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How to Save $100 a Month on Utilities

December 1, 2009 by Andy · Leave a Comment (Edit)

SAVE 100$ A MONTH IN UTILITY COSTS
COMPLIMENTS OF ANDY’S HOME & BUSINESS REPAIR

1) REVIEW EVERY LIGHT IN YOUR HOME. REPLACE THOSE HIGH WATT BULBS WITH THE NEW
WATT SAVERS, OR JUST LOWER THE BULB WATTAGE.

2) IN THE SUMMERTIME, KEEP YOUR AIR CONDITIONER COILS CLEAN, A DIRTY OUTSIDE UNIT CANNOT GET RID OF THE HEAT, AND THAT WILL COST YOU A LOT.

3) TURN YOUR WATERHEATER TEMPURATURE DOWN A NOTCH. IF YOUR WATERHEATER IS OVER TEN YEARS OLD, REPLACE IT. AN OLD WATERHEATER CAN HAVE MORE THAN AN INCH OF CALCIUM IN THE BOTTOM; IT IS LIKE HEATING THROUGH A ROCK.

4) KEEP YOUR FURNACE FILTERS CLEAN. GOOD AIRFLOW ALLOWS FOR GOOD HEAT/ COOL TRANSFER.

5) HAVE A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT INSTALLED. THEY ARE EASY TO USE AND AFFORDABLE.

6) SET YOUR WATER FLUSH LEVELS AS LOW AS POSSSIBLE IN TOILETS. IF YOU HAVE THE 15-YEAR-OLD “BIG GULP” CHANGE IT OUT FOR THE NEW EFFECIANCY MODEL.

7) KEEP YOUR CLOTHES DRYER LINT TRAP CLEAN. ELECTRIC CLOTHES DRYERS CAN ALSO BE VENTED INSIDE DURING THE WINTER WITH A WATER VENT BOX INSTALLED. THIS KEEPS THE HEAT FROM ESCAPING THE HOME.

WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

9) COVER THOSE HOT WATER LINES WITH PIPE INSULATION FOAM.

10) IF ANY OF YOUR GAS APPLIANCES HAVE THE CONSTANT PILOT LIGHT, GET RID OF THEM. ALL NEW GAS APPLIANCES ARE ELECTRIC START AND USE NO FUEL WHEN INOPERATIVE.

11) ALL OUTDOOR LAMPS SHOULD BE ON MOTION DETECTORS, NOT RUNNING CONSTANTLY.

12) COVER YOUR ROOF TURBINES WITH PLASTIC BAGS AND DUCT TAPE EVERY WINTER. ROOF TURBINES ARE FOR GETTING RID OF HEAT, NOT FOR KEEPING IT IN.

13) IF YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE INEFFECIANT, REPLACE WITH NEW. IF THIS IS NOT IN YOUR BUDGET, WINDOW KITS AND DRAPES WILL HELP.

14) HAVE YOUR ATTIC INSULATION CHECKED; YOU MAY NEED ADDITIONAL INSULATION ADDED TO YOUR ATTIC SPACE.

15) KEEP YOUR DISHWASHER ON COOL DRY SETTING (UNLESS IN A HURRY FOR CLEAN DISHES)

16) A FIREPLACE OR WOOD-BURNING STOVE IS AN EXCELLENT WINTERTIME HEAT SOURCE WHEN USED CORRECTLY. WOOD BURNING STOVES AND FIREPLACE INSERTS ARE WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

17) KEEP SOME OIL BURNING LAMPS HANDY. IN AN EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGE, THEY CAN BE A GOOD SOURCE OF LIGHT AND HEAT.

18) RECYCLE. CUT DOWN ON YOUR TRASH PICK-UP TO ONCE A WEEK. SET UP CONTAINERS FOR ALUMINUM, PLASTICS, GLASS, PAPER, STEEL AND ALLOYS (COPPER, BRASS, STAINLESS STEEL.) MOST MUNICIPALITIES HAVE RECYCLE CENTERS.

19) MAKE A PATIO OR BACKYARD VEGETABLE GARDEN. GARDENS ARE AN EASY WAY TO CUT DOWN AT THE GROCERY STORE, WHILE ENJOYING LIFES BOUNTY.

20) MAKE A COMPOST BIN TO THROW AWAY UNWANTED VEGETATION, GRASS CLIPPINGS AND GARBAGE, THEN THROW COMPOST ON YOUR GARDEN.

21) RAIN WATER RETENTION BARRELS. ONE OR TWO WILL DUE. JUST HOOK-UP TO YOUR DOWNSPOUTS. THEN WHEN THINGS GET DRY, YOUR WATER IS FREE.

22) INSTALL A DRINKING WATER PURIFIER UNDER THE SINK. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED TO BUY BOTTLED WATER, AND WILL ENHANCE YOUR HEALTH.

23) DRIVE LESS. WHEN YOU PLAN YOUR DAY DRIVE IN A CIRCUIT AND ELIMINATE UN NEEDED TRIPS TO SAVE GAS.
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