Top Reasons You Have a High Electric Bill

You’ve made a budget for your rental home, carefully considered your costs, and you’re still surprised by how much it costs every month. If the electric bill of your Loveland house for rent is higher than you expect, there may be some simple ways to fix it. Here are the top reasons you may be raising your electric bill and how you can solve the problems.

Using Old Appliances

As appliances get older, they tend to wear down and lose efficiency. That means it takes them a lot more energy to do the same tasks as newer, more energy-efficient models. Older appliances weren’t manufactured according to today’s strict energy standards, which means you could be wasting energy on outdated equipment.

You might not be able to buy new large appliances in a rental home, but you can talk to your landlord about updating the appliances and potentially split the cost to lower your energy bill. Switching to a smaller washer or fridge can also cut energy costs. You can also take a look at small appliances like irons and toasters and upgrade to new, more efficient models.

When it comes to larger appliances, look for products with the EnergyStar logo. Click here to learn more about energy-efficient appliances.

Keeping Things Plugged In

Don’t fall victim to phantom power. Many people think that simply putting their appliances and electrical devices into standby mode is enough to stop them from using power. But even when devices are in standby mode, they’re still using a large amount of power as they perform updates or wait to be turned on. Even appliances that are turned off and plugged in still use power. Phantom power can take up as much as 10{ec1d25302c0c3e829886c092caa623e779a888dbf9e1057900a08c9ab9a85bb1} of your electric bill. The best way to fight this is to plug appliances and devices into power strips. When you aren’t using the items, you can simply turn off the power strip to cut electricity to those items.

Not Using Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs

One of the biggest power suckers living in your home is also one of the smallest things: lightbulbs. Traditional incandescent bulbs are cheap, but they also use an incredible amount of energy. Modern renters use LED light bulbs which take 80-90{ec1d25302c0c3e829886c092caa623e779a888dbf9e1057900a08c9ab9a85bb1} less energy and provide brighter light. The simple act of switching your light bulbs can drastically lower your energy bill.

As a bonus, some power companies offer rebates for energy-efficient light bulbs, and the bulbs last for a very long time. Look for light bulbs with the EnergyStar logo on the package. Click here to learn more about energy-efficient light bulbs.

You Use Energy at Peak Times

Many energy companies charge more during the busiest times, which occur in the morning and the early evening. That’s the time most people are home getting ready for the day and then when they return home after work. If you run your appliances at these times and have all your lights on in the morning, your electricity will cost even more per unit.

There’s not a way to change how your energy company charges, so instead change your habits. Instead of running your dishwasher after dinner, run it in the middle of the day. Try doing the laundry later at night or opening the refrigerator less in the morning. Small changes to your habits can limit how much of your energy use falls into the peak hours.

Your Rental Home is Drafty

This problem isn’t directly related to you, but you’re the one paying the price. Older homes with poor insulation and worn windows leak air, which means the energy you’re buying to keep your house cold in the summer and warm in the winter is literally leaking out the walls and windows. Since you can’t fix these large problems on your own, talk to your landlord or property manager about making upgrades to the rental house if you're noticing drafty windows or doors. It will help lower your energy costs and create a more sustainable home that can help the property manager find future tenants.

Your electric bill doesn’t need to be sky high. Take a look at your appliances and your energy habits. Even a few small changes can make a big difference in your monthly costs.