Easy Ways To Save Money On Your Utility Bills

Limit your electronic use. Do you dread receiving your monthly utility bills in the mail? If your utility bills are on the steep side, it’s time to make some changes in your home. The amount due on your electric, gas, or water bill is under your control to some extent. While you may not have any control over some of the fees, you do have the power to reduce your usage – and your bills – in general. Here are a few easy ways to cut costs on your utility bills. This may seem like a sacrifice you aren’t willing to make, but it’s not as dire as you may think. Saving on electric costs can be as simple as unplugging your electronics when you aren’t using them and using surge protectors with your outlets. Always turn lights and fans off when you leave the room or aren’t home. Set your televisions and computer to automatic sleep mode when not in use. Do a nightly sweep of the house to make sure all unnecessary electronics are powered off. And when making new appliance purchases, make sure to choose energy-efficient models. Conserve water. Most people don’t really think about how much water they use or realize that it’s possible to cut back. But there are easy ways you can cut back on water usage. Don’t run your dishwasher until it’s packed with dirty dishes and only wash full loads of laundry. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth and install aerators in your faucets to reduce water flow. Limit your showers to 5 minutes and avoid taking baths. If you’re in the market for new toilets, purchase water-conserving models. Invest in greenery that doesn’t require frequent watering, like succulents, and resist the urge to wash your car every week. Use less natural gas. The more natural gas you use to do things like heat up your house, the more you owe the utility company. To ease up on gas usage, install a programmable thermostat that will automatically reduce heating and cooling when you don’t need it. Upgrade your outdated heating equipment. If you have a natural gas furnace that is more than 15 years old or a gas water heater that is more than 10 years old, it’s time for a newer model. Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. Avoid using hot water when unnecessary and wash your clothes in cold water. Make sure your house is properly insulated to reduce the need for heating. Cutting back on electricity, gas, and water usage is not only good for your wallet but also good for the environment. With these easy ways to decrease utility usage, you can feel better about your bank account and your conservation efforts. These simple little changes can add up to shave a lot of money off your monthly utility bills.

Many homeowners don’t give their water heater much thought. It’s an out of sight, out of mind situation. The reality is that your water heater is an essential home appliance that requires maintenance and, eventually, replacing. Water heater failures are one of the top sources of costly residential water loss. To prevent your water heater from bursting and causing damage to your home, you need to know how old it is. It’s important to know the installation date of your water heater because, unfortunately, they don’t last forever. Most modern water heaters have a sticker that displays the installation date. If your water heater doesn’t provide an installation date, you will need to locate the manufacturer’s label and serial number. The serial number may include the month and year that the water heater was installed. If you still can’t determine the date of installation, you will need to contact the manufacturer directly. Some water heaters are pre-owned, in which case the installation date may not provide the correct age for your water heater. Knowing the installation date will still provide you with a better idea of its age. The life expectancy of a water heater is around 8 to 12 years. Signs that your water heater needs maintenance or replacing include leaks and noisy operation. Other warning signs include limited or no hot water and calcium buildup. Water heaters are more likely to have such issues after 10 years of age. To extend the life of your water heater and increase its efficiency, perform routine maintenance. Your water heater should be drained every year to rid the tank of collected sediment that could potentially cause corrosion over time. In general, keep the temperature setting on your water heater at 120 degrees to prevent overheating and save you money in utility costs. A water heater is a necessity for your home. So, to increase its efficiency and longevity, avoid neglecting it. Make sure to schedule routine maintenance once a year and to avoid unnecessary costs and further issues, call a plumber at the first sign of trouble. Just Right Services is happy to help with your water heater needs.

Becoming a homeowner is a long-term financial commitment. Aside from a mortgage, insurance, and property taxes, there are other things to think about, like home maintenance. A lot goes into maintaining a home and it can be costly, especially when upgrading to newer, energy-efficient systems. It may be a large upfront cost, but upgrading your appliances and HVAC systems to newer, more energy efficient models is good for the environment and good for your wallet in the long run. For most homeowners, large out of pocket expenses are difficult or downright impossible. That’s where HERO Financing comes in. What is HERO? HERO stands for Home Energy Renovation Opportunity. HERO partners with local governments to offer an affordable financing program for approved energy efficient, water efficient, and renewable energy products for homeowners. How does it work? Eligible homeowners must apply to find out how much their home is approved for. Once approved, select the eligible products and contractor. You will need to sign your financing documents before finishing the installation. HERO offers low fixed interest rates and flexible payment options. Repayment is made through your property taxes. If your property taxes are paid through an impound escrow account, your monthly payments can be adjusted to include your HERO payment. Who is eligible? HERO Financing may be available to homeowners who are current on mortgage payments, current on property taxes and have not had any active bankruptcies in the last seven years. All mortgage-related debt must amount to less than 90% of the property value. How do I choose products and a contractor? Not all products are eligible for HERO financing, but more than 900,000 products are eligible, most of which are energy efficient, water efficient, and renewable energy products. Contractors must be registered with the HERO Program to be qualified to install HERO eligible products. Contractors must also be properly licensed and bonded with the Contractors State License Board. At Just Right Services, we are proud to offer HERO financing to provide homeowners with the opportunity to purchase energy efficient products at an affordable price. For more information on the HERO program, visit www.heroprogram.com.