7 Tips To Lower Your Utility Bills by Being Energy Efficient

Utility bills can become prohibitively expensive if your home is not energy efficient. However, many people don’t realize that there are many things you can do to make your home more energy-efficient while still being money conscious.

Your HVAC system, on average, accounts for nearly 50% of your home’s energy consumption. While it may seem like that is just something you have to deal with, that isn’t the case. There are many things you can do to help your HVAC work less hard, which in turn will lower your bill.

Here are seven money tips to help lower your utility bill.

1. Get a Programmable Thermostat

Many people take a “set it and leave it” philosophy when it comes to their thermostat. You set it to the temperature you determine to be comfortable and leave it set that way. However, there is a good chance that you don’t need it to be set at that temperature all the time. For instance, if you go to work from 9-5, the home doesn’t necessarily need to be heated or cooled the same way as it does when you are at home.

This is where a programmable thermostat comes in. You can set it to certain temperatures at specific times of the day. So, you could set it to run at your comfortable temperature when you are at home and set it differently for when you are at work. This means your HVAC won’t run as often, and you will save energy.

2. Use Blinds Efficiently

Using your windows and blinds to your advantage is just one of many HVAC tips. On sunny days, there is plenty of light coming into the home that can help heat it without using your HVAC system. Or the opposite, if it is hot in your home, close the blinds so the heat isn’t coming in. This means your HVAC doesn’t need to run so much to cool your home.

3. Insulate Your Doors

Heat and cool air can easily escape under your doors if they are not sealed and insulated correctly. While the gaps under your door and between the door and the door frame may seem small, the hot or cold air continuously escapes through the gaps. This will cause your HVAC system to run more frequently, thus running up your bill.

You could have a professional come in and get your door properly sealed and insulated, but an interim solution is to buy a door draft stopper that will at least mitigate the problem until it can be fixed.

4. Turn Off Unnecessary Water

It can be easy to just keep water running to make tasks easier, but this is causing your water bill to increase. For instance, if you are cleaning dishes, it’s easy to constantly leave the water running, but turning it off when you aren’t actively using it will help lower your water bill.

5. Unplug Electrical Appliances When Not Using Them

This is one of the simplest but hardest to remember things you can do to lower your electricity bill. Did you know that even if you are not actively using an appliance, it is still drawing energy from the power outlet? It’s true.

All those appliances that you leave plugged in all the time for convenience’s sake are drawing a lot of energy that you could be saving if you just unplug them when you are finished using them. Now, of course, certain things you don’t want to unplug, like your refrigerator or oven, but you can easily unplug your electric can opener, your blow-dryer, or your cellphone charger.

6. Fix Leaky Faucets

Another member of the guilty party for making your water bill rise is leaky faucets. While it may not seem like a huge amount of water, it is adding to your bill. Consider putting a bowl under your leaky faucet and leaving it there for a day whenever you aren’t actively using the faucet. You may be surprised to see how much water is actually dripping out of the faucet.

You can try to fix the faucet yourself, or you can call in a plumber to take a look. Either way, fixing the leak is going to save you some money on your water bill.

7. Clean or Replace Air Filters

It might not seem like a big deal, and it’s probably not something you are actively thinking about, but dirty air filters can cause big problems for your home. For one, if they are dirty, they are not actively cleaning the air that is circulating throughout your home. This means a lot more dirt and allergens will be floating around, which doesn’t make for a pleasant experience.

In addition, if your air filters are dirty, it will cause your HVAC system to work overtime. This is because it will sense the dirty air filters and try to compensate for them. This will lead to the system running much more often than it needs to, which will cause a rise in your bill.

Conclusion

There are a lot of little things that add up to high utility bills. Many of them are things you likely don’t think about on a daily basis but are generally things you can easily take care of. All it takes is to audit your behavior and energy usage, and you can make a plan on how to lower your utility bills.

Several things you can do to lower your utility bills are getting and programming a thermostat, using your blinds efficiently, insulating your doors, using water efficiently, unplugging electrical appliances that aren’t in use, fixing leaky faucets, and cleaning your air filters. Try to do all of those things and see how much money you save in the long run.

