10 Steps You Can Take to Lower Utility Bills
Sometimes, when you get your home utility bills, you find yourself shocked by what you have to pay. Having the lights on, running water, and using your appliances are just a few of the costs you can find within your bill and, added up, they can lead to remarkably high totals. Naturally, you don’t want to have to spend so much on your utility bills.
Another area of your home to seal in order to lower utility bills is the air ducts of your HVAC system. When there are leaks in the ductwork, it can cause air to escape, which will force your HVAC system to work extra to heat and cool your home. As a result, you will end up spending more on your home utility bills. Aeroseal is a great product that can automatically find and seal all air leaks within the ductwork. Doing this is one of the most efficient ways to save money on utility bills.
Your thermostat can also be a factor in high utility bills. To reduce expenses, you should consider setting it closer to the outside temperature. By doing this, you will make it so that your HVAC system does not have to work as hard to heat and cool your home. This will help you to save money on utility bills, beyond just sealing the air ducts.
Reduce utility bills by frequently changing the air filter in your HVAC system. The more you use your HVAC, the more it begins to collect dust and debris, which clogs the filter. As it becomes dirtier and dirtier, your HVAC system is forced to work harder and harder to maintain the right temperature throughout the home. By changing your filter when it is dirty, you are ensuring your HVAC system will not be forced to work harder, which will help to lower utility bills.
The most popular way to save money on utility bills is to install energy-efficient appliances inside your home. Any appliance or electronic that can be purchased with an Energy Star rating should be bought. While these may cost more upfront, they are a great way to save on utility bills, making them a worthwhile investment. These devices are specially designed to use less electricity and will reduce bills instantly, especially energy-efficient HVAC systems and water heaters.
To save during the summer, have your appliances checked out before the season even arrives. By having a professional come and inspect your different significant appliances, especially your HVAC system and water heater, on a seasonal basis, you can catch any potential functioning issues early on and have them fixed. That way you won’t find yourself with a failing system or unusually high utility bills, scrambling to catch up.
How to Reduce Utility Bills
Here are some ways to save on utility bills, leaving you with extra money for other areas of life.1. Check Seals on Windows and Doors
One option to save money on utility bills, and possibly one of the easiest steps you can take, is to check the seals on your windows and doors. In older homes especially, the seals on windows and doors can begin to fail, leading to air escaping the home. This can cause the home to be warmer or draftier than it should be, even with the HVAC system running. If it seems like there may be an issue with the seals, apply a silicone sealant to the frame to eliminate the issue and save money.2. Seal the Air Ducts
Another area of your home to seal in order to lower utility bills is the air ducts of your HVAC system. When there are leaks in the ductwork, it can cause air to escape, which will force your HVAC system to work extra to heat and cool your home. As a result, you will end up spending more on your home utility bills. Aeroseal is a great product that can automatically find and seal all air leaks within the ductwork. Doing this is one of the most efficient ways to save money on utility bills.
3. Use a Programmable Thermostat
A key method to saving money on utility bills, both in summer and in winter, is to have a programmable thermostat. These thermostats give you more control and allow you to create schedules where temperatures will change automatically. That way, you can have temperatures significantly lower while nobody is at home, and then automatically go up just before you get home, so the house is comfortable (or vice versa in the summer). Even a small change like this can help significantly reduce bills.4. Adjust Your Thermostat
Your thermostat can also be a factor in high utility bills. To reduce expenses, you should consider setting it closer to the outside temperature. By doing this, you will make it so that your HVAC system does not have to work as hard to heat and cool your home. This will help you to save money on utility bills, beyond just sealing the air ducts.
5. Adjust Your Refrigerator and Freezer Temperatures
Another area where you can adjust temperatures to help lower your utility bill is in appliances like your refrigerator and freezer. It may sound insignificant, but having your refrigerator set at a temperature other than 38 degrees and your freezer other than 5 degrees can dramatically raise your home utility bills. This is because higher or lower temperatures will force your appliances to work harder to maintain those temperatures you have set.6. Replace Air Filters Regularly
Reduce utility bills by frequently changing the air filter in your HVAC system. The more you use your HVAC, the more it begins to collect dust and debris, which clogs the filter. As it becomes dirtier and dirtier, your HVAC system is forced to work harder and harder to maintain the right temperature throughout the home. By changing your filter when it is dirty, you are ensuring your HVAC system will not be forced to work harder, which will help to lower utility bills.
7. Lower Water Heater Temperature
Your water heater is set to 140 degrees by default, but that doesn’t mean this is the best temperature. You can reduce your utility bill by lowering your water heater’s temperature to around 120 degrees. This means your water heater won’t have to work so hard to heat the water in your home, which will significantly reduce your water heater usage rate, and therefore lower your bills.8. Install Energy-Efficient Appliances
The most popular way to save money on utility bills is to install energy-efficient appliances inside your home. Any appliance or electronic that can be purchased with an Energy Star rating should be bought. While these may cost more upfront, they are a great way to save on utility bills, making them a worthwhile investment. These devices are specially designed to use less electricity and will reduce bills instantly, especially energy-efficient HVAC systems and water heaters.
9. Use Appliances Strategically
Another way to avoid high utility bills is to watch how you use your appliances and devices. Avoid using your oven on hot days, as it will raise the temperature of your home and make the HVAC system work harder to keep the house cool. Washing clothes in cold water avoids reliance on the water heater, which will also help to lower your bills. Another method for lowering utility bills in regards to your appliances is turning them off when they are not in use and unplugging smaller ones, so they do not continue to use electricity.10. Get Your Appliances Checked Out
To save during the summer, have your appliances checked out before the season even arrives. By having a professional come and inspect your different significant appliances, especially your HVAC system and water heater, on a seasonal basis, you can catch any potential functioning issues early on and have them fixed. That way you won’t find yourself with a failing system or unusually high utility bills, scrambling to catch up.