What’s Causing Your High Electric Bill?

You've adjusted the thermostat, you've unplugged unused appliances, and have become the 'light monitor' of the house. And still, your electric bill continues to skyrocket. Each month, no matter what you try, you just can't seem to get your bill down to a reasonable amount. This is a very frustrating, yet common, dilemma in many homes across the country. So, what's causing your high electric bill? The culprit may surprise you.

The culprit - Air leaks

Who would think a small air leak could cause a high electric bill? It's such a small amount of air, it's hard to believe it could amount to anything at all! Chances are, though, if you have one air leak, you have several of them. That equates to energy inefficiency - the leading cause of a high electric bill.

Where to look for it - Check for air leaks along baseboards, around and beneath windowsills, in electric outlets and light switches, and around door frames. If you can feel air coming through any of these locations, your home is not as energy efficient as you may have thought.

How to fix it - Fortunately, it's very easy and inexpensive to seal air leaks all over the house. Use the '5 affordable products that weatherize your home' we recommend.

The culprit - Insufficient insulation

Because insulation isn't something we physically see everyday, it's often overlooked. Yet, our homes need adequate insulation to keep it at a comfortable temperature. Without it, you can count on having a high electric bill, and a home that is either exceptionally warm, or cool, depending on the season.

Where to look for it - Insulation should be found in the attic or ceiling, in the crawl space, and around windowsills and between doors. If you look for insulation in any of these locations and don't find it, your home is in need of additional insulation.

How to fix it - Add more insulation in the area listed above to repair this energy inefficiency issue. It may be best to consult a professional here, as they are trained in the installation of the material.

The culprit - Thermostat is calibrated wrong

Most of us trust what the thermostat inside the house says. But, if it is calibrated wrong, the result will be a HVAC system that runs more than it should, thereby resulting in a high electric bill.

Where to look for it - Place an accurate thermostat on top of the one you suspect is miscalibrated. Run the system for a period of time and check the two thermostats to see if there is a difference in temperature reading.

How to fix it - The thermostat can be replaced, which may be costly, or you can simply adjust the one you have accordingly. Meaning, if you know the thermostat runs 10 degrees higher than it should, lower it by 10 degrees each time it is set.

The culprit - Old appliances

The refrigerator, washer, dryer, and cooking appliances, run up roughly 50% of your overall energy use. Maintaining them, and ensuring you have an energy efficient model is imperative to controlling energy costs.

Where to look for it - Appliances that are more than 15 years old require more energy to run than newer models. Outdated appliances are not only notorious energy hogs, but they also pose an increased risk of electric fire, due to loose connections.

How to fix it - If you can afford to replace your old appliance, do it. If not, try replacing key components that keep it running, such as the filter, coils, or condenser.

Improve energy efficiency at home - Find out precisely what's causing your high electric bill with an energy detector. These handy devices cost around $ 150.00 and feed right into your power cable. This way, you can see exactly how much energy is being used when the dryer is on, as compared to how much energy is used when the dryer is on the same time as the dishwasher, and so on. Find out more ways to improve energy efficiency with these '6 green gadgets that lower utility costs'.

More from Jennifer Wagner:

Use a Light Dimmer to Conserve Energy

Surprising Benefits of a White Roof

10 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge

Jennifer Wagner - Yahoo! Contributor Network