There is no such thing as a free lunch. There is no such thing as free electricity, either. 31% of American households encounter difficulty with paying their energy bills.
Even if you can pay your bills, you are going to have a high electric bill sooner rather than later. Don’t panic. You can perform your own energy audit to see what is driving your bills up.
What are the most common causes of a high energy bill? Why do appliances use energy when you are not using them? How can you improve your AC system so you aren’t using energy?
Answer these questions and you can cut your energy bill down to a manageable size. Here is your quick guide.
Vampire Appliances
Vampire appliances are devices that use power while they are plugged in. You may think the appliances are off or idle. Yet they continue to suck in electricity, contributing to your high energy usage.
Vampire appliances include DVRs, televisions, and desktop computers. When you switch these devices off, they transition to standby mode. During this mode, they continue to use power until you unplug them.
High-Energy Appliances
Dishwashers and washing machines do turn off when you switch them off. But while they are running, they use a lot of power.
Someone may make the problem worse by running their machines when they don’t need to. They could handwash their dishes, but they instead run their dishwasher.
Device Charging
Cell phones, tablet computers, and portable game systems all require constant charging. They use power while they are off, and they do not have long battery lives. This means that you have to leave your devices plugged in for many hours and run your electric bill up.
Heating and Cooling Systems
41.7% of home energy use goes toward space and water heating and cooling. Some of this energy use is necessary. An area like Point Blank, TX can be rather hot in the summer!
But a lot of people leave their AC units on while they are out of the house. This can send an electric bill high while providing no benefit to consumers.
It can also create AC problems that require extensive repairs. You should be conscious of the signs that you need repairs and you should contact a Cold Spring, TX technician as soon as possible.
Poor Insulation
Even if you have a good heating and cooling system, you may not have good insulation. Thin walls that do not contain thermal materials may allow hot air to escape. You have to spend more money and electricity on heating your home because so much heat is leaving your home.
The Main Causes for a High Electric Bill
A high electric bill comes from a few different places. Vampire appliances suck in power while you are not using them. Unplug these devices.
High-energy appliances use up a lot of power while they are running. Most of your devices need to stay plugged in to have a charge. Be conservative about using these appliances.
Your AC system may remain in operation while you are away. You should shut it off and install insulation.
Get help to keep your energy expenses down. Best Air Conditioning & Heating, LLC. serves the Livingston, TX area. Contact us today.
