Tips to Cut Your Electrical Bill

Print and display a copy of the list below to help remind you to implement these cost saving ideas!

-       Make sure your central air conditioning unit outside your home stays clean and free of debris.

-       Cover your windows with plastic.  Also, on hot days, close the drapes or blinds.

-       Most houses have gaps and other openings around many of the windows and doors, letting cold air into your living room.  Seal the cracks and gaps with caulk.  A tube of caulk and a caulk gun will cost you about 4-5 dollars and you just press it into the crack and you’re done.

-       If you have access to your attic, you can have more insulation blown in fairly inexpensively.  Or go to a hardware store and buy big rolls and roll them out in your attic.

-       On hot or cold days, close off rooms you can live without for a few days.

-       Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.  The bulbs put out as much light as a 75-watt bulb, but only use 20 watts of electricity.  Each bulb costs about $7, but will last longer than regular bulbs.

-       A leaky faucet or toilet can cost you more money.  Making the repair will save you money.

-       For every degree you turn up your thermostat in the summer or down in the winter, you can save 2-3 percent on your energy bill.

Summer/Winter Tips:

-       In the heat of the day, place a window fan in a blowing out position.

-       At night, when it cools off, put it in the window, blowing in.

-       Use ceiling fans efficiently.  In the summer, you want air blowing up.  In the winter, reverse the blades so air blows down.

-       Add humidity to the air in winter.  If you have radiator heat, you can set a pan of water on the radiator.  You can also do this with a pan of water on the stove.

-       Near the end of your shower, close the stopper and let some of the hot water sit in the tub.  It will add humidity to the air.

Doors:

-       Weather-strip your door

·         Some need to be nailed into place.

·         Others come backed with adhesive so once you clean the surface you can simply stick the weather stripping on.

·         A bath towel rolled up and set against the bottom of your door will also help.

Kitchen:

-       Clean the coils on your refrigerator:

·         Use special brushed designed to reach back and clean in between the coils

·         A vacuum cleaner with a crevice nozzle

·         A yard stick with a cloth wrapped around it

-       Check the freezer to make sure nothing is blocking the cold air vents

-       Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator, not in the microwave.

-       Don’t use your oven on hot summer days.  In the winter, bake as often as you like!

·         Make sure to match the size of the pot you’re using to the size of the burner on your stove.

-       Wait to run your dishwasher until it’s full and skip the drying cycle.

Furnace Tips:

-      Clean your window air conditioning unit filter!

-      Turn the dial down on the water heater a few notches.

-      Buy pipe insulators, they slip right on water pipes and they are inexpensive.

-      Cover basement windows with plastic.

-      Wash full loads of laundry to save water and wash in cold water when possible.  Always rinse in cold water.

-      Make a habit of cleaning the lint trap each time you use the dryer.

-      Attaching an inexpensive diverter to your dryer vent will send warm moist air into your house during the winter months and by simply reversing it during the summer months, the dryer is vented again.

 

If you are looking for a professional St. Louis electrical contractor, please call us today or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation