Whether you are the type of person who is staying in an area in a warm climate for the entire year or a person that goes through dealing with the heat during the summer, you should always be prepared. The heat can cause a lot of problems for your home. Without looking after your home properly during the warmer times of the year, you might be spending unnecessary money. The time of year could influence your bills. That’s why you may be able to benefit from learning about how other people were able to save on their bills when the weather was warmer!
How Can You Save Money on Your Bills During the Summer?
Not everything you do can save you money. However, some home tips could help you save in the long run! Some tips to save on your utility bills during summer include:
- Look for Leaks and Repair Them
- Unplug Your Electronic Devices
- Take Advantage of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
- Think About Using Fans Rather Than AC
- Take Advantage of Your Thermostat
- Plan Out Your Laundry
Look for Leaks and Repair Them
Making sure you have the proper insulation in your home can make a big difference. For instance, if your door’s seal is broken, you are allowing your air-conditioned air from your home to go to the outside world. This will lead your air conditioner to operate even harder to keep the house cool. You should consider trying to look for these leaks on your own.
While you can try to find the leaks on your own, the most effective way to make sure that you find each leak is to get a professional to inspect your home. They will go through your whole home from electrical sockets, baseboards, windows, doors, and more.
Once you or the professional find the leak, you should repair it as soon as you can. Generally, fixing a leak can be done through caulk or foam that seals the leak. The fix can differ based on the location of the leak.
Unplug Your Electronic Devices
Many people believe that it is a good habit to shut off electronic devices when they are not using them. While this is a better alternative to keeping them on, there is something you can do to save money. Rather than turning off your electronic devices, you should completely unplug them. This is because electronic devices might take up more power than you realize when they are still connected to an outlet. If you do not want to worry about unplugging your electronic devices, then you should consider getting a surge protector. Typically, surge protectors would cut off all power of electronic devices that are not used.
Take Advantage of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
As technology progresses, opportunities that can help out your home progress too! Rather than using a standard light bulb, you should consider using compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED light bulbs. Lighting is an important aspect of your home, especially since it takes up approximately 15% of your home’s electricity. With the right kind of energy-efficient light bulbs, families can save approximately $225 in energy expenses per year.
Think About Using Fans Rather Than AC
When the temperature rises outside, it is only natural to crank up the AC to combat the heat. This can be expensive. People should think about using floor fans or ceiling fans, as opposed to using AC. On average, ceiling fans can contribute to saving families approximately 4% to 8% on cooling expenses. This is because these types of fans utilize less energy. It is important to keep in mind that fans do not make the room cool. Rather, fans move around the air to make a cooling effect.
Take Advantage of Your Thermostat
As we mentioned before, progress in technology can make a world of a difference in how much you want to save. You should take advantage of your thermostat or think about upgrading your thermostat to have more capabilities. If you have one of those programmable thermostats, then you will be able to regulate the temperature automatically. If you properly utilize these kinds of thermostats, then you will be able to save approximately $180 per year!
Plan Out Your Laundry
Even though it can be tempting to do several small loads of laundry, it could cost a lot of money for you in the long run. You should consider doing your laundry only when it is necessary. Other than that, how you do your laundry can make a world of a difference to your savings too! An easy way to decrease your utility bills is if you wash your clothes with cold water instead of warm water. This decreases the amount of energy that your washing machine will utilize. When it comes to drying your clothes, you might be able to make the most of the heat. Rather than using your dryer, you can hang your clothes outside. This gets rid of using extra energy on your load of laundry altogether!
Government Assistance Program to Help You Save Money
Other than taking into consideration these tips to help you save on your utility bills, some government assistance programs can help Americans who need to manage these costs too! Some programs that can help you out include:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program
The Final Verdict
Your utility bill can be influenced because of several different factors. One specific factor that can influence your bill is the warm season. That is because the weather can affect the amount of energy you use. When you are going through a warm season, there are some tips that you can consider to reduce your energy bills. Some of the tips include:
- Look for Leaks and Repair Them
- Unplug Your Electronic Devices
- Take Advantage of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
- Think About Using Fans Rather Than AC
- Take Advantage of Your Thermostat
- Plan Out Your Laundry
Other than these tips that can help you save money, some programs can help your situation. The best opportunity for your energy situation will differ. Be sure to review all the options out there and plan accordingly.
