Money Saving Tips to Beat the Heat

Higher temperatures mean that people are cranking up their air conditioners and finding ways to beat the heat.  But that means endiing up with higher utility bills.

Here are some great ways to stay cool without adding money to your utility bill!

Know your peak hours.  Peak hours tend to be between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Run the dishwasher after 9 o'clock p.m. and plug in chargers overnight instead of using these devices and appliances during peak hours.

Temperature.  For every degree you lower the temperature in your house, you could raise your bill by up to 6%.  Setting the thermostat at 78°F is optional, especially if you are using a fan to circulate the air.  When you leave the house, instead of turning off the air conditioner completely, increase the temperature to 85°F degrees.  If you turn off the HVAC unit completely in a large house, it can take additional energy to cool it back down and can cost you more than if you had just adjusted the temperature in the beginning.

Maintaining your equipment.  It  saves you money in the long run to check and replace the filters in an air conditioner or HVAC system regularly.  If not, then over time they clog up and end up using more power to achieve the same cooling result.

Choose your appliances and lighting carefully  Turning on the oven during a heat wave can cost you extra dollars to keep your home cool.  Try to use a microwave, crock pot or barbecue outside to keep the temperatures inside your home lower.  Also be sure to turn off any unnecessary lights when possible and keep the curtains closed during the day to keep the extra heat out - especially during this heat wave.

Lastly, stop somewhere to get a slurpee or other icy drink to break the monotony of this heat.   7-11 has a new Sour Patch Redberry Slurpee that is getting great reviews!