With winter close on the horizon, it's time to start hunkering down in your home so that you can stay warm and comfortable. In most cases, spending more time inside results in higher utility bills during the winter months.
However, if you notice that your utility bill is getting exceptionally high, it could be due to mistakes that you're making without realizing that you're making them. To help get your energy costs under control, it makes sense to correct these mistakes as soon as you can.
Throughout the year, the temperature of the water that comes into your home varies depending on the outside temperature. Thus, in the winter, your water heater will have to use more energy to heat the water than it does in the summer. Therefore, if you're using unnecessary hot water, you could end up spending more on your utility bill.
The most common use of hot water where it's not needed is in your washer. For the most part, cold water will suffice to get your clothes clean, especially when using modern detergents. If you’re worried about killing germs, remember that the dryer will heat your clothes to much higher temperatures than the washer ever would.
As the weather turns colder, you will come to depend on your HVAC system more and more to keep your home comfortable. It's important, then, that you have your system properly maintained so that it can run as efficiently as possible.
If you have a programmable thermostat, it's important that you use it fully throughout the winter. Go through all of the settings that are available so that you can properly program your thermostat to turn on and off at the correct times. You'll also want to experiment with different temperatures to see if you can settle for a lower temperature in your home while still staying comfortable.
The doors in your home are some of the largest openings in the exterior walls. Therefore, they represent one of the biggest potentials for energy loss. That's why it's important to ensure that the door and the door jamb have a tight seal so that cold air stays outside where it belongs. If there's not a tight seal, it's important to use various weatherstripping methods to ensure that the gap is closed.
For the most part, preventing excess energy usage during the winter can largely be achieved by performing ongoing maintenance to your home and its mechanical systems. Therefore, if you're taking care of your home, you'll receive the dual benefits of an extended lifespan for the materials in your home and lower energy usage during extreme temperatures.
Using Unnecessary Hot Water
Throughout the year, the temperature of the water that comes into your home varies depending on the outside temperature. Thus, in the winter, your water heater will have to use more energy to heat the water than it does in the summer. Therefore, if you're using unnecessary hot water, you could end up spending more on your utility bill.
The most common use of hot water where it's not needed is in your washer. For the most part, cold water will suffice to get your clothes clean, especially when using modern detergents. If you’re worried about killing germs, remember that the dryer will heat your clothes to much higher temperatures than the washer ever would.
Not Servicing Your HVAC System
As the weather turns colder, you will come to depend on your HVAC system more and more to keep your home comfortable. It's important, then, that you have your system properly maintained so that it can run as efficiently as possible.
AC service and furnace service are both crucial to help maintain your system's proper operation and ensure that these units aren't using more energy than they should.
Not Setting Thermostat
If you have a programmable thermostat, it's important that you use it fully throughout the winter. Go through all of the settings that are available so that you can properly program your thermostat to turn on and off at the correct times. You'll also want to experiment with different temperatures to see if you can settle for a lower temperature in your home while still staying comfortable.
Not Insulating Around Doors
The doors in your home are some of the largest openings in the exterior walls. Therefore, they represent one of the biggest potentials for energy loss. That's why it's important to ensure that the door and the door jamb have a tight seal so that cold air stays outside where it belongs. If there's not a tight seal, it's important to use various weatherstripping methods to ensure that the gap is closed.
For the most part, preventing excess energy usage during the winter can largely be achieved by performing ongoing maintenance to your home and its mechanical systems. Therefore, if you're taking care of your home, you'll receive the dual benefits of an extended lifespan for the materials in your home and lower energy usage during extreme temperatures.
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