Save Money Instantly On Your Electric Bill With 3 Smart Tips

If your household expenses are like most, your electricity bill is one of the highest utility bills that you have to pay every month. On average, residential customers pay $107.28 for their electric bill every month, which is a sharp increase from the average ten years ago of $78.24. If you are experiencing higher than usual electric bills or you just want to lower your average costs, there are a few smart tips you can use to reduce the amount of electricity your household uses every month.

1. Lower the thermostat temperature on your HVAC system by a few degrees.

You may have your ideas of a temperature that you feel is most comfortable when it comes to where you keep your thermostat. However, in most cases, a degree change of one or two degrees higher or lower will not be enough for you to notice much at all. In the cooler months, you can save as much as three percent on your energy costs by lowering the heating temperature by just one degree. Therefore, if you lower the temperature on your thermostat from your usual 78 degrees to 75, you could see a nine percent reduction in your electricity bill every month.

2. Use a microwave oven instead of your regular oven when you can.

Your big oven will use something like 12 to 19 cents for every hour it is used at a temperature of 350 degrees. On the other hand, your 1100-watt microwave will only cost 9.5 cents per hour but cooks much faster. If you have something you can cook in the microwave instead of the oven, like baked potatoes or frozen dinners, go for the microwave because it will use much less energy in the process.

3. Lower the temperature on your water heater when it is not in use.

Your water heater is easily one of the more expensive appliances when it comes to energy expenditure in the home. Even a high-efficiency electric hot water heater can cost as much as $41.84 to run through the month. Part of the reason the expense is so much is the fact that the unit keeps water heated 24 hours a day. To save some money, lower the temperature on your water heater when it is not in use, such as while everyone is at work or school or if you are away from home on vacation.

For more information, contact Doctor Cool or a similar company.