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Winter is around the corner and temperatures are going to drop. Saving money AND keeping your house warm can be a difficult balance, especially without making major sacrifices. How can you cut your electric bill without making major sacrifices this winter?
1. Wear a sweatshirt.Setting the thermostat a couple degrees lower than normal can help you save money on your electric bill. If you’re comfortable in a t-shirt, you could probably lower your heat a couple degrees and put a sweatshirt on.
2. Use blackout curtains.They are pretty inexpensive, but they can help keep the cold out.
3. Turn off your computer when you’re not using it.Turning your computer off every time you are not using it can be a pain, but you can actually save money on your electric bill by doing so.
4. Wash your clothes in cold water.When you can, try washing your clothes on a cold cycle. When you wash your clothes in warm water, the machine uses a lot of energy to heat the water.
5. Let your oven do its job.Every time you open the oven to check on the cooking process, the oven needs to work extra hard to get the temperature back to normal. Each time the temperature drops, it costs you money. Use a timer and check the food when it goes off.
6. Use a nightlight.Try using a nightlight in the bathroom, kitchen and your children’s rooms to ease their fears and light the way without the need to turn on all the lights. This uses less energy than turning the lights on when using the bathroom, or getting a drink of water in the middle of the night.
7. Clean your lint trap.Make sure the lint trap in your clothes dryer is clean before each use, and do not overfill the dryer. A clean lint trap and proper size load allows air to flow and dry your clothes faster and more efficiently.
8. Turn off the lights when you leave the room.Make it a habit for everyone in the house to turn off the lights every time, and you will see the savings add up.
9. Insulate your windows.If you have lots of windows, or a really big window, think about insulating them. Air won’t escape from the window, allowing the room temperature to stay at what your thermostat is set at. You can do-it-yourself, but remember leave one window in each room unwrapped as a fire escape.
10. Have your furnace looked at.Contact a professional to make sure it is working properly.
These are simple things can help lower your electric bill and can be implemented into anybody’s day-to-day lives to help save some extra money each month.
If you need a professional to check your furnace, contact your Shorewest, REALTOR® for a recommendation.
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