Saving money & staying safe during the cold months ahead User friendly, programmable thermostats Are you getting all of the energy savings you can from your programmable thermostat? Most people are not.  That’s because few people un-derstand how to program their thermostats to raise and lower the temperature when the house is going to be empty or everyone will be asleep.  The thermostat itself won’t save you any energy or money on your electric bill. To see a savings, you have to program the thermostat to turn the heat down during times of the day when nobody’s home.  If your thermostat is too complicated, consider investing in a new one.  Manufacturers are introducing programmable thermostats that are easier to use and understand. New models have touch screens, recorded instructions and digital reminders. One even “talks” to you to help you do the programming. Proper use of a programmable thermostat can save you up to $150 a year in energy costs, according to Energy Star, a federal government program. To get the most savings from programmable thermostats: Program the thermostat to turn down the heat and keep the temperature low for at least eight hours at a stretch. The thermostat can lower the tem-perature right after everyone leaves for school and work, for example, bring it back up just before the family is due to return home, and then set it back again at bedtime.    Override the pre-programmed settings and put it in your own.  That way, you can set the ther-mostat back for longer periods of time if you know you’ll be gone a while.    Use the hold or vacation setting when you’re planning to be out of the house for a few days.  Set this feature to keep the house several degrees cooler in the winter or several degrees warmer in the summer, even if you’ll be away just for the weekend.    Change the batteries in your thermostat each year to keep it functioning properly. Clarke-Washington EMC employee,  Allison Taylor, uses a programmable thermostat in her home to keep her power bills low.    Check washing machine hoses Few home mishaps are as costly as the failure of a washing machine hose. Hose failures cause about $150 million in damages to homes in the United States and Canada each year, according to State Farm Insurance. Take the time to inspect your washing machine hoses frequently, and replace them if necessary. Washing machine hoses can be found at most home and hardware stores.  A new set only costs $10 to $20, and it can save you a lot more if the investment prevents a flood.  Some tips: When replacing hoses, straighten them out so they’re free of kinks and tight bends.   Leave at least four inches between the water con-nection and the back of the washing machine. This will reduce the chance that the hose will kink.   Check hoses regularly, and replace them every three to five years to keep them in good working order.   Check hose connections to make sure they’re se-cure, including the drain hose.   Never leave the washing machine running while you’re asleep or out of the house.   Shut off hoses when you’re not using them or if you’re going to be away for several days.