Nicholas Kintigh
Nicholas Kintigh
1739846058
Wyatt was very knowledgeable and friendly. He seemed to know what needed to be done and explained everything.
Jodi Powell
Jodi Powell
1739844907
Great customer service!!!! I would highly recommend!!!!
Charlie Cremers
Charlie Cremers
1739835727
Justin from Aquarius Kincetico was great. He was very knowledgeable about our drinking water system, and our water softener system. He walked through everything with me. Thank you again for all your services
Diane Chaussee
Diane Chaussee
1739834775
Derk was so informative and always asked if we had any questions. He answered every question that we asked him. He was pleasant, knowledgeable, and very nice. It was a wonderful experience and we are so happy we have this system now to drink good water! Thank you!!!
Rod S
Rod S
1739831646
Very friendly and knowledgeable. Nick is a great representative of your company.
Jim Molitor
Jim Molitor
1739831493
Very knowledgeable and helpful
J Carroll
J Carroll
1739828599
On time, professional, and efficient. Ryan / Aquarius knows what he is doing!
kurt nyberg
kurt nyberg
1739827475
The people there are supper great and did a great job explaining what we needed to know about it and installing in the time he said
Greg Wax
Greg Wax
1739827456
Rena Shepard
Rena Shepard
1739827174
Anthony was very nice and patient with all. Did a great job and explained everything to me. Thank you
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
1739825454
Great and professional installation.
jane larson
jane larson
1739823632
Mike was very thorough and explained everything he was doing. He was a great representative of Aquarius Home Services.
Erik Johnson
Erik Johnson
1739818756
Great service
Maria Fernandes
Maria Fernandes
1739818541
Technician was awesome and did a great thorough job with routine maintenance and system inspection, including taking sensor measurement data at a ceiling vent. World-Class professional knowledge, talent, and technical skill. Thank you, Alec! We look forward to AC inspection in the approaching season, as well...
Gail Brandt
Gail Brandt
1739817675
Gordy provided great service.
Donna Kodet
Donna Kodet
1739810757
Great experience with work done today.Excellent explanations on systemThey were happy to make adjustments as requested. Highly recommend them
Andrew Blattner
Andrew Blattner
1739747698
Great service and experience! Andrew was awesome!
DAN KOLAND
DAN KOLAND
1739683557
Nick repaired our furnace on a Saturday night. He walked me through what was was wrong and had it working after a short period of time. Nick and Aquarius are the best! It would have been a cold night without them.
Christopher Sobraske
Christopher Sobraske
1739658824
Ryan Kahl did a phenomenal job! Extremely knowledgeable about our system and was able to answer all my questions. He was very professional and helpful especially with taking the time to make sure I was 100% confident in our system along with giving me helpful tips above and beyond our system. He really exceeded the value we expected from our service plan.
Corinne Klitzke
Corinne Klitzke
1739645858
Heather Reynolds
Heather Reynolds
1739644317
Max was very helpful!
Bill Enloe
Bill Enloe
1739570182
Pete Hayes
Pete Hayes
1739565324
Was a bit hesitant on keeping up with Kinetico!! But your two service techs ( Justin and Hannah)went above and beyond what I was expecting!! They spent so much energy and information related to my issues , making it a pleasant experience. Like I gained two new friends. Plus explained how a different service should take care further issues. Definitely would like to see them for my next service!!! Even got my wife back on board. Thanks again. Pete Hayes
Debbie Doyle
Debbie Doyle
1739561479
Aquarius came out this morning and replaced two toilets and did some plumbing work downstairs all in one morning. The plumber, Joe, was efficient, answers questions, provided helpful information, and was very friendly and personable. I will DEFINITELY use Aquarius again.
Matt Van Beusekom
Matt Van Beusekom
1739558449
Excellent and efficient work. Would definitely recommend!
Josey Dooley
Josey Dooley
1739557030
Amazing service!
Jessica Tracy
Jessica Tracy
1739556713
Gordon was very friendly and knowledgeable - makes the visit/process so much easier.
James M
James M
1739555300
After months of high water bills and feeling itchy, the Aquarius team came to the rescue. My 25 year old kinetico softener finally gave up and was constantly cycling. At the end of the service call we realized the old unit wasn't worth repairing. They sent out a salesperson the same day, providing a great range of options to fit my price point. My new softener arrived early so we were able to move up the install date. Install was flawless and we're back to having the softest water ever. I'm super happy with every interaction I've had with the Aquarius team. They are all super friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. I rarely leave reviews and only leave them when I'm really impressed. That's definitely the case with this company.
