Most people want to know how to reduce their home’s energy bills and would love to find easy and inexpensive ways to do so! Luckily for them, there are usually some simple fixes that don’t cost too much and that are easy to implement. You want to keep an eye on the appliances and devices you already have and make sure that they’re staying well maintained and cared for, as inefficient machines can actually be a huge drag on your energy — more energy is being poured into them with fewer results. Since heating and air conditioning units take up almost 45% of your utility bills every month, it’s important to know how to manage costs and make sure that everything in your home is running as smoothly as possible. Did you know that the typical person in America will spend almost 3% of their income on energy bills (around $2,000 annually) on average? That’s a lot of money — and many people are paying far more than that, when they don’t have to! So if you’ve got a limited supply of hot water or it’s taking longer for your air conditioner to cool a room down, look into why!
What Can I Do to Reduce My Energy Bills?
One great way to cut down on your energy bill is to simply pay attention. Got a limited supply of hot water when you never did before? Check your water heater and see if there’s a defective part or a part that needs replacing. A thermostat will also keep you accountable — if you lower your thermostat by two degrees, you could save as much as 5% on heating bills. Investing in programmable thermostats can help you make those adjustments without you having to think about it — it’ll automatically adjust to make the temperature warmer during the times when you’re home and cooler when you’re not. These can save you as much as 10% on your energy bills!
Insulating your home well is another way to cut down on energy costs. For example, did you know that if your attic isn’t insulated well, around 20% of every dollar you spend heating your home simply disappears right through the roof? Regular inspections can also help — they generally don’t cost too much — and you can get your furnace or heat pump inspected, to make sure that it’s running at top efficiency. (This can be good if you’ve been noticing a limited supply of hot water!) Well thought out landscaping can also help reduce cooling bills — a well placed tree can help block out the sun’s rays and heat, for example.
Who Should I Get in Touch With For Maintenance?
If you’re having issues with a leaking hot water heater or pipes, you’ll want to call a plumber (same goes for if you’ve noticed a limited supply of hot water recently). They can take care of those issues immediately and can help perform basic maintenance, offer advice, and make sure that everything looks good. If you have an HVAC system, there are usually technicians who can come out and perform inspections or troubleshoot, should you need that help.
Before you turn on your heating or start up your air conditioners for the season, make sure everything is clean and well inspected. Having something go wrong when you need it the most can be a huge hassle and often a very uncomfortable experience.
It’s usually not in your best interest to try and DIY your own systems unless you have a trained background — let the professionals come in and do it for you. You’ll probably send up saving a lot of time that way and won’t run the risk of having to spend more money fixing a mistake you made.
There are plenty of ways that you can help cut down the costs of heating or cooling your home without spending an arm and a leg. Although almost all of them do involve spending some money, you’ll recoup that in the savings you see on your energy bills.