Can’t you just hear that old reminder from Mom or Dad? “Turn out the lights! We don’t work for the electric company.” Did you read that in your mother’s voice? Turns out Mom was right. Power bills aren’t cheap, and as the cost keeps rising, they don’t look poised to get lower any time soon.  

It’s not just the lights that cost you. There’s the AC in summer, the furnace in winter, and the hot water heater. Throw in your appliances and electronics, and the utility bill adds up. The US Department of Energy estimates that power bills for most homes can top $1,8000 yearly. That’s not exactly chump change! 

Here are some tips and tricks for lowering your bill by up to 25%. None of them are hard to do.

Water water everywhere

Let’s start with water-related bills. Even if you’re on a well and don’t pay for water, keep in mind that you’re burning electricity whenever your well pump is running.

Replace your old appliances with energy-efficient models. Older dishwashers used about 10 gallons of water per cycle. The newer, Energy Star models use only 3.5 gallons of water, and they get the job done even better. As your appliances exceed their expected lifespan, replace them by order of priority with more efficient models. Hint: If your old water heater is way past its prime, think about replacing that one first. Don’t wait until it’s leaking. Speaking of water heaters, a tankless, on-demand model will save even more energy. 

Fix leaky faucets. It’s bad enough that the constant drip, drip, drip is driving you bonkers. The hard truth is that it’s wasting many gallons of water. If you’re handy, this can be an easy fix. There are plenty of videos on YouTube about fixing a leaky faucet. Click here for an example. Just remember to shut of the water first at the cut-off under the sink. 

Adjust your water heater thermostat. Typically, the default setting on your water heater is 140 degrees. Dropping that down to 130 degrees can save up to 5% on your water heating bill. 

Take shorter showers. Trim just two minutes off your shower time and save about five gallons of water. 

Get a new showerhead. Find one with a WaterSense label, which meets efficiency standards of the EPA, and you can save up to 2,700 gallons in a year. 

Wash your clothes in cold water. You’ll cut your per-load energy usage in half. Use warm if you must, but don’t wash clothes in hot water.

Feeling hot hot hot and keeping your cool

Where bloated utility bills are concerned, home heating and cooling are the worst offenders. Fortunately, they are a great place to utilize cost-cutting measures.

When seals go bad. We’re don’t mean the slinky circus critters, but the seals around your home. Check the seals on your refrigerator and freezer doors for mold and cracks. You want to keep the cold air inside, where it belongs. It’s an easy fix. Click here for a how-to video.

Also check the seals around doors and windows. If cool leaks out in summer and warm leaks out in winter, chances are good your wallet is leaking, too. 

Fix leaky ductwork. When your HVAC ducts are leaking into the attic, you might as well just be burning money. Seal up those ducts for noticeable savings. Ask your HVAC company to check for and repair any leaks. 

Tweak that thermostat. Bump your thermostat back a few degrees while you sleep in wintertime. If you’re going away, set it back at least ten to 15 degrees. In the summer, if you can stand it, make it a few degrees warmer. There’s a definite cost savings if your summer thermostat is set at 75, rather than 72. 

Speaking of thermostats, also adjust the temperature in your freezer and fridge. The freezer should be between 0 and 5 degrees. Set the refrigerator at 38 to keep your food fresh without overworking to maintain a colder temperature.

Power to change

Lights and electronics take about 11% of your home’s energy annually. Here are some tips to lower your bills.

Install dimmer switches. Not only can you set the brightness in the room to suit your preferences, but you’ll also save energy. Installing a dimmer is amazingly easy to do. Click here for a video that shows you how.

Changing your bulbs is a bright idea. If you swap out the incandescent bulbs in your home’s five most-used light fixtures for LEDs or compact flourescents, you can save about $75 per year. Better yet, swap out all the bulbs in your home and save even more. NOTE: If you’re using dimmers, be sure you buy bulbs that are dimmable.

Smart power strips are pretty smart. A lot of your electronic gear never really turns off. Some of these have remote controls or clocks, and they remain on standby power. That’s not a lot of power, but add up the number of devices and factor in 24/7 for a year, and you’re using noticeable power. Smart power strips will cut off the current automatically when the devices are sitting idle. 

The key to home energy savings is to be proactive. Also, admit that Mom was right! Take the steps outlined here, and you’ll see a noticeable reduction in your bills each month.

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Splices without a junction box are a code violation and fire hazard. Call Peter Young Hone Inspections before you buy your home.

Imagine life without electricity. Bet you can’t! Electricity runs everything from computers to refrigerators, hot water heaters, lights, heat, air conditioning and more. We might even say electricity is our friend. But it’s a fair weather friend. Turn your back on it, and it can kill you in a heartbeat. This month, Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young urges you to take a good, hard look at electrical safety in and around your home.

Outlets and Extension Cords

GFCI Home Depot photo.

All electrical outlets in your home should be three-hole grounded outlets. If your home still has two-hole outlets, consider hiring an electrician to evaluate and upgrade your wiring.

