Living as a responsible adult means paying a lot of bills. If you have a home, then you pay for mortgages, food, water, and electricity bills. Living in Watertown, New York may rack up your electricity bills during the cold winter months and hot summers. If you want to cut down your costs, here are a few tips to do so:
Replace HVAC Units
Do routine checks on your HVAC units to make sure that they’re still running smoothly. If you moved into a new home where everything is brand-new, then you probably won’t have much to worry about regarding the efficiency of the system.
But if you’ve been living there for years or someone else has, better do some maintenance. HVAC companies like E&V Energycan offer unit replacements when you need them. When you discover a problem during a maintenance check, you can look into getting a new one so it doesn’t consume as much energy to run.
Use Only When Necessary
Be aware of the weather outside. Make it a habit to check the weather forecast on Watertown, New York every day as it can help you save some money on your electricity bills. If the weather isn’t too hot or too cold, then maybe there’s no need for you to use the heating or cooling system.
Close Vents On Unused Rooms
For rooms that you rarely or don’t use, don’t forget to close the vents. If nobody uses that room, then it’s unnecessary to provide heating or cooling. Nobody would need to be comfortable so the air will be useless.
Close the vents for rooms like the attic, basement, and guest rooms. For the places that you occasionally use, like a garage, provide proper insulation so no air leaks out and you’d be comfortable if you use it for a workshop.
Check For Leaks
As part of your routine maintenance, you need to check for leaks. If there are any, make sure to replace or fix it. If the air keeps leaking out, your HVAC may be working harder to provide the heating or cooling that you need in the house.
Clean Filters
Dirt and dust can accumulate on your filters so make sure to clean them regularly. Dirty filters can block the air from coming into the room, which will make you feel colder or hotter than you usually would at the same temperature that you set.
If that happens, you may turn it up higher or lower than usual, which will also increase your electricity bills. So, clean or replace your filter at least every 30 days.
Use A Programmable Thermostat
Stop changing the settings on your thermostat very often. It’s best to program it to automatically set temperatures on specific times of the day, and leave it at that. Also, if you’re going out to buy groceries, go to the gym, or to simply enjoy a nice walk around Watertown, set your thermostat, so it runs less when nobody’s home.
Open Or Close Your Windows
If it’s winter in Watertown, you’ll most likely be staying indoors to keep warm. If you are, then make sure to close your windows and doors so that the hot air doesn’t escape.
If it’s the summer season, depending on how hot it is, you can rely on the air conditioning, or you can open your doors and windows. Let some cool air in so you don’t have to overwork the AC. Open doors or windows in places where there is shade and no direct rays from the sun.
Change Your Clothing
To lessen changing the settings of the thermostat too often, maybe you can be the one to adjust to the temperature. You won’t even have to be fashionable or wear your best outfits since you’ll just be at home. Here are some tips:
If it’s too hot:
- Avoid wearing too many layers.
- Wear shorts instead of jeans, and short sleeved shirts instead of long sleeves.
- Wear light clothing such as those made of cotton.
If it’s too cold:
- Wear as many layers as you can.
- Use thick clothes.
- Wear socks on your feet.
- Wear long sleeves and pants.
Final Thoughts
These days, the prices of basic needs keep on rising. Doing the things above can help you reduce your electricity bills every month and use it for other essential items. You’ll also be helping the environment by cutting on the amount of energy used to keep you comfortable at home. So, it’s a win-win for you and the environment, too.
