Fuel costs are escalating as we approach winter, so many people are beginning to look for alternative ways to save money. A practical and easy way to save on your heating bill this fall and winter is to get yourself an electric mattress pad. This simple, yet effective gadget, can help you save one-third of your heating costs. Now that sounds like a very good deal.

An electric mattress pad resembles an electric blanket, but there is a key difference. It is really important that you turn off an electric blanket when you get into bed, but an electric mattress pad can be left on at the low temperature level all night. Another added benefit is that you will not lose heat that is generated by the mattress pad into the air, which happens with electric blankets. The warmth of the mattress pad is focused on you, underneath the covers.

So how exactly is this gadget going to save you all that on your heating bill? It pretty much works like this. If you install an electric mattress pad on each your beds, you can turn your thermostat down to 55 degrees every night, without disturbing anyone's sleep. They will stay nice and warm with your electric mattress pads keeping the bed around 70 degrees while you sleep. Just a word of caution, it is not a good idea to turn your thermostat below 55 degrees or you run the risk of your pipes freezing. For the majority of the night, you thermostat when even turn on. But, there will be times during extremely cold nights when it does turn on for a couple of minutes in order to protect the plumbing from cracking in your home. Either way, you are going to stay toasty all night whether your thermostat turns on or not.

In order to use the electric mattress pad, you will need to remove all of the bedding from your bed. Then a mattress protector is place on top of the mattress itself. The electric mattress pad itself is place on top of the protective mattress pad. The wires exit near the foot of the bed and the controls are usually routed so that you can access them from your bedside without having to get out of bed. Then, continue making the bed like you usually do.

As your bedtime gets near, it's a good idea to turn the mattress pad on and set it to your desired temperature about fifteen minutes before you sleep. Then right before you go to bed, turn down your thermostat between 55 to 60 degrees. Then all you have to do is hop in the bed and enjoy a warm, restful nights sleep.

From time to time, you'll feel like the temperature is a little too warm for you. All you have to do is grab the remote controller by the bed and turn down the temperature.

So, as you sleep during the night, you get to breathe in the nice cool air, while keeping the rest of your body warm throughout the night.

The most important thing to remember is to turn the termperature down or completely off for the day when you leave the house.

Here's another helpful hint that comes from folks who have used their electric mattress pads for a couple of years. Many have started to have placed throw rugs at bedside, especially if you have laminate flooring. So many people have become accustomed to radiant floor heating or carpeting that we often forget that hard floors can be really cold in the morning if the thermostat is turned down.

If everyone leaves the house to get to school or work, it is a good idea to consider leaving the mattress pad on until you everyone arrives home from school. Of course, turn down the temperature on the pad before leaving the house.