Some devices have two-prong cords, such as kitchen blenders and lamps. That’s okay, but speaking of kitchen devices, the outlets in your kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room (wherever there is water) should be special GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets. Those are the ones with the little button in the middle for resetting them when they trip. They trip to cut off power if a problem (such as imminent electrocution) is detected on the circuit. This little feature can save your life. All outdoor outlets must be equipped with GFCIs. If they are not, have them replaced immediately.

Extension cords should be the heavy duty, three-pronged type. You must be sure the extension cord is rated for the amount of current you intend to deliver. If using the cord trips a circuit breaker or blows a fuse, unplug it immediately. You are putting too much power through it. Avoid cheap, “zip cord” two-prong extension cords. They are accidents waiting to happen.

Use extension cords sparingly. They are trip-and-fall hazards. Plug devices directly into wall outlets, whenever possible. If you use surge protectors for sensitive equipment, don’t add extension cords. Never run extension cords under rugs. If they become frayed, they could cause a fire. Always check extension cords periodically, and replace them if they appear damaged or frayed.

Finally, use safety plugs in unused outlets, especially in homes with toddlers.

Electrical Panels

A typical home electrical panel. The power cutoff switch is on top.

Your electrical panel is where power enters the house. Electrical panels are located in the basement, garage, or utility room in most homes. There is a main switch that can shut off all the home’s power in an emergency. These days most panels contain circuit breakers, those plastic switches that can be set on or off. However, some older homes still have fuses in the electrical panels.

Fuses and circuit breakers trip occasionally. A blown fuse will have a broken metal strip at the top of the fuse. A tripped circuit breaker switches from the on to the off position. If replacing a fuse, be sure to use the same type that blew out. Never use a fuse with a higher number than the circuit is designed to hold, or equipment and appliances may become damaged, or there could be the risk of an electrical fire. Replace the blown fuse with a new one, or reset the circuit breaker to the on position. If the fuse blows or the circuit trips again, find out what is causing the problem. Potential causes are frayed wires, overloaded outlets, or defective appliances. If you can’t find the cause, and the fuse or circuit continues to trip, contact an electrician. If you discover frayed insulation or a damaged wire, replace it immediately, or call an electrician to do it.

Make an appointment today with Asheville home inspector Peter Young.

Electrical Appliances

Electrical appliances need breathing room. Don’t enclose them in cabinets without proper ventilation. Washers and dryers need regular inspection. Their movement can cause stress on electrical connections and cords.

If an appliance gives you a shock or tingling sensation, unplug it immediately and call a qualified professional to find the problem.

When using small appliances, such as coffee makers or crockpots, never immerse the base in water. Not only will it ruin the device, but you could be electrocuted. Inspect small appliance cords periodically. Replace them if they are worn or frayed, or replace the appliance. Always err on the side of safety.

Portable Electric Heaters

Manufacturer’s photo

Use caution when using electric heaters to supplement your home’s main heating system. Keep them clear of combustible materials like paper and clothing, and be sure they are secure and can’t be tipped over. NEVER use portable heaters in bathrooms. Contact with water can cause fatal electrocution. The only electric heaters acceptable for use in bathrooms are built into the wall or part of the overhead exhaust fan.

If you use an electric blanket at night, be sure to keep them in good condition. Inspect them often for cracked or frayed wiring or damage to plugs and connectors. Check both sides of the blanket for signs of charring, an indicator of overheating. To avoid overheating your blanket, do not place additional bedding over them, keep pets from sleeping on top of them, and never put heavy objects on them when not in use. Even folding them can bend the coils and create overheating.

Outdoor Safety Tips

Ace Hardware photo

Outdoor lights must be rated for outdoor use. Have them professionally installed, and don’t run them with extension cords, which are not intended for permanent or long-term outdoor use. Use them only as needed, such as power for a drill when doing outdoor repairs, and be sure they are heavy-duty and rated for outdoor use.

As mentioned earlier, all outdoor electrical outlets should be equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) to minimize the risk of electrocution in wet conditions.

If you are using electrical equipment outdoors, unplug it immediately if it begins to rain. It may be inconvenient, but finishing your project is not worth risking death or injury by electrocution.

Finally, don’t climb trees or use ladders close to power lines. Contact with power lines can be fatal.

The Most Critical Do-It-Yourself Electrical Safety Tip

Home Depot photo

Are you the type who likes to handle household problems yourself? Replacing electrical outlets and wall switches or installing dimmers are tasks well within the skillsets of many homeowners. Follow this one simple rule, and you can’t go wrong: ALWAYS shut down the circuit breaker to the outlets or switches you are repairing. NEVER work with live electricity. The potential for injury is too great.

Yes, electricity is your friend, but it must be given the respect it deserves. If you are unsure, call a professional. Always better to be safe than sorry!

Know Before You Buy!

Buying a home? Asheville home inspector Peter Young can tell you if the home’s electrical system is up to code standards and running safely. Know before you buy! Call Peter Young Home Inspections today.

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Pixels.com photo. CC0 license

It’s amazing how much energy is wasted in the average home. Saving energy is not only good for our planet, but it can save you money. Here’s a list of some easy ways to save energy in your home.

