• Kitchen ceiling lights
• Living room table and floor lamps
• Outdoor porch lights and post lamps

Refrigerator & Freezer

Refrigerator maintenance is very important, since it's on 24 hours a day.

Make sure your fridge gasket is clean and does not have any holes or cracks in it. The gasket's job is to keep the cold air in and the warm air out. If it is not working properly the refrigerator will work harder keeping the air cold, and thus lead to a larger energy bill. To test if your refrigerator gasket, take a dollar bill, and put it in between the door, and close. If there is no pressure when you pull out, you probably need a new gasket.

Make sure that your refrigerator has a few inches of space behind it so air can circulate around the condenser coils. Dusty condenser coils cause your refrigerator to work harder, leading to higher bills, and a shorter life for the fridge. Clean them with a vacuum, duster, or a cleaner every three months to ensure it is running efficiently. If you have pets clean it every month.

Defrost manual-defrost freezers if the frost is more than 1/4 inch thick and never chip away the frost.

Don't set your refrigerator's temperature too low. Having it too cold can be a waste of energy. The proper temperature range for refrigerator should be between 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 6 degrees Celcius) and your freezer to between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 to -15 degrees Celcius).

Leave room around your food in the fridge for air to flow. In your freezer you can pack food close together without a room around.

Don't leave the door open while you do something. Don't  put warm leftovers in your refrigerator. More about Refrigerators & Freezers...
 

Washing Machine & Dryer
Most of the energy used for machine-washing clothes goes to heating the water and this lead to a larger energy bill. Wash clothes in cold or warm water if possible.

For best laundering results, be sure to add detergent to the washer before you add the clothes.

Is the lint screen on your dryer clean? A clogged lint screen makes the dryer use more energy. In addition to that it can also become a fire hazard.

Dry one load right after the other. This will reduce warm-up, drying times and your money.

The most important maintenance for any dryer is a clear exhaust. Many dryer failures usually result from an improperly maintained vent system. This causes premature failure of the bearings, elements, igniters and other critical parts.

Check your dryer vent system if the following problems occur:
- Long drying times;
- Dryer is noisier than usual;
- Clothes still hot and damp after cycle ends;
- Automatic sensors fail to shut off;
- Premature failure of heating element, motor or bearings.

More about Washing Machines & Dryers...
 

Dishwasher Oven, Stove, Range
For the best dishwashing results  use a powdered detergent or tablets instead of liquid, and make sure that your water temperature is at least 125-130 degrees. Every two months, run the dishwasher with a quart of white vinegar added to the tank (no dishes or detergent for this!). This removes any deposits left behind in the tub, and actually helps keep the drain clear.

If you notice some cooking time differences between a new oven and the old one don't worry, it is normal. It's not recommended to cover an entire rack or oven bottom with aluminum foil, since this will reduce air flow and may cause poor results. Oven-peeking can reduce temperatures 25 degrees with each door opening and extend the cooking time. Don't open the door until the specified cook time is up.

More about Dishwashers, Ovens, Stoves, Ranges...

Garbage Disposal
To clean a garbage disposal fill it with ice cubes and a cup of rock salt, then run it for about five seconds. You can deodorize your disposal by running warm water down it while you grind a lemon or orange.

Use cold water when grinding food. This breaks up greasy substances rather than melting them, as hot water would.

Do grind bones, coffee grounds, and ice cubes in the unit. This helps keep blades sharp and swivels turning.

Never pour bleach or other chemicals into your disposal. This could dissolve seals, causing motor failure. If unit is sluggish to drain try the following:
- Run water in sink until hot;
- Fill sink completely with the hottest water;
- Reach down and remove the stopper, then turn on the disposer quickly.

If something has been put in the disposal that should not have been, including metal, rubber, glass objects, or fibrous food waste such as: ◦hard shells from shrimp, crabs and other shellfish, banana peels, celery, potato peelings, corn husk or corn cobs, artichokes, eggshells, coffee grounds (in quantity) or coffee filters, fruit pits and hard seeds from things like avocados or peaches, onion skins and egg shells (unless you're especially careful to completely remove the thin membranes of each, which can wrap around the shredder ring) or large whole bones, use tongs or pliers to pull the material out. Never use your hand.
More about Garbage Disposals...