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Appliance timers -- blessings in disguise
I own a multi-room home in the Northeast. In 2003, I gambled that oil prices would rise, and purchased an electric hot water heater which would run separate from my oil fired boiler. In addition, I had a wall timer installed so I could control the on/off usage and perhaps save on electricity costs as well. Now, the electrical water heater is off during the day when nobody is home, and is programmed to operate an hour before I return home from work. I have saved approximately $20 per month, and am now planning to put a programmable timer or thermostat on my furnace as well. It is a shame how much electricity, oil, or gas people use to keep an empty home warm during mild winter days. Tip: be sure you have a licensed electrician install these timers properly, and follow cleaning schedules for water heater and furnaces for optimum savings. Now that's saving money and fuel!
--Bill fontanella
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