Is money pouring out of your home? No, we don’t mean literally, but in the form higher than average energy bills. Poor insulation, insufficient caulking, and inefficient hot water tanks represent just a few of the reasons why you have less money to spend on yourself.
Here are some time-tested tips to lower your energy bills.
Eliminate Costly Drafts
Warm air finds the smallest cracks to escape your home. The loss of heat places more work on your central heating unit, which drives up the price of your monthly energy bills. Materials that include plastic film require little skill to place over your windows to keep the heat inside. Home improvement stores sell the inexpensive draft fighting materials. You should also consider caulking the edges of windows to prevent heat from escaping your home.
Insulate Wall Cavities
According the government, insulated cavity walls can save the average homeowner nearly 160 pounds per year. The cost of cavity wall insulation runs about 500 pounds, which means it takes roughly three years to enjoy a return on your insulation investment. Cavity wall insulation traps heat in larger rooms that typically feel cold due to a lack of insulation.
Solar Panels
Why depend on the national grid, when you reap the financial benefits from installing solar panels. Solar panels work with other eco-friendly technology, such as a smart meter, to save the average homeowner more than 250 pounds per year. Instead of paying for energy delivered through the national grid, you create and store your own energy. Solar technology represents one of the most effective ways to save money on your energy bills.
Dress Up Your Water Tank
Slipping a jacket over your water tank reduces the amount of source heat lost to the surrounding cooler air. Water tank jackets improve the efficiency of water tanks, which means you save money. Shoddy water tank insulation means your boiler has to work much harder to generate the same amount of heat. Water tank jackets especially improve the energy delivering performance of water tanks older than 10 years.
Turn Hard Water into Soft Water
If hard water runs through the pipe coils that heat your water, you should consider installing a water softener. The increase in lime scale caused by hard water reduces the efficiency of the boiler and thus, increases the amount you spend on heating bills. Water softeners significantly reduce lime scale, as well as enhance the energy performance of large appliances.
