In today’s world, the price of goods and services is increasing at a staggering rate. This increase in the cost of living has many looking for ways to cut back on their spending. When it comes to electric bills, an increase in cost may not only be due to an increase in rates. If you have noticed a jump in your monthly bill, this article is designed to help you understand it.
Learning the most common causes of a high electric bill and why these circumstances create more energy usage can help you effectively decrease your monthly expenses. Once a problem has been identified, a homeowner may alter their habits or invest in upgrades to reduce their cost. Read below to find out the common causes driving up your power bill, why they increase energy usage, and what you can do to help lower your bill.
What’s Behind the Increase in Your Power Bill
There are a myriad of reasons you may be experiencing increases in your electric bill. Rate increases are something we may not be able to control which is why it is important to understand the things we can control. Listed below are some of the most common reasons a homeowner may be experiencing an increase in their monthly bill:
Electric Furnace
A large portion of a home’s electricity usage comes from the electric furnace. This uses a large amount of energy converting the electricity provided to the home into heat. Continuous use of heating units in winter months will also increase the electric bill.
Hot Water Heater
From the factory, water heaters usually come pre-set to a high temperature. Water heaters demand a significant amount of electricity and affect the monthly bill by its continuous operation. The traditional water tanks can also lose heat through the tank walls and pipes demanding more electricity to keep water up to temperature.
Old Appliances
Aging appliances, especially refrigerators can be big energy wasters. Not having the energy-efficient technology of modern-day appliances, it is easy to understand that older appliances use more energy. The door seals of older refrigerators and freezers wear out and allow leaking. This increases the amount of energy the unit uses.
Multiple Refrigerators or Freezers
As mentioned above, old appliances, especially refrigerators, consume large amounts of energy. Having multiple units increases total electrical cost.
Windows and Weatherstripping
If there are any gaps in window seals or damage to the weatherstripping on the doorways, this can easily pull in outside air causing your furnace or air conditioner to work overtime.
Old Light Bulbs
Older style light bulbs, known as incandescent bulbs use a significantly more amount of electricity than bulbs with newer technology. The older light bulb is inefficient in its energy conversion from electricity to light, light only accounting for a small portion of the electricity you actually see as light.
Dryer Usage
Using the clothes dryer frequently can greatly increase a home’s electric bill. These units consume a large amount of energy intensified by their heat production which takes even more electricity to produce.
What Can a Homeowner Do?
For as many causes there are that increase an electrical bill, there are more ways a homeowner can lower the bill. Electrical bills can be lowered by simple changes in habits or by investing in upgrades to your home making it more energy efficient. Keep reading to learn many useful tips on how you can lower your electrical bill.
– Have an energy audit. Find an electrical company that can come into your home and find the hidden causes that have your electric bill increasing.
– It may be an investment, but upgrading your home’s heating and cooling system to a newer energy-efficient model will make a significant change to your overall energy usage.
– Change your air filters regularly. This is super important if you have indoor pets.
– Properly insulate your home. You can even insulate the water heater helping it hold its heat better.
– Lower the temperature of the hot water heater.
– Invest in newer, more energy-efficient appliances.
– If you have an extra freezer or refrigerator, make sure it is full. Keeping these appliances stocked takes less energy for them to maintain temperature since the food holds the cold air.
– Seal all windows and doors to avoid letting heat in or out.
– Change your light bulbs to newer, more energy-efficient bulbs.
– Install dimmer switches.
– Try to line-dry your laundry as much as possible. If you cannot air dry, make sure your loads of laundry are full to minimize the amount of loads you do.
– If your electric company has increased rates during peak hours, avoid using as much electricity as possible during this time.
– Unplug your electronics as much as possible when you’re not using them and use power strips.
– Install a programmable or smart thermostat.
– Try to use ceiling fans instead of air conditioning units.
Take Control of Your Power Bill
Now that we have covered some of the most common reasons an electric bill can increase, put the above tips to work. There are many ways you can make small and inexpensive changes to your home and also ways to alter your habits and your daily routine to help decrease your monthly costs. Hiring a professional electrical contractor to inspect for potential issues can be a smart investment. Whether you are looking to improve your home’s energy efficiency or find out what else may be causing your bill to rise, an electrical contractor in Southborough could be your ticket to saving money. Make sure your home is safe, comfortable, energy-efficient, and affordable.
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