How to Lower Your Electric Bill in Winter
If you’re like many homeowners, you may be thinking about contacting us looking for ways to keep your electrical bill down in winter. If this is you, then you don’t have to call! Here are some things that Neerings’ electrician recommends you try.
Get a New Thermostat
If you have an old thermostat, have our electrician upgrade it to a new one. Programmable thermostats let you lower the temperature of your home when you’re not there. Smart thermostats allow you to control your home’s temperature via your smartphone.
Turn Your Thermostat Down
Our electrician and HVAC experts recommend turning your thermostat down. You can save 10% on your electricity bill each year just by turning it down 7-10 degrees. Keep it below 68 when you’re not home or sleeping.
Don’t Heat Rooms You Don’t Use
Close or block vents in rooms you don’t use. That way, the hot air can be funneled into the rooms you occupy the most! You can buy vent covers at most hardware or home goods stores.
Don’t Heat Uninsulated Areas
If you have heating vents in your attic, your garage, or other uninsulated areas, block them off. These areas lose heat much faster than the rest of your house and pumping heat into them can raise your electricity bill a lot.
Get a Tune-Up
Our HVAC experts and electricians can make sure your heater is working efficiently. When you use less energy, your bills will be lower.
Seal Windows and Doors
Caulk holes in windows and door frames. You can also use door snakes to block drafts under doors.
Change Your Water Heater Temp
Keep your water heater set to 120 degrees. It can be tempting to raise that temperature in the winter but keeping the water so hot will add quite a bit to your electric bill.
Insulate Your Water Heater
You can get an insulating jacket for your water heater at your local hardware store. Wrap it around the heater to help conserve energy. You can also get insulation for any exposed pipes that lead to or from the water heater so you don’t lose energy there, either.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
Most ceiling fans have a switch on them that will reverse their direction. Flip this in the winter so the fan runs backward. It will then move hot air from the ceiling back down into the living spaces and you won’t have to pump so much extra hot air into them.
If you want more ideas about how to lower your electric bill in winter, call our Salt Lake City electrician at Neerings. We’ll make sure you get the answers you need to save money, no matter how cold it gets!