How To Save Money On Electricity During The Winter

Electricity bills in winter can be quite tough on your budget regardless of how well off you are in life. The good news is that the electricity bill that is too high for you is preventable with the right management of your household more often than not. Want to know more? Here are our seven tips on how to save money on electricity during the winter.

1. Seal Doors, Windows, And Everything Else That Lets The Heat Escape

Heating can get unproductive if there is something in your house that lets the cold air in. Look for the cracks in windows, doors, and floor and insulate them with draught excluders, silicone sealants, strips, or any other material that would prevent the heat from escaping. Even blankets and newspaper pieces can help with some of the cracks. You can use plastic sheets to insulate the inside of your window. 

Additionally, you can cover the windows and doors that are not used during the winter with plastic entirely. Make sure to cover the cracks only and leave the air vents be, as covering the air vents may be dangerous due to the increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. You need to check the already installed seals every year to make sure that they remain intact.

2. Unplug Your Devices After Use

Your mobile phone chargers, computer chargers, kitchen appliances, TVs, and other electronics continue using considerate amounts of electricity when they are left on the standby. Therefore, unplugging them is a smart move if you wish to save on your bill. If you find it hard to get into the habit of unplugging everything, start with the stuff you don't use daily and eradicate the nasty habit of leaving chargers turned on when you don't charge anything.

3. Invest In A Superior Thermostat

The thermostat is the best tool to keep your electricity use in check, so consider upgrading if it is not programmable. A modern, up-to-date thermostat does not only help you to customize the heating settings, but also gives you access to smart energy settings on your smartphone. A great thermostat also gives you a choice to set different temperatures for different rooms or not heat some rooms at all. Last but not least, it allows you to set different temperatures for different hours, and switch the heating off when you are asleep.

4. Lower The Temperature On Your Thermostat

Once you make sure that your thermostat is up to date, and is serving your goals, the next big step is to lower the temperature. Most of us would agree that 68°F is a pretty comfortable temperature inside the house, but if you are a healthy adult, you can absolutely keep it below 66°F without any risks for your help. 

Of course, the lower you set the temperature, the more money you save, but your comfort should still be a priority. Keeping the temperature a few degrees below what you are used to will spare you a reasonable amount of money without feeling like you are about to freeze. In fact, reducing your house temperature by only 1.8 °F can impressively save you up to 10 percent of the bill.

You can also gradually reduce the heat to give your body the time to adjust and test what is comfortable for you. One degree per week seems pretty reasonable to us, but you can definitely go at any pacing you like.

5.Replace All Lighting With Energy-saving LED Bulbs

LED bulbs are a smart investment if you are thinking about how to save on your electricity bill during the winter because they use 75 percent less energy than traditional ones. What is even better, they are reported to last at least 30 times longer. Some of the modern energy-saving bulbs can last over a decade, even if used half a day. 

If replacing all lighting is not on your plate at the moment, you can do this gradually by buying a LED bulb every time your old bulb is no longer operating. In any case, LED is an investment that will help you to save money on your electricity during the winter for decades to come.

6.Heat The Water Efficiently

Heating the water is a large part of your electricity bill that is unfortunately neglected way too often. Adjusting your water heating can help you save between 15% and 40% of your electricity bill, depending on how you use it. One smart thing to do is to adjust the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature above that is inefficient and will only lead to wasting electricity. Depending on your heater's characteristics, it may also be a safety hazard that you wish to avoid.

Though it seems like a no-brainer, taking a shower instead of a bath is always a good idea for saving extra electricity costs. Opt for a quick shower most times when you wash, and make long bathes a rare option only when it is absolutely necessary. Even if you are a bath lover, you might eventually get used to showers once you introduce them to your daily routine.

Finally, the way you wash your clothes also matters when it comes to saving on an electricity bill during the winter. Opt to always wash your clothes at 30°C or lower and make sure that you have a detergent right for this. Another lifehack is to launch the washing machine only when it is fully loaded.

7. Go One Size up with Your Wires

Though only a few people are aware of this, wiring matters a lot when it comes to finding ways how to save money on your electricity during the winter.  According to the National Electricity Code, going only one size up when installing copper cables reduces the loss of power and saves energy costs. So, next time you purchase copper building wire from Nassau National Cable, consider opting for a higher gauge to minimize power loss.

It turns out that saving on electricity is not that difficult because these tips apply to every budget and determination level. You can always start small if you are not currently planning to upgrade anything. Once you introduce better habits into your routine, they are likely to stick with you.