Bills related to your house, especially utility bills, always seem to have a strange tendency to get more and more expensive as time goes on. Whether you rent or own your current residence, utility bills are just facts of life. The only good thing about these bills is that you have some modicum of control over them if you know what to do. We’ll give you a few ways to save a lot on your monthly utility bills that will start to add up over time once you start doing them.
Reseal Windows and Doors
The gaps between your windows and walls or your doors and walls can slowly start to widen over time as the house continues to settle. These gaps are terrible because they let the outdoor conditions affect your home. Resealing these gaps with latex caulking or a similar product can help you avoid having an HVAC system that works overly hard to keep your house’s environment where you want it.
Use an Efficient Showerhead
Showers are responsible for most of the water usage in the house. You may use a lot more water than you think just by having your regular shower every day. Something as simple as switching to a more conservative or efficient showerhead is a great way to save a lot on your monthly utility bills. It’s a small price to pay for long-term savings on your water bill.
Utilize Smart Power Strips
Did you know that your plugged-in power strips could still use extra electricity even if nothing that plugs into them is on? Unplugging electronics that you aren’t using can get annoying when you’re trying to save some money on your electric bill. Luckily, you can actually switch to smart power strips that sense when electronics are inactive and cut themselves off from using more energy than they need in response.
Use LED Light Bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs will soon be a thing of the past as LEDs continue to prove themselves more effective at using energy. For a fraction of the energy needed to light up an incandescent bulb, an LED bulb can provide more light and last a lot longer.
Consider Alternative Energy
There are plenty of reasons to consider solar energy or wind power, but one of the longer-term benefits is paying less for utilities. For example, putting solar panels on your roof has a sizeable upfront cost. But over time, you’ll save so much on energy that they’ll make up for that initial expenditure. You may even be able to send excess electricity back into the grid, saving you even more money.