Are you looking to save money on your new home or are you looking for ways to save energy while making our homes more comfortable. One of the easiest ways of saving money is to improve insulation in the attic. If you can access your attic poke your head up there.  Your attic is the source of major energy losses, because warm air rises.

Insulation is measured in R-values. The higher the R-value, the better your attic will resist heat transfer. Southeastern Wisconsin is in Zone 6, requiring R49.  To find out how much insulation you need, check this page at the U.S. Department of Energy’s website: http://www.energysavers.gov/tips/insulation.cfm Locate the zone where you live, and then scroll down to the color-coded chart.  

Did we just get snow? Temperatures are dropping and there’s no heat in your house. The furnace worked fine last year.  Did you try to google it or ask Siri?  Before you spend money on a service call, check these.
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All heating appliances have an electrical disconnect switch on or near the unit.  If you have young kids like I do, they seem to always shut the furnace off (and the hot water too)?   Make sure the switch is in the ON position.  The switch is a perfect height for a three-year-old to reach.  Next, check the furnace’s electrical circuit breaker in the main panel. Make sure it’s in the ON position.

Did your home inspector show you where your filter is located?  Did your home inspection include filter size in their report? 
 
Maintaining the filter on your air conditioning and heating equipment isn't fun or glamorous. So why bother? Because a clean filter allows for proper air flow, and that makes the equipment run efficiently, saving you money. Also, a clean filter helps your system perform better, so your home environment will feel more comfortable.
 
A dirty filter restricts air flow and can make a heating unit overheat or an A/C unit freeze up, maintaining the filter helps you avoid a service call.
 
Filters come in various types, so check your furnace. If you have a washable filter, keep a log on your furnace or put a reminder in your smart phone.  Buy an appropriate replacement filter to have on hand when you need it. Filters are inexpensive and should be changed or cleaned when they are visibly dirty.  If you have pets, they normally need to be changed more frequently.  If you have allergies, you can buy more expensive filters.   When you do change the filter, note the directional arrows on the side. Place the filter so that the arrows point in the direction of air flow.  Many people will use a marker and draw an arrow on the duct. ​