only the words HDTV Monitor, Digital Ready, or HDTV Ready will likely require you to purchase the converter box.

As of January 2008, the federal government made two coupons available to each household in the amount of $40 each to be used towards the purchase of a basic digital converter box. The coupons will last for only 90 after your initial request so you must use them as soon as possible. More information about the coupon program can be found here https://www.dtv2009.gov/

To find out more information about the transition from analog to digital, visit the FCC’s website here http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html

FIND OUT HOW TO GET $80 WORTH OF COUPONS TOWARD GOING DIGITAL was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Thieving My Identity

tisha — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:37:10 +0000

Identity theft can turn life as you know it upside down. Despite the mass amounts of warnings to protect yourself, there are still countless victims who have their identities stolen. It can happen via the internet or on the street. Recently, there was a local story about a gas station that had their system “hacked” and anyone who has used a debit card at the pump in a span of several years was at risk to having their identity stolen and their credit card used unlawfully.While I never had my credit cards stolen and no one every tapped into my bank account, I too was a victim in a rather strange way. During my college years, I lived in an off-campus apartment with two other people. The third roommate never meshed well and after some time, we decided to part ways. I relocated to a new house with the other roommate and for two years we lived companionably. We split the bills and each of us chose a utility to be put in our name. After graduation, I moved out on my own. When I called to request phone service in my new apartment, I was told I owed over $800 in past due fees to the phone company and was therefore not able to receive service until the bill was paid in full. I never had a phone bill in my name so it seemed impossible.

Upon further investigation and agonizing phone conversations with company representatives, I was finally able to understand what had happened. When I moved out of my apartment two years earlier, my former roommate had managed to acquire phone service using her name and my social security number. To this day I do not know how she was able to get the number or be able to use it with her name at the phone company. I spent weeks writing letters and sending faxes to the phone company, disputing the bill. I had to prove over and over that I had not lived in that apartment in over two years. During that time, I was not able to have a phone connected in my apartment. Additionally, my credit report was negatively affected. If you find that your identity has been stolen, be sure to file a credit report dispute with the three major credit bureaus. It’s very important to make sure to fix credit reports otherwise when you try to apply for a credit card, car loan, or home loan, you might get unfairly turned done.

The phone company could not answer as to how the roommate had gotten away with the fraud for so long. They could admit that the number and the name did not match up but went no further. Eventually, all of the charges were erased from my record and I was allowed service once again. However, nothing ever happened to the roommate. There was no prosecution for fraud and she was never even held responsible for the phone bill because the phone company did not have her social security number.

I know now how important it is to keep my credit report in check, especially because college kids use their social security numbers for everything. I was a lot younger and less financially educated at age 18. While having one obscene phone bill is small beans compared to what other victims have gone through, it is still a smack in the face and was definitely a wake up call for me.

Many people try to use bad credit repair services to clean up their stolen identities, however that’s not what you should do. Instead you should file a police report and get those items removed permanently.

Thieving My Identity was created by and is property of American Consumer News.