How to Reduce Home Bills

Aside from the mortgage, the main costs of maintaining a home are energy bills (electricity and natural gas). During the extreme temperatures of summer and winter, energy bills may spike, leaving you with a massive bill to handle. Reducing energy bills requires reducing consumption of energy. Reducing energy consumption has both financial and environmental advantages.

• 1

  Clean or replace the filters once a month during the summer and winter to reduce the energy consumed by your HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) unit. Clogged filters cause the unit to run at its maximum and reduce its efficiency.

• 2

  Replace old heating and cooling equipment with equipment rated well by Energy Star. Tax credits may be available to you if you replace your old equipment (see Resources for more specific information from Energy Star).

• 3

  Check the seals around all your windows and doors to make sure they are sealed properly. Inspect the caulking for cracks or discoloration. Scrape away any old caulk using a razor blade or putty knife and reapply caulk. Place the tube of caulk into the caulking gun and cut off the tip of the tube with a pair of scissors. Gently press down the trigger of the caulk gun until caulk flows from the tip. Wipe the tip with an old, clean towel to remove the caulk. Press the tip of the tube of caulk to the gap in your window or door and apply a light bead of caulk along the gap. Allow the caulk to dry for the time specified on the label.

• 4

  Clean the condenser of your air conditioning unit if it is a split system where the condenser sits outside the home. Turn off the power to the unit. Remove the screws that attach the top to the unit and then remove the top. Take care to not damage the fan as you pull it out. Remove any leaves and debris by hand and then spray the condenser coils with a garden hose to remove small dust and dirt.

• 5

  Turn down the heat or air conditioning when you leave the home and at night. Wear warm clothing in the house during the winter so you can keep the heat turned down to around 68 degrees.