As the colder months are approaching, you may be wondering how you will pay your monthly electric bill. Oftentimes, your electric bill is higher in winter than in the hot summer months. The good news is that there are several ways to save on your electric bill.
Seal Your Doors and Windows
If you live in an older house, you may have cold air drafts coming in under doors and around window frames. To pay less this winter for heating, you need to seal those cracks with insulation to prevent drafts from keeping your furnace or HVAC unit running longer than necessary. If your windows are single pane glass, then you also need to put a layer of plastic over them to prevent heat loss.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Lowering the setting on your thermostat will help lower your electric bill. Instead of making it hot during the day, lower it to around 68 degrees and put on a sweater if needed. You can lower the temperature several degrees at night; your blankets will keep you warm. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to change the temperature automatically. If no one is home during the day, lower the temperature at daytime and set the thermostat to warm the house by the time you get home.
Circulate the Air with Fans
Using fans to blow the air toward the ceiling will make a room feel evenly heated. This will result in a more comfortable space and lower cost for heating. Since warm air rises, you will feel warmer when you stand up. However, fans will circulate the air, making the entire room feel warmer.
Keep Curtains Drawn Until Sun Shines In
The sun’s rays can warm a room when the sun is shining brightly. Keep the curtains closed when the sun is not shining in to prevent heat loss and open windows facing the south when you have bright sunlight.
Insulate Your Home
When you have the right amount of insulation in your home, it will be more comfortable. Your home will be able to stay warm much longer in the winter and cooler in the summer. You should have sufficient insulation between the floor and basement, in the outer walls, and between the uppermost living space and the attic – or below the roof if the attic is used for a living space.
Seal the Heating Ducts
Your heating ductwork could have gaps in them that will allow some of the warm air to escape. When this happens, you are heating areas that do not need it and less hot air is going to where it is needed. This means it will cost you more and your heating unit will run longer. Seal those gaps for more effective heating and save money.
Change Air Filters
Clean air filters enable the furnace to work at peak efficiency. When they are dirty, the furnace needs to work harder and longer to produce the same results. Change it once a month during the winter months will help save on your electric bill.