Does it feel like this summer has been hotter than summers in past years? You’re not just imagining things!
The U.S. has been hit by a series of heatwaves so far this year. It has sent temperatures skyrocketing up over the 100-degree Fahrenheit mark in many places.
It has also led to increased electric bills for many homeowners, as they’ve had to work hard to keep their homes cool. Those electric bills could very well stay high for the rest of the summer if they’re not careful.
Do you wish you could have a lower electric bill? Do you wish you can have better utility bill management? You can get it when you learn about the different ways to lower an electric bill.
There are some simple tricks you can use to bring your electric bill back down to earth once and for all. Here are seven hacks on how to lower an electric bill in summer.
1. Service Your Home’s Air Conditioning System at the Start of Summer
When is the last time you had the air conditioning system in your home serviced? If you’re scratching your head right now and trying to come up with an answer, that means it’s been too long since your last AC service.
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea for homeowners to have their AC systems serviced once each year. They should preferably do it right at the start of the summer before they begin using their AC systems every day.
By servicing your AC system with help from a company like F.H. Furr, you can ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible all summer long.
2. Take More Control of Your AC System With a Programmable Thermostat
Are you still using an old-school thermostat that you have to change manually all the time to control your AC system? If you are, it’s time for you to get rid of it!
People who use these types of thermostats tend to struggle to get a lower electric bill in the summer because their AC systems end up running almost all day long. It’s a way better idea to get your hands on a programmable thermostat that you can set and then forget throughout the course of the day and night.
This type of thermostat will keep your AC system up and running at the right times and shut it down when you don’t need to worry about keeping your home extra cool. It’ll cost you a little bit of money to invest in one, but it’ll be well worth the cost in the end. If you need cash to invest in these money saving upgrades, maybe use a title loan to foot the bill.
3. Make Sure You Have Enough Insulation in Your Home
Is there enough insulation up in your home’s attic space and behind the walls in your home? If you don’t have the slightest clue, you should, at the very least, check to see how much insulation is in your home.
If your insulation is on the lower side or if it’s not covering your entire attic space and the interior of your walls, it could be allowing cool air from your AC system to sneak out of your home. It could also be letting warm air from outside sneak into your home.
Both of these things can result in your electric bill shooting up. Keeping an electric bill low in the summer will be so much easier when you have more than enough insulation in place.
4. Use Your Home’s Ceiling Fans to Your Advantage
Are you fortunate enough to have ceiling fans scattered throughout your home? Then you should be using them early and often in conjunction with your AC system.
You can reduce the temperature in a room by several degrees in most cases simply by turning a ceiling fan on and letting it run counterclockwise. This will cut down on the number of hours that you have to run your AC system every day and save you a small fortune on your electric bill.
5. Hang the Right Coverings Over Your Home’s Windows
Do you have very light window coverings hanging up in your home that allow the sun to shine right through them? This could be making your home warmer than it has to be.
You should take these kinds of window treatments down and replace them with window coverings that will block the sun and its harmful UV rays. You’ll be able to keep your home so much cooler than it would be otherwise by purchasing new shades or blinds for your home and topping them off with heavy curtains.
6. Open Up Your Windows at Night as the Weather Permits
Have you gotten into the habit of running your home’s AC system almost all day and all night to cool your home off? There are probably plenty of nights when you could cool your home off more effectively by leaving your windows open.
Keep a close eye on the forecast and see what the temperature is going to be once the sun goes down. If it looks like it’s going to be on the cooler side, leaving your windows open and shutting your air conditioning off will work wonders for your electric bill.
7. Shut Off Lights Inside Your Home as Often as You Can
Do you like to keep a lot of lights on in your home, both in the summer and at other times of the year? You might be surprised to find out how much energy you’re wasting.
It’s an especially bad idea to do this during the summer. It stays light outside longer, which means you shouldn’t have to turn on your lights much at all during the day. Some of your lights might also generate heat, which can take a toll on the temperature of your home.
Shut your lights off more often to save on your electric bill. It’s one of the best ways to save electricity all year round.
Achieve a Lower Electric Bill in No Time at All This Summer
As you can see, there are lots of ways in which you can cut down on how much energy you use throughout the summer. Your utility company will start sending you a lower electric bill every month when you use the hacks found here early and often.
At the same time, you’ll still be able to keep your home comfortable despite cutting back on your energy usage. It’ll be a win/win situation for you and your family.
Check out our blog for more tips on saving money in other areas of your home.
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