The typical household spends close to $2,100 a year on utilities — but it doesn’t have to be like this. Saving money with your living expenses, especially on your energy bill, is doable; it just requires a little bit of assessment and elbow grease. When you adjust how you use your utilities, you could lower your bill by 25%! Here are some ways to lower your energy bill.
Heating and Cooling System
One of the most significant living expenses with utilities is your HVAC. You can cut some costs by assessing your situation. Check the seals on your windows, doors, and appliances. When your windows and doors are well sealed, it keeps the cold air where it belongs — this goes for your fridge and freezer too. When you have a bad seal, energy slips out, so it takes extra power to hold the setting. Speaking of refrigerators, set yours to 37 degrees — it will keep your food fresh without working as hard to maintain the temperature. Another way to lessen your living expenses with utilities is by fixing your leaky ductwork. Your heating and cooling will work much more efficiently after you repair leaking heating, ventilation, and air ducts.
Lights
In addition to turning the lights off when you’re not home, swap out your light bulbs with LED bulbs with the Energy Star label. Installing dimmer switches allows you to set the brightness which helps save electricity.
Water
Hot water is a huge living expense in powering homes. I know what you’re thinking, I’m not taking a cold shower — don’t worry, you don’t have to we have better tips. Instead, take shorter showers, trimming two minutes off of your shower can cut your water usage by 10 gallons. Fix leaky faucets — when your faucet leaks it’s dripping money down the drain. Replace your showerhead with an efficient showerhead with a WaterSense label, and if you have the budget, you might want to consider purchasing energy-efficient appliances.
Minimize Your Living Expenses
Replacing all of your appliances seems like an expensive task, but it can save money in the long run. You could consider a home equity loan to help with your home upgrades. A home equity loan is easier to qualify for because your home’s value secures them. If what you owe on your home is less than your home’s worth, a home equity loan provides the funds you need for larger purchases. Here at DEXSTA, we have a couple of loan options, give us a call or contact us online today. We’d love to help you achieve your financial goals.