Sudden or consistent spikes in your energy bills mostly indicate that there are power-demanding devices secretly at work in your home. They are commonly known as electricity hogs.
Some devices under this category tend to consume energy even when switched off. It may prove impossible to rid yourself of such devices because they play an invaluable role in improving your standard of living.
All of this makes it hard for you to get the situation under control. However, with professional electricians at your side, there are steps you can take to curb the electrical consumption of these appliances.
Below are some examples of devices and appliances that consume a lot of power in your home. And a few tweaks you can apply to cut costs and regulate use.
- Heating
An electric heating system is likely the most notable electricity hog in a home by consuming between 5,000 kWh and 30,000 kWh of energy a year. This makes up for at least 28% of your energy bill. Hence, despite its importance, making use of a heating system comes with a significant financial cost.
Tweaks to reduce the cost of heating;
- Inspect, seal and insulate your home’s ducts occasionally.
- Make use of a programmable thermostat.
- Regulate the thermostat to the lowest, most comfortable temperature.
- Wear better clothing.
- Cooling
Similar to the heating, a cooling system such as an air conditioner is used to maintain a cool temperature within our homes. A cooling system can contribute up to 18% of your energy bill.
Tweaks to reduce the cost of cooling;
- Make use of lesser power demanding cooling alternatives such as fans
- Try opening your windows to let a bit of fresh air in
- Wear lighter clothing when indoors
- A programmable thermostat also helps in regulating a cool temperature
- Refrigerator
The importance of a refrigerator in a home cannot be overemphasized. A refrigerator is just that one appliance that will run 24 hours a day, every day. This continuous use contributes up to 9% of your energy bill.
How to cut costs using a refrigerator;
- Manually reduce the internal temperature of the refrigerator
- Don’t keep the refrigerator door open for more than a few seconds.
- Inspect for faults and fix or replace whatever is needed to ensure efficiency.
- Washer and dryer
Almost every home has a washer and a dryer. Effective as they may be, they require a sufficient amount of electric power to perform well.
Tweaks to cut costs on a washer and a dryer;
- Line-dry your laundry instead of using the dryer.
- Stop the dryer and remove clothes promptly when dry.
- Don’t wash half-full loads.
- Use cold water more often.
Examples of other electricity hogs in your home are:
- Water heater
- Lighting
- TV and game consoles
- Dishwasher
- Electric oven
- Computer
To lower the consumption rate of these other appliances, simply switch off and unplug them when not in use. You can also call a Miami electrician like those at Elcon Electric for an audit.