When the mercury dips below freezing, it’s pretty common for your monthly cost for electric consumption to go up, up and up. Don’t let the cold break the bank. If you don’t want to spend a fortune this winter for residential electric service in Denver, consider these seven ways that you can actually lower your bill during the cold season.
1. Reduce consumption
The most obvious way to reduce your residential electric use in Denver is to lower your consumption. This can simply mean turning off lights when you leave a room, running your HVAC unit sparingly, bundling up with warm clothes and blankets rather than ratcheting up the heat, and using wood-burning heat rather than your HVAC system. Taking a few small steps to reduce consumption can have a big impact on your monthly bill.
2. Harness the sun
Did you know that Denver has more days of sunshine per year than beach cities like Miami Beach? With an average of 300 sunny days each year, it’s possible to harness the sun’s warmth and welcome it into your home. Even if it’s cold out, open blinds and shutters to allow the sun’s race to enter your home and warm things up inside.
3. Bundle up inside
Rather than set your thermostat on 80 degrees, and keep your home at a balmy, enjoyable temperature in the winter, consider keeping the temps lower for a big impact on your heating bill. Consider cuddling up under blankets or adding another layer of clothes to stay warm. A few simple changes can save serious money every month.
4. Care for your furnace
All machines work better and more efficiently when they’re maintained and kept in good working order. That’s why it’s important to have a residential electrical service in Denver perform annual maintenance and check your furnace for any potential problems in the late summer or early fall. Having a knowledgeable provider can keep your HVAC system running efficiently all winter long.
5. Use a wood-burning fireplace
Wood is much cheaper than electricity, or any other home heating fuel, for that matter. If you’re fortunate enough to have a wood burning fireplace in your home, consider depending more on it this winter than your furnace. Buy a cord of wood, assuming you have a place to store it, far in advance so that you can let it dry enough for efficient burning once winter arrives.
4. Lower the temp at night
During the winter months, you probably already add another layer of blankets onto your bed. Consider dropping the temperature on the thermostat at night and instead of keeping warm under extra covers and blankets. You’ve already spent the money on the blankets when you bought them, and this simple trick can save you serious money on your monthly bill.
4. Check for leaks in windows and doors
Once the cold days and nights start creeping in, it’s smart to check your windows and doors for air leaks. Not only could cold air be creeping in, but warm air might be escaping too. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, consider having an experienced residential electrician come in to check for leaks and offer other suggestions on how you might save on heating costs this winter.