5 Tips to Keep Your Utility Bills Down This Summer

As the weather heats up this summer, you may notice that your utility bills are also heating up. If you don’t want to pay higher electricity and water costs due to the warmer weather, there are a few changes you can make around your home. Consider making these adjustments to help keep utility bills under control.

Check for Leaks

According to Plumbing Manufacturers International, 13.7% of water use each year is because of leaks. Checking your plumbing, drains, and water heater for leaks can dramatically reduce your water consumption, helping to lower your utility bill this summer.

In addition, if your water bill suddenly shoots up, it may be a sign that you have a leak. You can check for leaks by getting under each sink in your home and looking for drips, as well as shining a flashlight on any visible plumbing in your basement. However, if you can’t see anything on your own, and your bill reflects that you may have a leak, it may be time to reach out to a plumber for a full house evaluation.

Weatherize Your Home

Up to 38.7% of households are heated by electricity while 48.1% are heated by gas. No matter the type of heat you use, weatherizing your home helps to keep both warm and cold air from escaping, depending on the season. Spend some time weatherizing your home this summer by plugging cracks, sealing windows, and making sure that any gaps where air escapes are sealed up.

This will help your air conditioner function more effectively, and when winter arrives, you’ll find that you waste less heat. Your local energy company may also offer an energy audit, where a professional with the company visits your home and lets you know what changes you can make to weatherize it and reduce the amount you spend on energy each year.

Consider Replacing Your AC

Older window AC units can be energy hogs, using up far more electricity than you might expect just to keep you cool in the summer. If you’re spending a lot on your power bills now that summer is here, your window AC may be to blame. Consider purchasing a newer, more energy-efficient model, preferably one with the Energy Star logo. You’ll find that the newer machine works more efficiently to cool your home and that your electricity bill is lower as a result.

Lower Your Water Heater Temperature

Heating the water in your home makes up 18% of your energy costs. In the summer, you can lower these costs dramatically by lowering the temperature of your water heater. A water temperature over 120 degrees actually makes your hot water tank accumulate sediment at a faster rate. Lowering the temperature can actually lengthen the life of your hot water heater.

Close Doors and Vents

One easy way to keep your utility bills lower throughout the summer months is to close doors and vents in rooms that you won’t be using as frequently. This helps you to avoid wasting energy on cooling rooms that you aren’t spending time in, like guest rooms and storage areas and is a great way to lower your energy bills overall.

If you commonly see your utility bills shoot up over the summer, and you’d like to avoid that this year, these tips will help. Try weatherizing your house, checking for leaks, closing doors and vents, and replacing old AC units to keep your power and water bills as low as possible. You may find that with just a few do-it-yourself repairs around your home, you’re able to dramatically lower your water and power bills.