10 Home Maintenance Ideas to Lower Your Energy Bills

Whether big or small, every house and establishment needs a decent penny to pay for energy bills. Residential and commercial energy companies have played a vital role in lowering electricity expenses. By making yourself a bit conscious of how much energy goes to waste daily, you can have stable control over your budget. In this blog post, we have highlighted some ideas that will help you maintain your home and lower your energy bills.

Ceiling Fan Rotation

Your fan rotates clockwise to bring warm air down from the ceiling. This process is reversed in summers for ventilation. You should have a switch that allows you to adjust the rotation of the fans seasonally. This will minimize the amount of electricity used by the fans and save you up to 10% on your energy bill.

Dress According to the Weather

You can save more energy by wearing light clothes in summer and warm clothes in winter. This way, you will not feel the brunt of the harsh summer days and cold winter nights. This will further ensure that you use your heater in winter and cooler in summer as little as possible.

Turn Off the Lights

It is common for many people to forget to turn off the lights when leaving the room. Your house's lights account for about 12% of your residential bills. So, always consider turning off the lights when not in use. Besides, switch to LED bulbs as they use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Stop Using the Dryer

Instead of using the dryer, hang your laundry to dry outside on a clothesline. You may also want to wait until the evening to use your washer to stop it from producing excess heat in the day. But if you're going to use the dryer, then reduce the drying time. It will have a positive effect on your budget.

Service Your Air Conditioner

Before the hot summer months arrive, perform a maintenance check on your air conditioner and have it serviced. Removing a dirty air filter will reduce the energy usage of your air conditioner by up to 15%. Check and clean your air conditioner filters every month to ensure a clean and healthy system with proper airflow. Specially check them during the summers when your air conditioner is used the most.

Wash Your Laundry with Cold Water

Most of the energy used by your washing machine goes to heat the water. You must wash your clothes with cold water to lower electricity bills. Unless a fabric needs warm or hot water for cleaning, wash all of your clothes in cold water. Most things you throw in the washing machine can be washed in cold water, and the temperate is optimum for removing harsh stains.

Use Solar Panels for Electricity

You can say solar panels are a one-time expense as they use sunlight to produce electricity. After installing the panel, you have to take care of the batteries. By using those panels, you don't have to pay high monthly bills. It is not necessary to shift the whole house to solar energy. You can even use smaller panels with small batteries for specific appliances. Fortunately, residential and commercial solar power companies have increased the variety of the products they offer. That way, you can find one that matches your needs.

Clean Your Refrigerator

To keep your refrigerator and freezer working correctly, defrost them until the ice melts down to 1/4-inch thick. The frosted ice makes your refrigerator consume more energy-the electricity bill hikes as a result.

Cut Your Shower Time

Everyone enjoys a nice shower. One of the simplest ways to save money on your utility bills is to reduce the amount of time you shower. The average person's shower lasts 8 minutes and uses about 17 gallons of water. Since a five-minute shower uses about two gallons of water per minute, taking a five-minute shower could save you a lot of water while still giving you plenty of time to enjoy the steam.

Adjust the Water Temperature

Turning your water heater's high setting down will save you money and prolong the life of your heater. Make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less. You may also inquire about water heater modification and installation at your local hardware store. 

The Small Things

There are innumerable little measures that you can take to lower your energy bills. The ideas mentioned above are the best practices for you to follow to reduce your energy bills. You can consider more things by just looking around yourself. Always notice the small things that have been left unnoticed. Small things collectively have a huge effect. So, try your best to save your money to get your home fully maintained. These small things also increase the value of your home.