Most people mistakenly believe that setting a thermostat higher than the desired temperature means your home will get warm faster. Actually, a thermostat functions more as an on-off switch to signal your system to start or stop working.

The best strategy for thermostat use is to agree on a temperature that will keep everyone reasonably comfortable. For convenience, and to save money, use automatic setback thermostats; they're reliable, easy to use and help save money on heating costs.

ENERGY SAVER: Save about 10% on heating costs by lowering the temperature 10 degrees, for eight hours each day. Don't reduce the temperature any lower than 55º, however. This increases the risk of frozen pipes.