Cut Costs on Your Utilities

It’s no secret that people everywhere are stressed over consistent rises in utility bills each month. The bad news is you can’t just cut out water, electric, gas or sewer bills. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to be able to lower your utility costs that won’t cost a lot upfront. (Side note: when you sell your home, many buyers ask about average utility costs).  Here are few things you can do now to help save money in the long run.

Adjust your settings. The first thing you can do is turning your water heater down to 120 degrees. It will reduce the expense of heating your water. You can also keep your thermostat at temperatures that won’t keep your AC or heat running all day.  For summer, keep it at 78 degrees and during the winter at 68. These levels will still keep you comfortable for the most part. Don’t forget to turn it up or down for the times you will be gone for a couple of days. Don’t want to go that low? Just changing your thermostat by one degree can save you up to five percent. Lastly, wash your clothes on the cold setting to save on hot water costs.

Swap it out. Change your light bulbs to LED lights to use less energy (plus they last longer), switch your shower head to a more efficient one and reduce the amount of water used. Also, you may not realize it, but switching your drapes for cotton thermal drapes can prevent up to 25 percent of heat loss through your windows.

Splurge a little. If you have the money to invest in order to save later, consider installing solar panels. The long-term savings are huge. Lower utility bills while also receiving tax breaks. You can also get energy efficient appliances can save significant energy and, in turn, bring significant cost savings.

If you’ve already exhausted all of these resources and are still stressed over utility costs, try negotiating with the calls. Ask questions about charges and request for unnecessary charges you be removed. Good luck!

If you’re thinking of buying or selling your home, contact a United Country professional near you. To learn more, visit www.UnitedCountry.com.

Sources: https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/how-to-save-on-utilities