If you are like a lot of homeowners these days, you are striving to find ways to keep your energy bills inexpensive. Keeping your home cool in the summer and warm during another Dublin County winter can cost a bundle. Luckily for you, however, all that’s necessary to lower your bills is some mindfulness and vigilance.
We at Lewis Center-Powel Heating & Air assembled the following list of simple tips to help you lower your gas and electric bills:
Top 10 Tips to Keep Your Energy Bills Low
1. Dress for the Weather
This is probably the most reasonable and most efficient way to stay comfortable indoors all year round. Whatever the temperature, dress light or heavy according to the weather. Instead of messing with the thermostat, wear shorts and t-shirts during the summer. During the winter, throw on a sweater or some thermals. This can help you feel comfortable without running up your bills.
2. Add Insulation
During winter, the harsh cold of the freezing temperatures outside can endanger the warmth within your residence. One of the most common causes of this comes from scarce insulation. Insulation protects your home by helping it preserve its heat. It keeps the warm air inside during the winter and the cool air inside during the summer. Because of this, it is vital to check the insulation in your home. You’ll want to examine everything from your walls and pipes to your attic and crawl spaces. Good insulation will minimize the need for energy and, thus, your energy bills.
3. Turn Down Your Water Heater Tank
One of the notable costs concerning your utility bills is the cost of keeping your water warm. Part of this expense comes from the heater keeping a reserve of warm water in its tank. Dropping the temperature by a few degrees can save you some money from your energy bill. Around 120 degrees or lower is the recommended temperature for heaters. Also, if you and your family ever leave home for vacation or a trip, you can turn the heat off until you come back home.
4. Change Your Air Filter
It is essential for a variety of reasons to change your home’s air filter regularly. Keep it in mind as you go about cleaning your home. The idea of an air filter is to catch debris like dust, pollen, animal fur, and lint from the wholesome air circulating through your home’s heating and cooling system. This not only helps to maintain the HVAC in exemplary working order, but it also keeps it from having to consume extra. When your filter is old, it forces your blower to work harder than it should by essentially choking your system and leading to higher energy costs.
5. Get a Programmable Thermostat
A lot of people don’t know this, but you can reduce the amount of energy you expend and lower your electric bill by combating the need to turn up the heat or turn down the thermostat. If this is hard for you or your family to do, you should consider having a programmable thermostat installed. With one installed, you can program the temperature in accordance with the time of day and leave it alone. The thermostat will make the changes on its own, and this will make your home more energy-efficient, which will lower your bill.
6. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
The whole process of washing clothing uses up a significant amount of energy. The best method for saving on energy costs when doing so is as simple as switching the temperature of the water when you wash your garments. Providing warm water to your washer makes the water heater work hard and expend a substantial amount of electricity. Switching to cold water will save you money.
7. Locate and Seal Warm Air Leaks
Did you know you can use a candle to find air leaks in your home? Turn off the air and all your fans when you do it. Then, light the candle and take it around the house, especially around doors and windows. Where the candle flickers, you likely have an air leak. These air leaks, over time, have a severe impact on your heating and cooling bills. You can use caulking and weatherstripping and replace broken seals to resolve this problem. Doing so will not only save you more money but will improve the overall comfort in your home.
8. Check All of Your Appliances
Appliances that aren’t correctly functioning are a drain on energy bills. Be sure to check all of them regularly to make sure they’re not only working correctly but also they are clean. You should do this on a regular schedule. For bigger appliances, an annual check-up is sufficient. If you prefer to replace your devices, be sure to check the energy efficiency of the replacement.
9. Look into Prepaid Electric Bill Plans
One option not often considered is the feasibility of changing from a long-term contract to a prepaid plan with your electric company. With a prepaid plan, it gives you the ability to pay only for the electricity you use. This is also a better way to track the causes of spikes in energy usage.
10. Get a Furnace Tune-Up
Last but not least, getting an annual furnace tune-up saves you money in the short term and in the long run. The primary benefits include improved efficiency, which results in optimal heating performance. This is in addition to reducing the risk of system failure, a far more costly disaster no one wants to face in the winter. Not only that, it ensures appropriate airflow, reduces the need for repairs, keeps you and your family safe during the cold months of winter. It can also save time, and it maintains your manufacturer’s warranty. The list goes on.
To schedule a tune-up today, call Lewis Center-Powell Heating & Air at 614-490-7530 or schedule an appointment online now at www.lewiscenterpowellheatingandair.com/schedule-now/.
