Tips to Start Saving on Your Electricity Bill Today
Save up to $65 per year by servicing your air conditioner
The smartest way to keep your air conditioner running at its peak efficiency is to spend a couple of hours every year on basic maintenance: cleaning and straightening the fan blades, changing out the filter and lubricating the air conditioner’s motor.
Nearly half of every average home’s yearly energy bill is spent on the home’s heating and cooling. Air conditioner units placed in direct sunlight use up to 10% more electricity than those in the shade. If yours is placed in the sun, consider planting tall bushes or shade trees nearby, but don’t enclose the unit, which would impede the airflow. Always place window air conditioner units on the north side of the home or under an awning.
Save up to $60 per year by running your refrigerator more efficiently
Cleaning your refrigerator’s coils is the first and most important step in running your refrigerator more efficiently. Use a broom and a vacuum to brush and vacuum the coils on the bottom or the back of your refrigerator. A coil cleaning brush is flexible and bendable to fit in tight areas.
Refrigerators and freezers run more efficiently and cost effectively when they’re full. Keep your refrigerator and freezer full by putting in water containers and bags of ice. Set and keep your refrigerator’s temperature setting between 35 and 38 degrees and set your freezer temperature between 0 and 5 degrees fahrenheit.
Check your refrigerator door seals (gaskets). Refrigerator door gaskets wear out over time and retain moisture build up. An easy way to check your seal is to close a dollar bill in the door. If the dollar bill easily pulls out, the seal needs to be replaced.
Update your Insulation
A very cost-effective ways to keep your home more comfortable for less is to add insulation to your attic, including the trap or access door to your attic, which is relatively simple.
To find out if you have enough insulation in your attic, measure the thickness of the attic’s insulation. If it is less than R-30 (which is 11 inches of fiberglass or rock wool or 8 inches of cellulose), you would most certainly benefit by adding more.
If there is enough insulation and proper air sealing in your attic, and your home still feels too drafty in the winter time or too warm in the summer, you most likely need to add insulation to your home’s exterior walls. This is more expensive and usually requires a contractor, but it may be worth the cost.
The professionals at Shield Electric are available to visit your home and make cost saving recommendations for energy savings in your home. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
