How to Stop Your Utility Bills from Skyrocketing This Winter

Summer and winter are likely the two seasons that most frequently come to mind when you think about times of the year when you’re likely to experience high utility bills. After all, that’s usually when weather is at its extremes, so it makes sense to have to use more resources to compensate for that within your home to make it comfortable. No one likes paying more expensive bills though, so how do you keep your utility bills from skyrocketing this winter?

Identify How Your Energy is Wasted

It’s hard to fix a problem if you don’t know what the problem is or why it’s happening. If you want to keep your energy bills lower this winter, start by figuring out how energy is being wasted throughout your home. Look for drafts, different appliances and electronics that are acting as energy vampires, lights being left on unnecessarily, and other ways your home might be losing energy. You may find it helpful to get a home energy audit to identify issues you would otherwise be unaware of.

Fix Problem Areas

Once you’ve identified where the waste is coming from, you can take steps to fix it. If your home is poorly insulated, start by adding more. Adding insulation can reduce your energy bills by up to 50%. If drafty windows and doors are a problem, seal cracks, apply weather stripping, and replace them with more energy efficient versions. Turn lights off when you leave the room and unplug electronics when they aren’t being used. Fix leaky faucets and plumbing to lower your water bill, and keep the water turned off when you aren’t actively using it.

Boost Your Energy Efficiency

You can take a proactive approach to lowering your utility bills too. Boost your energy efficiency by upgrading old appliances to energy efficient models. Replace lightbulbs with LED bulbs. Swap out your old shower head for a shower head that saves water. Add thick, heavy curtains to your windows to better insulate them and retain more heat in your home. 

Summer is behind us, leaving many people concerned about how they’re going to pay their utility bills as the cold winter weather sets in. To keep your utility bills from skyrocketing this winter, start by figuring out how your energy is being wasted. Take steps to fix any problem areas and boost your energy efficiency. Your bills won’t go away, but that should help make them more manageable this winter.