Ease of Home Energy Efficiency Takes Center Stage This October for #EnergyAwarenessMonth

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - October 12, 2016) - Before frigid temperatures hit this fall and winter season, American Home Shield, the nation's largest home warranty company, is encouraging homeowners to prepare their homes to help save money on energy bills.

Home systems and appliances work harder and use more energy without proper maintenance, so American Home Shield recommends homeowners use Energy Awareness Month to understand home energy use prior to switching on their heating systems. To create an energy-saving guide for Energy Awareness Month, American Home Shield, a business unit of ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV), enlisted the expertise of its network of 11,000 professional service contractors to offer tips that will save energy -- and dollars -- all season long:

Step 1: Deep Dive into Energy Bills
Take a closer look at electric and gas bills from last year and break down the average costs per season to see which months use the most energy. Many utility companies offer free energy audits to help identify ways to improve your home's energy efficiency and bill comparisons to help you see how your usage compares to others in your area. You can even learn how to read your meters and see in real-time the impact that your furnace, dryer or other appliance has on your usage.

Step 2: Don't Forget Your Furnace
Before firing up your furnace, special attention should be given to its coils and filters in order to improve performance and energy efficiency.

"We recommend that everyone have their furnace professionally cleaned and inspected before the season begins. Not only will this alert you to any potential safety or maintenance concerns, but you'll find out about them before you're left out in the cold," said Dave Quandt, vice president of field service at American Home Shield. "It's also important to change your furnace filter once a month. This improves air quality throughout your home, and helps your overall system work more efficiently."

Step 3: Get With the Program
Save up to $180 each year on your heating bill by programming your smart thermostat and using all of its features. Many smart thermostats can be paired with smartphone apps, enabling you to set temperatures, schedules and see both indoor and outdoor humidity from your phone. For an additional 5 to 15 percent savings on your heating bill, turn down the thermostat 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours.*