The winter season brings tons of exciting activities and events, but it can also impact your wallet. From holiday lights to keeping your home cozy during harsh weather, many Wisconsin Rapids families are left with high energy expenses. Luckily, there are easy ways to decrease your expenses and achieve lower utility bills.
Our professionals at Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc in Wisconsin Rapids created a list of ways you can save. Try them out and enjoy lower utility bills this winter season.
1. Adjust your thermostat.
Change your thermostat to lower heating output when you’re asleep or not home. Three to five percent more energy is consumed when your furnace is set above 68 degrees, so try keeping your home at 68 degrees when you’re at home and awake, and lower to 55-65 degrees at times when you’re away at work, out of town or sleeping to achieve lower utility bills.
2. Make sure you only wash when you have full loads.
Hold on doing laundry until you can do full loads. This will save you money on water heating, water usage and on heat used for the dryer. You don’t want to do more laundry than was really necessary, right? And, remember: cleaning the lint trap after every load can save you up to $34 a year, according to PG&E.
3. Conduct a home energy audit.
A home energy audit can help you find the areas where your home is losing energy through leaks, drafts, or products and appliances that use excess energy. The assessment can explain how to save the most, including long- and short-term energy-saving solutions.
4. Properly seal your leaks.
From your heating and cooling ducts to attics, walls and windows, there are many areas in your home that may be letting in unwanted cold air. Simply cover windows with plastic, and add caulk or weatherstripping to seal leaks around doors and windows. Contact Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc to hear more about sealing your air ducts.
5. Use LED holiday lights.
One easy way to get lower utility bills is to switch out your older, less efficient holiday lights for LED lights. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these lights use less energy than incandescent bulbs and can work for nearly 40 holiday seasons in Wisconsin Rapids.
6. Install a high-efficiency furnace.
If you need to upgrade your furnace, consider an energy efficient furnace. Some systems can save up to $800 a year on annual heating bills over older furnaces. Or, if you’re not quite ready for a replacement, remember to schedule a routine maintenance visit for your current system. An easy tune-up can help you achieve lower utility bills by making it easier for the system to do its job.
For more information on how you can lower your utility bills this winter, give Rapids Sheet Metal Works Inc in Wisconsin Rapids a call at 715-301-0256.