Unreasonably High Electricity And Utility Bills: What’s The Most Likely Culprit?

Altogether, Americans owe $11.85 trillion in debt. That’s nothing to bat an eyelash at, and, as such, reducing financial strain in any way possible is important, and often necessary. Even so, the overwhelming majority of U.S. homeowners continue to pay significantly more on utility and water bills than they need to. With some careful adjustments and repairs around the home, Americans can easily shave hundreds off annual bills. Here’s how:

Don’t Ignore Water Leaks
Simply put, leaks cost you money. Even small drips add up over time and result in you using more water. “A leak of one drip per second can cost $1 per month,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) writes. Of course, leaks are often much worse — wasting a great deal more than one drop of water per second and costing you much, much more than $1 monthly. Actually, getting your act together in all ways water-wise can have a tremendous effect on your budget. “Retrofitting the house [i.e., installing a energy-efficient toilet and appliances] could save the family nearly $2,400 in water and waste water bills over the lifetime of the toilets,” the EPA continues.

Less Obvious Problems Are Just As Costly
The constant reminder of a dripping faucet or shower is bound to get to you eventually. It is just as costly — if not more — to ignore or neglect some not-so-obvious energy efficient fixes. First, “According to the Energy Star program, most people could save about 20% on their heating and cooling costs by sealing air leaks,” Mother Earth Livingreports. This includes anything from repairing and/or sealing drafty doors and windows to addressing heat loss from broken clothes dryer hoses. By simply purchasing heavy duty hose clamps, such as stainless steel hose clamps or spring hose clamps, homeowners can form a tight seal, apply pressure on all sides, and significantly reduce costs that result from running the dryer over and over again.

Leaks always raise utility — and often heating and cooling — costs. Call a plumber to fix water leaks, and use spring hose clamps to seal dryer hoses that result in significant heat loss and high electricity bills.