5 Smart Ways to Lower Your Monthly Utility Bill

One of the best ways to make your budget a little tighter is to spend less on your monthly utility bills. Many people take utility bills for granted as a set cost, but you can actually reduce them significantly with some smart decisions. Here are some ways to lower your monthly utility bill which will actually make a big impact.

1. Know Your Peak Hours

Most utility companies have an issue where their energy-generating equipment can make the same volume of energy at night, but fewer people use that energy then, and it is challenging to store. So, they charge less during the evening and night hours to encourage people to use the excess energy generated at this time. If you can run things like dishwasher or washing machines during these off-peak hours, you can spend less on the exact same amount of electricity. You just need to figure out when your utility company considers “off-peak.”

2. Reduce Hot Water Usage

It costs a great deal to heat up water. If you can, reducing the amount of hot water you use can help. You can have shorter showers, or showers that are slightly colder. You can wash clothing in cold water. Dishwashers use a lot of hot water, so try to only run them when they are cold. You can also insulate your pipes to help keep it warm as it travels to you.

3. Invest in More Efficient Appliances

Sometimes you need to spend money to save money. HVAC and plumbing technologies have come a long way in the last several years, and many new appliance options are significantly more efficient, to the point that they can very quickly make back the cost of purchasing them through lowered utility bills. Some of the best options include:

• High efficiency furnaces
• Hybrid water heaters
• Tankless water heaters
• Efficient fridges and freezers

As a bonus, raise the temperature in your fridge or lower the temperature of your water heater to consistently save. Just make sure that the temperature you choose for both is safe, and low or high enough to prevent bacteria growth.

4. Maintain Your Appliances

Almost all of the appliances in your home, from your water heater to your furnace, need regular maintenance in order to stay as efficient as possible. Over full filters, build-up on heating elements, things caught in the fan, all of these issues can undermine the efficiency of your appliance and make them spend significantly more energy to do their job. You can prevent all of this with regular maintenance. As a bonus, this will also help reduce the need to repair these appliances in the future.

5. Handle Plumbing Leaks

Small leaks in your pipes, toilet, or other fixtures may end up wasting a great deal of water but may also go unseen for months on end. The result is higher water bills—and you might not even notice it. An inspection from your plumber can let you know if you have any leaks that are wasting your money.

What questions do you have about your water heater — hybrid or conventional? We’ll be happy to answer them and ensure you have the system that’s right for you and your family. Give us a call at (925) 872-0805.