10 Tips to Save Money on Utilities

Opening a utility bill can be a budget-testing experience for American families.We’ve cut back on dining out, canceled monthly subscriptions, and cut corners to make sure that we can make ends meet.This recent inflation has not been kind to consumers’ pockets. Keeping your house running is not getting cheaper. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, we spend an average of $2,200 a year on utility bills and this seems like a very low number compared to what some of us are experiencing. Since then, gas, water bills, and energy prices have risen 30% according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. As a homeowner, you can’t do much to affect the price of energy, but you CAN reduce the energy you use and the impact on your wallet. In this blog, we have 10 money-saving tips to help you save some money on your utility bills!Â

10 Ways to Save Money on Your Utilities

• Swap out your standard appliances and light bulbs with energy-efficient versions. Look for Energy Star stickers on new appliances and purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs will save you money in the long run.Â

• Ask for an energy audit from your utility provider. This service is often free and can identify other ways to save. If your provider does not offer this service, please look at the free guide offered by the U.S. Department of Energy.Â

• Prevent phantom (vampire) loads. By unplugging devices that are not in use, you will prevent them from drawing power from the electrical grid. That’s right—even if devices are off and they are plugged in, they can cost you money.Â

• Use appliances after peak energy use. You can save a fair amount of money if you run your appliances after peak hours! Run appliances like the dishwasher and clothes dryer late in the evening or before bedtime, when energy goes on sale.

• Increase efficiency to save money on your water bill.Â

• Buy an energy-efficient water heater. A tankless heater, which only warms water as it’s used, saves 30% more energy than a conventional tank heater.Â

• Repair leaks on toilets, faucets, and dishwashers.

• Install low-flow toilets or convert existing ones to save two to five gallons per flush.Â

• Shower for less time. Showing for one or two minutes less saves 2.5 gallons per minute.

• Get a programmable thermostat. It will help you regulate temperatures throughout the day without having to think about it. Keeping your home too cool or too warm when nobody’s home is simply a way to transfer wealth from you to your utility provider.

• Change Your filters regularly. It’s easy to forget to change filters for your furnace and AC, but ignoring this task will cost you money. Be sure to change your filter as recommended by the manufacturer which can be monthly or quarterly depending on the filter you use.Â

• Turn down your water heater. Many water heater manufacturers set thermostats at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 C). But in reality, most households only need it set at a maximum of 120 F. Setting your water heater to a lower temperature can save hundreds of dollars a year.

• Wash clothes in cold water. Use the cold water setting on your clothes washer to use less energy on heating water. Water heating makes up about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer, according to energystar.gov.
• Seal air leaks around doors and windows. Check for air leaks around your doors and windows by looking for damaged caulk and weatherstripping. Caulk and weatherstripping only last a couple of years, reports Energy.gov, so you should do this routinely to keep cold air and hot air out.

At Randy’s Electric, we can help you audit your electrical energy usage by educating you on the latest tech and ways to outfit your house with energy-efficient solutions. At Randy’s Electric, we’re proud to have served the Minneapolis Metro area since 2002. We’ve established trust in our community by providing spectacular service, phenomenal customer care, and upfront, affordable pricing. We treat our customers’ homes with the respect we’d give our own homes, and when we take on a project, we do it right the first time. Whether you need home wiring, home safety services, or electrical services, Randy Electric has got you covered. Visit us online to learn what we’re all about and give us a call at (612) 662-0104 when you’re ready to schedule service.