Brian Hagen
Brian Hagen
1739551834
Steve Sherwood
Steve Sherwood
1739551765
Great service. Prompt and knowledgeable
Peter T
Peter T
1739551605
Dirk did a good job communicating and installing the system. Recommend.
Nancy Lahmann
Nancy Lahmann
1739551066
Dylan checked boiler and did a thorough inspection. Very polite. He also knocked off a big ice chunk outside …extra service and much appreciated.
Ann Marie Haerter
Ann Marie Haerter
1739550777
Friendly, efficient, knowledgeable
Kenneth Schwebach
Kenneth Schwebach
1739498359
Great service tec! She was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Neal Kempel
Neal Kempel
1739497034
First, Aquarius responded to my interest in an RO system promptly. After deciding to commit to their solution, the installation, Including a water softner solution, it was scheduled the same week. Michael was the installer and he called when in transit and arrived right on schedule. We went over the work to be done and the placement of the equipment with only one issue that arose. The RO and water softener installation would not be a problem, but plumbing for the outdoor outlets would require additional material and labor, not included in the quote. I was looking forward to using the outdoor faucets without switching the system over. We elected to continue with the installation and Michael kept us informed throughout the day of his progress and completion time. He had everything cleaned up and provided us with a review of the system. To date, we are very pleased with the system and want to thank Michael for a great install. My only recommendation to Aquarius would be to take an additional step, during the initial meeting possibly, and physically look at the plumbing to ensure the quote covers all the materials to meet the customer request.
Jacqueline Garberg
Jacqueline Garberg
1739496644
Wyatt was thorough, considerate, a trusted service professional! Thank you!
Deb N
Deb N
1739489085
Tyler from Aquarius Home Services did a great job! He was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
Jeffrey Ek
Jeffrey Ek
1739486327
The techs are always very cordial, explain what they are doing, and in and out as quickly as makes sense. Having said that, I’ve never felt that they rushed through their work.
Keith Wolff
Keith Wolff
1739485872
Everything was checked out and explained the tech was very informative would recommend them. Thank you!
Jessica Fisher
Jessica Fisher
1739484813
We have had our Aquarius services longer than a decade. During this time, the equipment has never failed us, but more importantly we have received absolutely outstanding customer service anytime we have needed anything. Today was no different, Wyatt came to our house to do our periodic inspection and was able to help troubleshoot a problem and find a solution the very same day. The entire time he was here, he kept his workspace, clean and orderly, and he was very polite and respectful of our home. The shocker came when he was about to leave and told me this was his fifth day On his own! Very impressed, not only with him as a person, but the quality of employees that come out out of Aquarius. Highly recommend this company.
Jane Ogren
Jane Ogren
1739484717
Friendly and knowledgeable
Mike Gunderson
Mike Gunderson
1739483907
I had an old furnace that was on its last legs and needed to be replaced ASAP.Day one: Service Tech arrived 2 hours after initial contact with Aquarius. Sales Rep arrived within an hour of the request. Deal was made and installation appointment scheduled for the NEXT DAY!Day two: Contacted by the installation team at 7:00 am. Arrived at 7:30. Finished up by 2:30.All of the staff that I dealt with were friendly, professional and great to work with. They explained everything very well. I was expecting to wait 2-3 weeks for a new furnace and A/C. This was all done inside of two days. I would 100% recommend Aquarius to anyone needing any type of home service.Tall Mike, Mike Sippel, Chris Oigard, Dave and Luke it was great to work with you. Thanks for everything!Oh, they like dogs too.
Katie Raymond
Katie Raymond
1739481339
Sue Ufheil
Sue Ufheil
1739471348
Colton was very professional and explained everything he was doing. Very happy with service today.
Jarrod Wieland
Jarrod Wieland
1739470866
James Grant
James Grant
1739469886
Wonderful experience with Andrew & Joey , installed new efficient electric water heater . Courteous , clean , efficient, highly recommended
Jeremy Ruth
Jeremy Ruth
1739468208
Justin and Hana were super friendly and they helped figure out an issue with our RO system. Great appt
James Dixon
James Dixon
1739466779
Creative problem solver, pleasant personality, efficient and cleaned up well.
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