8 Tricks to Save Money on your Utility Bill

Utilities are a mandatory expense for most homeowners, renters and condo dwellers. As anyone who incurs utility expenses every month, it can be very frustrating when you have a large amount to pay despite your efforts to keep utility costs low.

A major culprit of high utility bills is heating and cooling systems. Be particularly mindful of this as simple mistakes, such as leaving your AC on while you’re not home, or not getting furnace repair when it shows signs of fatigue, can rack up your usage rates.

Below is a list of eight ways to reduce your utility bill amount each month.

1. Upgrade Windows

If your home has old windows, it may be time to replace them now to save money in the future. Old windows can let air in and out of your house which becomes costly if you are trying to heat or cool the area.

2. Adjust your Thermostat

By turning your thermostat up or down merely a few degrees, you will save hundreds of dollars in a year. If you have electric heating and cooling throughout your house, you will notice an even bigger difference in money spent.

Make sure to turn off your thermostat when you are not home, having it on all day will run up your utility bill.

3. Install Programmable Thermostat

There are a variety of thermostats out there, some can be pre-programmed, some adjust automatically to your usage activity and some are connected to an app which can be controlled on your phone at any time or place.

By automating the heating and cooling process, you can save money and forget about changing the temperature in your home all the time. It will cost you some money now to purchase a programmable thermostat, although, it will save you money in the long run.

4. Control Each Room Temperature

You can control which rooms in your home are heated and cooled by opening and closing doors. It gets to be very expensive when you are heating or cooling your whole house. Simply close the doors of rooms you don’t want heated or cooled, leave the rest open.

5. Do Chores at Night

Often, utility companies charge more money when appliances are used during peak times. Use your dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and any other appliances during the night as these hours are not peak times. Leaving the heating or cooling off during the night can make a big difference as well, purchase a fan and heavier sheets to help you sleep.

Make sure to look at your utility company’s rates. Not all companies charge more during peak times, some have flat rates instead. In those cases, the time you do chores will not matter.

6. Clean or Replace your HVAC Filter Regularly

On a monthly basis, clean or replace your HVAC filter to ensure that your system is not over working due to a dirty filter. You can buy filters in bulk, make sure to do your research first on the filter dimensions of your HVAC system.

Regular service of your HVAC system by a local contractor is a good idea to ensure it is running properly and can help reduce your monthly bill. Also, it will prevent an extremely expensive repair should your HVAC system break down.

7. Unplug your Appliances

When you’re not using your appliances, unplug them because they draw out “silent energy” which can rack up your utility bill. Power bars help a lot with this, simply unplug the whole power bar that is connected to all of your appliances.

8. Keep your Home Sealed

To ensure your home is kept cold or warm, cover drafty windows with plastic and install weather stripping around doors which let a lot of air in and out. Otherwise, you will be wasting utility energy heating and cooling air that is only going to escape.