Now that the holidays are behind us and we have taken down all of our beautiful, twinkling, little electric eaters we can all expect a reprieve in our electric bills, right? Well, yes, sort of. Though those festive little lights do take a toll on your electricity usage (still worth it) there are other reasons winter electric bills are bone chilling.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
The number one and rather obvious reason being: it’s cold outside. The larger the gap is between the indoor and outdoor temperatures the harder your system is working to keep you warm and toasty.
The Fire Is so Delightful
Bringing us to the number two reason: when it’s awful outside we are indoors more. We are warm and toasty and using lights, television, and that awesome electric blanket Grandma got us for Christmas. We are the electric eaters now.
Alright, the second one wasn’t much of a brain buster, either. Who’s glad they clicked this link so far? We’ll keep the information coming.
Here’s How to Save!
1. Lower your thermostat: is Capt. Obvious writing this?
No really, you could save up to 10% a year by setting your temperature back just 7°-10°. Comfort being the priority, it will be up to you and your family to decide how low a temperature you can bear. Normally, we suggest around 68° when you’re away or asleep. ?
2. Upgrade your thermostat: a step closer to a smart home.
A programmable thermostat lets you create a heating schedule for your home. You can bring the temperature down while you are at work or while you are sleeping. A smart thermostat allows even more control. This would allow you to manage your HVAC system from anywhere with your smart phone.
3. Check your filters: Not only is a clean home a happy home, apparently its cheaper.
Cleaning or changing your filters on a regular schedule will maintain proper airflow allowing your system to work more efficiently. Also, it is important to determine you have the correct filters for your system.
4. Don’t block your air vents: this can happen easier than you think.
Know where your vents are and make sure furniture, rugs, curtains or other debris isn’t blocking them. Clearing out space around the vents will help the circulation of warm air.
5. Avoid heating uninsulated rooms: better in than out!
This includes garages and crawl spaces. These rooms don’t need the heat and they lose it very quickly without insulation.
6. Get a tune-up: homes need doctors too.
Call a professional; they will determine if your home heating system is in good health. A healthy system maximizes efficiency, thus saving you money.
7. Check your insulation: heat rises, have you heard?
Good insulation is very important, no matter the season. One of the most important rooms to insulate is the attic. Sufficient attic floor insulation will prevent all that beloved heat from rising right out of your home.
8. When the sun is out, take action: hopefully its not a “blink and you missed it” situation.
Open the curtains when the sun is shining: this will warm your heart and your home. Close them back up at nighttime for addition insulation.
9. Reverse your ceiling fans: did you know this was a thing?
Turn your fan clockwise and set it to a low speed. A ceiling fan’s typical gig is creating a flow of cool air, thus, this little trick will push the warm air downward, aiding your heating system.
10. Unplug unused electronics: believe it or not, Dad was right.
Plugged in and unused power can account for upwards of $100 a year! Using surge protectors can help by preventing your electronics from using standby power.
When the weather outside is frightful your electric bill doesn’t have to be.
Using these tools can help you save money while still keeping your family warm and comfortable. So let’s all use that electric blanket, switch on that electric fireplace, heat up some hot cocoa, and enjoy winter’s wrath with some peace of mind.
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