ARTICLES

30 TIPS TO KEEP HEATING COSTS LOW DURING THE PHOENIX COLD SEASON

JAN 12, 2017

AVERAGE ELECTRIC BILL IN ARIZONA

The average electric bill in Arizona is $120.51 according to 2014 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s 5.6% higher than the national average of $114.11. And while summer is the biggest culprit for the energy drain, there are several things you can do to lower your electricity bill in the winter.

30 TIP TO LOWER HEATING COSTS

  1. Keep drapes open to allow the sun to heat up your space.
  2. Make sure your fireplace damper is closed when you’re not using it so warm air doesn’t go up the chimney and cold are doesn’t get in.
  3. Set your fan to “auto.” This reduces the negative impact of improper air balances and turns the fan motor off when the unit is not heating. Using “auto” rather than “on” can save you $15 to $25 each month on your energy costs.
  4. For every degree you set your thermostat below 65 degrees, you can save approximately 2 to 3% on heating costs.
  5. Heat rises so set your ceiling fans to the reverse setting during the winter to suck cool air to the ceiling.
  6. Use the bathroom fan to remove the heat and humidity from your home when you shower or take a bath. Remember to turn it off when you are finished.
  7. Take short showers instead of baths. Your hot water heater uses quite a bit of energy. Take short showers and maximize your loads of laundry so that you use less energy from the hot water heater.
  8. Approximately 90% of the energy used to wash clothes goes to heating water. Save money by washing as many loads as possible in cold water.
  9. Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees. Turning the thermostat down from 140 degrees to 120 degrees can save up to $7 per month.
  10. Fill washer with the least amount of water necessary.
  11. Replace standard bulbs with CFLs. Replace your highest-use bulbs and fixtures first to save the most energy and money.
  12. Turn lights off when not in use.
  13. Paint interior walls a lighter color. This will reflect light throughout your house and limit the need for additional lighting.
  14. Open the refrigerator door only when necessary. Every time you do, 30% of the cool air escapes.
  15. Avoid placing a refrigerator or freezer in your garage or on your patio. An older model refrigerator in your garage or on your patio can cost $15-20 a month to operate.
  16. Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Use the manufacturer’s recommended temperatures for your fridge and freezer.
  17. Use the fireplace as much as possible to give your heater a break.
  18. Don’t preheat the oven longer than necessary.
  19. Run your dishwasher on a full load.
  20. Air-dry your dishes and save up to 20% of your dishwasher’s electricity cost by eliminating the heating function.
  21. Run your dishwasher during the cooler parts of the day (early morning or late evening) to add extra heat to the room.
  22. Create a “charging station” connected to a power strip that includes power cords for laptops, cell phones, and digital cameras. Turn the strip off when nothing is being charged.
  23. Leave the oven door closed during cooking. Each time you open the door, you lose about 25 to 50 degrees of heat.
  24. Dry consecutive loads to take advantage of the heat stored in your dryer and clean the lint filter after each dryer load.
  25. Hang-dry your clothes. Fluff them for 10 minutes with a wet rag. Your clothes will last longer and you save a ton of energy!
  26. Consider an SRP Time-of-Day Price Plan or and APS Peak Plan and use a programmable thermostat to run the heat primarily during lower-cost hours.
  27. Close any evaporative cooler updraft vents, install the baffle plate (cookie sheet damper) and cover the unit before switching over to heating in the winter.
  28. Install weather stripping and seals around doors and windows. It minimizes gaps and reduces heat loss, helping you keep heating costs down and save energy.
  29. Get all family members on the same page! Explain the importance of it to your kids and make it a game!
  30. Have your HVAC unit serviced.

TUNE UP YOUR HVAC SYSTEM WITH DONLEY SERVICE CENTER!

Another great way to save on electricity is by making sure your heater is running properly. We recommend tuning up your HVAC once per year. It’s like changing the oil in your car. For the best results, you have to take care of the machine. Call us today or visit us online to find out more about our maintenance services.