Life Hacks – Ways To Reduce Your Bills
There are many things that you can do to reduce your home bills. Keeping the curtains drawn, raising your thermostat, and unplugging your appliances when not in use are all common things to do to ensure that your home bills don’t get to high.
But what if you want to take your home savings to the next level? Before you downgrade due to the high cost of running your home, try these simple life hacks to reduce your home expenses.
Paint Your Roof
Most roofing in Indianapolis looks the same with standard black, brown, and red roofs. However, making one small change can reduce your home’s energy costs by up to 35 percent, according to an experiment conducted by the National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Painting the roof with white, reflective paint will prevent the sun’s rays from seeping into your attic, cutting the cost of cooling your home dramatically. This is most effective in areas with extremely high temperatures in the summer. Coomer Roofing Co. have some ideas for reference.
Ring Your Service Provider
Did you know you can lower your bills just by asking? Many utility and household service companies (like TV, internet, and phone) can lower your bills when you speak to them by phone.
If you ask, you can usually get a reduction in price from any promotions that the company currently has. Some companies may lower your bills if you mention that you are considering leaving. It only takes a few minutes, and you can see big results on your bills each month.
Install A Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat automatically raises and lowers the temperature of your home according to previous settings. When you are away from home, you can lower the temperature by about 8 to 10 degrees (or raise it in the summer), and see up to 20 percent savings on your energy bills each month. Lower the temperature at night after you are in bed for even greater savings.
Bundle Your Bills
Many home bill companies offer discounts if you bundle your bills together under one company name. Many TV, Internet, and phone companies do this- as do insurance companies. Look online or call your service provider to see if you can save by bundling your bills into one lump payment.
Switch Providers
If you’re current providers can’t bundle your bills or someone else if offering cheaper services, it’s time to make the switch. You can also take a deeper look at the policies you have and consider whether you can change aspects such as your excess. Another hack is to ask yourself the important questions when when comparing different policies, services and packages to help you determine which is the best for you.
Plant To Save
One way to save on your home’s bills is through artful landscaping. Plants can act as a shield from the sun and insulating material in the winter.
Usually, planting shady trees and bushes on the west and east sides of the home is beneficial, as is planting insulating plants along the north side of the house. Contact a landscaper to discuss what plants will provide the most benefit near your home.
Hack A Ceiling Fan
If you still have one, you can maximise the use of a ceiling fan to reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home. Run the fan clockwise in the winter to push heat down, and counter-clockwise in the summer to pull cool air up. Choose fans with a blade angle between 12 and 14 degrees for maximum impact.
These lifehacks are simple steps you can take to reduce the cost of running your home. Within a year, you will see significant savings that you can apply elsewhere in your budget.
