Lowering Your Utility Bills This Winter Is Easy With These 8 Expert Approved Tips

Winter is here, with single-digit temperatures, snow and ice across much of the United States. Freezing temperatures can make it difficult to keep your heating costs affordable, making it difficult to stay warm without depleting your budget. A CNET investigation nearly 80% of adults are stressed by the high cost of utilities.

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to choose between going broke or freezing all winter. A few simple, expert-approved adjustments to your daily habits can actually make a huge difference, saving you money without sacrificing comfort.

Small changes like unplugging your “vampire” electronics, being smarter about how you do laundry, and finding the RIGHT The temperature of your thermostat can translate into real savings on gas, water and electricity. Here’s how to stop wasting money and make your home more efficient.

Here are eight steps you can take to start saving electricity, gas, water and money. For additional money-saving tips, learn how to weatherproof your home to save on bills and a simple home upgrade that can help you save on summer air conditioning costs.

1. Get an electrical audit

Many power companies offer a free audit, where they do a room-by-room look at your home and review your power bills to help you determine where you’re wasting energy. You can follow the recommendations to help you reduce your electricity bill. If you can’t get a free audit, you may still be able to qualify for one under the Energy Efficiency Improvement Credit and recoup the costs during tax season.

Even if your electric company doesn’t provide this service, you can easily perform an energy audit on your home by following the instructions on the U.S. Department of Energy’s website.

2. Adjust your thermostat

One of the easiest ways to reduce your electricity bill is to adjust your thermostat. According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on your heating and cooling costs by adjusting your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours per day. In other words, keep it a little warmer in the summer and a little cooler in the winter.

A simple way to do this is to set your thermostat when you’re sleeping or when you’re away from home. If you have a smart thermostat, you can preset your thermostat to adjust during these hours so you don’t forget.

3. Turn down your water heater

Many water heater manufacturers set thermostats at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 C). But in reality, most households only need a setting to a maximum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting your water heater to a lower temperature can save hundreds of dollars per year.

Adjusting the temperature of a water heater is a quick and easy solution. Your water heater’s thermostat dial is probably located near the bottom of the tank, on the electric or gas control valve. Be sure to check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to adjust it – and if you have any questions, consult a professional technician.

4. Turn off and unplug what you are not using

By leaving things plugged in and on in your home when you’re not using them, you’re unnecessarily increasing your electricity bill.

You can start by turning off the lights when you’re not in the room or when it’s light enough outside to rely solely on natural light. Multiply the wattage of your bulb by the price your electricity supplier charges per kilowatt to find out how much you save. This amount only increases with the power of the bulb. Although it doesn’t seem like much, it can add up over time.

You can also save money by unplugging appliances you aren’t using. Phantom energy, that is, the energy used by your devices when they are plugged in but not turned on, can cost on average $100 per year.

5. Use your dishwasher

It may seem counterintuitive to suggest running an appliance to save on your electric bill. And yes, there was a time when dishwashers used a lot more water than they do today. But the Department of Energy regulates how much water modern dishwashers can use. Any dishwasher manufactured since 2013 is limited to using 5 gallons of water. If it is a compact sized dishwasher, its capacity is limited to 3.5 gallons.

You might think that you surely use less than 5 gallons of water to wash your dishes by hand. But the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that it takes between 9 and 27 gallons of water to hand wash a load of dishes. (If you’re curious, we also have a tip on how to properly load your dishwasher.)

6. Take advantage of off-peak rates

Electricity consumption tends to be higher at certain times of the day and year. First, demand is higher in winter and summer, when people use heaters and air conditioners. It is also higher during the day and evening.

Some power companies offer time-of-use plans, increasing rates during peak hours and decreasing them during off-peak hours. If you have one of these plans, you can save money by running large appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine early in the morning or late at night.

7. Change your air filters

Your air filter helps capture dirt, dust, and pet hair, preventing them from entering your HVAC. When you don’t change your air filters regularly enough, this debris enters your HVAC system and bogs it down, reducing its efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, replacing your filters on time can reduce your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent.

8. More Ways to Save on Your Bills

There are many steps, big and small, you can take to reduce your consumption and save money on your bills. The Department of Energy dedicates an entire section of its website to providing you with tips to help you save energy. And while many of them come at a price, there are many more like the ones on this list that you can do for free.

To learn more, check out the Ceiling Fan Tip That Can Help Your Home Stay Cooler and you can explore our solar cheat sheet.

More tips for saving energy and money