Small Acts Which Will Cut Your Electric Bill

Here in Redondo Beach, the cooler months offer us a respite from the higher bills of summer. Many residents prefer to sign up for rate programs or other programs to which tie rates to time of highest energy use. You may or may not be one of those individuals, but we’re going to give you some other tips to help you start whittling away at things which can make your electric bill higher.

Fight the Light

During these shorter days, we turn lights on earlier than in the winter. Kids have a tendency to leave lights on, but can be taught to turn them off. This woman’s solution was a flat-out bribe: she gave her kids each a buck every month the electric bill was cheaper than for the same month the year before. It saved the family about $20 every month--a small fortune.

Replace incandescent bulbs with LED lights, but, buyer, do be aware that not all LED’s are created equal. Watch carefully for Energy Star ratings. These are the bulbs which offer the best in energy savings. If you need light fixtures or switches replaced, call us!

Regular HVAC Maintenance

Does your HVAC filter look like the dryer lint trap mated with a Tribble? Get in the habit of changing it regularly. Regular maintenance of your HVAC will not only save you money, but will also extend the life of the unit. Double win. Getting it serviced regularly by an HVAC company will help, as well. (In a future blog we will talk about evaporative coolers.)

A=Once a person is asleep, their body stays warm under the covers, some people don’t like to climb into a cold bed during the winter. We know of one individual who refused to turn on her furnace in the winter, but regularly used a handheld hair dryer on a high setting to prewarm to mattress and sheets. She said it takes under a minute to warm the whole bed, which creates a warm cocoon where she could fall asleep quickly without the fear of an electric blanket shorting out or having a space heater on while she’s sleeping-- a wise concept, by the way. We recommend that our customers never sleep with a heating appliance on.

Stay out of hot water

Hot water heater represents an average of 20% of your electric bill. Even lowering the temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees will make a difference. When it’s time to replace your hot water heater, consider buying one with an Energy Star rating.

Washing machines have been designed to get clothes cleaner, and laundry detergents have been designed to work more effectively. Therefore, it makes sense to use the lowest possible temperature setting when washing clothes, unless you work in a coal mine or otherwise are exposed to pathogens which require a high heat. Diapers are an example. Also, consider using the shorter wash cycle and shutting off that extra rinse.

Dryer

Oddly enough, a clothes pole above the washing machine might save you more money than you think. During the dry months, many people shut their dryer off before it can dry their clothes completely, preferring, instead, to hang them while they are still damp to air dry them.

While we’re on the subject of dryers: if you clean the lint trap after every load, your dryer will work more efficiently and last longer.

Appliances:

Use the oven in winter and crock pot in the summertime--or the grill. Don’t forget to flip the switch on your ceiling fan so the blades rotate in the clockwise direction. All of these little tricks on their own don’t amount to much, but over time, you’ll find your monthly bill for the same time last year was higher.

When you need a licensed electrician for commercial or residential electrical needs, call Zimmerman Electric at 909-585-6407.