Inspect your

furnace. A well-maintained furnace runs more

efficiently, uses less energy and saves you

money.

To

make sure your furnace is in good working

condition, you can:

Dust it off. The

heated air that your furnace emits will have a

harder time escaping through dust-colored vents.

An overworked furnace wastes energy and costs you

money.

Check for signs of

rust or other corrosion. A rusted-out furnace has

probably seen better days. Older appliances

usually have to work harder and use more energy

than their newer counterparts. You might want to

replace a rusty furnace with an energy-efficient

model.

Check furnace

filters every one or two months and replace or

clean them if necessary.

Thoroughly examine

the furnace's blower for cracks or excessive wear

and replace if necessary.

Install insulation.

Your home can hide crevices through which heat

may escape. Insulation seals those gaps and traps

fugitive heat, saving you money and keeping you

warmer.

Fill in the gaps.

Check for gaps where exterior siding meets

windows and doors, along the roof and foundation

lines, around chimneys and where pipes protrude

through walls or roofs.

Turn down the heat

and grab a sweater. Try keeping your thermostat

at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day in winter

months. And consider turning the thermostat to 55

degrees at night when you'll be in bed, nestled

beneath warm comforters and blankets.

Close furnace vents

in rooms you don't use that often.

Close doors to

separate heated from unheated rooms.

If

you follow these steps, you will stay warm in

your home all winter. You won't even shiver when

you receive your utility bill.

(Jeff

Betsill, owner of Jeff Betsill Homes, is

president of the Home Builders Association of

Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of

approximately 395 builders and associate members

in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Heard and

Meriwether counties.