You will probably not be surprised to hear that the average Floridian’s electric bill is as much as 40% higher than other households around the country. This is directly related to long months of heat and humidity necessitating the air conditioner to be running at all times.
In fact, in Sarasota the indoor climate can be uncomfortably warm for as much as 3/4 of the year if our A/C is not working. Given that we won’t be giving up our air conditioners anytime soon, how can we work on lowering our utility bill?
Trimming the Electric Bill
First and foremost, if your A/C unit is over 12 years old, you may want to have it assessed for efficiency. Like any machine, the older it gets the more inefficiently it may operate, sucking up more electricity to cool the same amount year after year. Assuming your A/C checks out and is running well, here are some additional tips to chip away at your electric bill.
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- Change A/C Filters Regularly: Filters clogged with dirt and dog hair aren’t allowing cool air to flow freely, necessitating your A/C to work harder and longer to cool the home. Changing your A/C filters monthly, especially during the hottest months, is a quick and surefire way to get better performance out of your air conditioner.
- Use Timers: You may insist on your home temperature being 75 degrees, but it doesn’t have to be during the day when you are not home. Setting the thermostat to higher temps during the day – and scheduling the home to cool off an hour before your return – will save a lot of energy in the long run.
- Learn to Adjust: Keeping your temperatures at 78 degrees vs. 75 degrees will make a significant energy and budgetary difference. Incrementally move up a degree every few months to adjust. Your home will not suffer from humidity or mold issues until the internal temp is over 82 degrees or more. Install ceiling fans to move the cooler air around and create a breeze – but turn them off when you leave the room. A ceiling fan in constant motion costs a homeowner an average of $7 additional per month, which may seem insignificant. But 5 ceiling fans equal $35 per month, and that is an average of $420 per year.
- Consider Zoned Cooling: Look into setting separate zones for your A/C. You can then cool your living space during the day and your bedrooms at night, while saving energy around the clock.
You can also trim your electric bill by modifying the use of other appliances and fixtures around your home.
- Cool Your Showers: We get it, everyone loves a hot shower – and no one is suggesting taking a cold shower. But turning down the water temperature even by 10 degrees (resulting in a warm shower) can decrease the workload of your hot water heater enough to save you hundreds of dollars annually. And who really needs a scalding hot shower when it is 90 degrees outside? Don’t forget to use low flow showerheads!
- Adjust Your Washer and Dryer Settings: Make sure that your washer is set for the right size load, and thoroughly clean out your lint trap every time you use the dryer. Regular maintenance to keep dryer vents clear will also save energy.
- Turn off the Pool Pump: Run your pool pump only 6 hours per day during the summer months, and 4 hours per day during the winter.
A great way to get your energy consumption within reason is to have a master electrician conduct an inspection on your home. Call Promise Electric today if your electric bill is out of control – we are here to help Sarasota residents use electricity efficiently.
