How to Lower Your Electricity Bill this Summer
The summer heat inevitably brings high electric bills as you try to keep your house cool. Air conditioners take a lot of energy to run and all of that energy can add up. Fortunately, you can do several things to help your air conditioner run more efficiently and lower your electricity bill.
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Things You'll Need
- HVAC filters
- Programmable thermostat
- Blinds or curtains
- Weather stripping
- Caulk
Instructions
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Change your HVAC filters regularly and make sure the air ducts are sealed. Clogged filters reduce the air flow and make your HVAC work harder. If it's been awhile, you may want to have your HVAC serviced. You will make up the cost of the service with a reduced electrical bill.
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2
Install a programmable thermostat and program it for a higher temperature, or even turn the air conditioner off, at night and when you are not at home. Turning the temperature up a few degrees even when you are home can lower your electricity bill as well.
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3
Turn off the lights during the day and use natural sunlight whenever possible. Keeping the lights turned off will also reduce the amount of heat added to your home so your air conditioner does not have to run as long.
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4
Close the blinds or curtains in the rooms on the sunny side of your house and rooms that you are not using. The heat from the sun radiates through the windows, adding heat to your house and making your air conditioner run longer. The curtains and blinds act as a barrier to keep the heat out, reducing your electric bill.
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Use your oven as little as possible. When you do have to cook, make enough to last several days. You can also cook or reheat food using a microwave, toaster oven or grill to avoid adding excessive heat to your home. The less heat you add to your home, the less often the air conditioner has to run and the lower your electricity bill will be.
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6
Replace worn weather stripping on your doors and caulk around windows. It costs a lot to keep the air cool in your home, so let as little escape as possible. These small home improvements can add up to big savings on your electric bill.
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7
Use ceiling fans to circulate the air and add a cooling effect to your rooms. When you use ceiling fans, you can set your thermostat to a higher temperature and still feel comfortable. Ceiling fans are inexpensive to install and cost much less to operate than your air conditioner.
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Tips & Warnings
The air conditioner is one of the largest contributors to your electric bill in the summer, but it is not the only one. Look around your home for other appliances that can be turned off or adjusted it to lower your electricity bill even further.
References
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