3 Ways To Save On Utilities In The Summer Months

If you live somewhere that has hot summer months, you might find that your utility bills spike during this time. But while some of this is just the nature of the beast, there likely are things that you can change about your home or lifestyle that can help you lower these costs without feeling like you’re having to suffer through the heat.

To show you how this can be done, here are three ways to save on utilities in the summer months.

Use Your A/C Correctly

One of the biggest uses of energy for a home is the heating and cooling system. In the summer, many homes have to wind up using their a/c in order to keep their home at a comfortable temperature. However, setting it and forgetting it can often cause your cooling bills to skyrocket.

To combat this, Dana Dratch, a contributor to Bankrate.com, advises that you learn how to use your a/c correctly. As part of this, you’ll want to avoid cranking up your air conditioning as the primary to keep yourself cool. Ideally, you should try other options for cooling off before lowering the temperature of your home completely. To help with this, you may want to consider getting a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust as you and your home need it to.

Take Advantage Of Your Windows

To keep your home cool in a more natural way, try taking advantage of the windows in your home.

According to Megan McMorris, a contributor to Reader’s Digest, keeping the drapes or blinds of your windows closed while the sun is out will help you block out some heat during the hottest parts of the day. Additionally, if you open your windows at night, you’ll be bringing in some cooler air that will help keep your home from heating up as quickly the next day. Just make sure you only open your windows when it’s cooler outside than it is in your house and that you close your windows back down before the sun comes up.

Keep Appliances Off During The Day

When it’s hot outside, the last thing you want to do is nullify your efforts to keep your home cool by using appliances that produce their own heat when you turn them on. Because of this, Energy.gov recommends that you try to avoid using heat-creating appliances during the day. Some of the appliances you should use minimally include things like your dishwasher, your washer and dryer, your oven and stove, and even some bigger electronics.

If you’re wanting to keep your home cool while also keeping your utility bills lower this summer, consider using some of the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.