Like most people, you understand that it is reasonable to pay money to an energy company to provide you with the electricity you and your family need to thrive. But sometimes when the bills come rolling in, they can surprise you – and not in a good way.
If you have had a few energy bills shock you, you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of customers receive massive bills that they didn’t expect. Sometimes, it’s an admin error. But mostly, it has to do with the way that you are using electricity in the first place.
In this post, we take a look at some of the reasons your energy bills are so high and what you can do about it.
You Have Too Many Device Chargers Plugged In
How many devices in your home have chargers or adapters? Probably dozens, especially if you run a tech-savvy smart home.
Chargers and adapters, however, aren’t neutral. In fact, they consume quite a bit of energy when they occupy virtually every socket in your home.
The solution is simple: buy a smart multi-socket plug and then connect all your devices to it. You can control the power supply to these sockets via apps on your phone. So if you know you’re not going to be using certain devices, you can simply switch them off.
You Are Using Old Appliances
Old appliances are one of the main reasons your electricity bill is so high. Over time, electronic components begin to develop more resistance. Eventually, this increases the amount of electricity they need to function, thereby increasing your rates.
Old appliances are also substantially less efficient than their newer counterparts. So even if you’ve hardly used them, they will still increase your energy bills to high levels.
Your Heating And Cooling Requires Maintenance
HVAC systems require regular maintenance to keep them operating efficiently. Without it, the amount of energy they require to function slowly rises.
AC repair service can replace clogged filters and damaged components to increase the efficiency of your system. This, in turn, will make your home easier to warm in winter and cool in the summer.
You Are Relying On Lamps To Light Your Rooms
Traditionally, people lit their homes using a single light placed right in the center of the room. However, in recent years, this practice has fallen out of fashion. Today, homeowners regularly invest in spotlights, recessed lighting or lamps to provide illumination.
While these forms of lighting look great, they also increase your electricity bill. That’s because you often need several bulbs to light a room, not just one.
The solution is to turn off lights in areas that are no longer in use. You can also opt for energy-efficient bulbs that require just a fifth of the energy of regular incandescent bulbs.
You’re Not Using Full Load
Half loads in the dishwasher and washing machine are a large energy vampire. The average washer, for instance, uses more than forty gallons of water per cycle. Always arrange your laundry and dishes so that you fill the machine to capacity.