Install ceiling fans

Pexels.com photo. CC0 license

Ceiling fans deliver energy savings in both summer and winter. In the summer, set the fan to blow the air down from the ceiling. Feeling the air on your skin makes you feel cooler without needing to lower the room temperature.

In the winter, set the fan to blow up toward the ceiling. You won’t feel air blowing on you, but the fan will circulate the warm ceiling air around the room, helping to heat the room more evenly.

To set the air in either direction, look for a small switch or button on the fan or the remote.

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat can be set to change the temperature on heaters and air conditioners when you’re not home or at night while you sleep. However, don’t go too far outside your normal temperature range, or you may use additional energy to bring the temperature back to your desired setting. For example, if you keep your heater at 72 degrees, don’t go down more than three or four degrees at night, or while at work. You don’t want the system to work too hard to bring it back up to your desired temperature. In some climate zones, a programmable thermostat can save up to $150 a year in energy costs.

Here’s a programmable thermostat tip: If you’re out most days at work, set the thermostat to come back up to temperature one hour before you arrive, so you’ll feel warm and toasty (in winter) or nice and cool (in summer) when you get home.

Replace Incandescent lights

Did you know that about 11% of your home energy budget goes into lighting? That’s why it pays to get rid of those old, inefficient incandescent bulbs. On average, incandescent bulbs only use 10% of the energy they consume to create actual light. The remaining 90% is turned to heat. Two energy-saving alternatives are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

CFLs reduce energy consumption by 75% and are estimated to last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. The downside is that they contain mercury. You don’t want them to break in your house. They also must be recycled carefully. Never put CFLs in with your regular trash. Big box stores such as Lowes and Home Depot have recycling bins for CFL bulbs.

LEDs save even more energy. They may seem expensive up front, but they are estimated to last more than 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs (up to 11 years). There are no moving parts or filaments, and they don’t contain mercury. They consume even less energy than CFLs. Some users find them too bright, but others like the white, daylight feeling of LEDs.

Install surge protection power strips

Surge protection power switches serve two purposes. First, they protect your appliances in the event of a power surge. Second, they have a shutoff switch that will cut power to appliances when not in use. Don’t worry about major appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens, etc. Put everything else on surge protection power strips and turn them off when not in use.

• Turn off computers when not in use. Computers account for up to 3% of a home’s energy consumption. Be sure to shut down properly, and then flip the power strip to the off position.
• Put TVs, stereos and other devices on power strips, and turn them off when not in use. Note: If you record a lot on your DVR, you need to keep it in standby mode, so don’t put it on a power strip.
• Unplug phone chargers when not in use. As long as they are plugged in, chargers use electricity.

Seal air leaks in your home

Pexels.com photo. CC0 license

Sealing and insulating your home is easier than you think. There are lots of fixes you can do yourself. The first thing to do is identify and solve air leaks. Here are some areas where leaks can occur:

Electrical receptacles/outlets – In cold months, feel your switch plate and outlet covers, Are they cold to the touch? There may be air leaking inside the wall, and you could be losing heat through your outlets. Go to your local hardware store and ask for switch plate and outlet insulation foam. Just remove the plate covers and put the pre-cut foam inside to seal leaks. Use caution! It’s better to turn off the breaker to the outlets you are repairing to avoid risk of shock or electrocution.

Around pipes and wires – Places where pipes and wires enter the home may have openings where air can leak. Use expanding foam for large openings and caulk for small openings. Lexel sealant is a great caulk to use. It costs more, but it will last for many years.
Wall or window mounted air conditioners – Feel around wall or window units. If you feel air leaking, you can buy strips of foam insulation to stuff into the openings. If the openings are very thin, just use caulk around them.

Weather stripping around doors and windows – This one can be tricky. After years of service, weather stripping can become worn or damaged. Ask about the best weather stripping solutions at your hardware store. If you can’t get it right, you may need to hire a professional. One more things about windows: Go outside and check around, over, and under windows. If there are cracks, use Lexel caulk to seal them up.

Baseboards – Be sure to caulk around your baseboards to eliminate air leaks.

These are just some of the ways you can save energy in your home. Watch for more tips in upcoming newsletters and blogs.

Call Peter Young Home Inspections today

Get peace of mind when buying a home. Call Peter Young Home Inspections and schedule an appointment today.

The post 5 Ways You Can Save Energy in Your Home appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

Raw materials are renewable and unlimited. The amount of solar energy available is roughly 10,000 times that currently required by humans, and it’s constantly replaced. A mere 0.02% of incoming sunlight, if captured correctly, would be sufficient to replace every other fuel source currently used.

Solar power is low-emission. Solar panels produce no pollution, although they impose some environmental costs through manufacture and construction. These environmental tolls are slim when compared with the damage inflicted by conventional energy sources: the burning of fossil fuels releases roughly 21.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually.

Solar power is suitable for remote areas that are not connected to energy grids. 180,000 houses in the United States are off-grid. California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have long been refuges for such energy rebels, though people live off the grid in every state. While many of these people shun the grid on principle due to politics and environmental concerns, few of the world’s 1.8 billion off-the-gridders have any choice in the matter. Solar energy can drastically improve the quality of life for millions of people who live in the dark, especially in places such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where as many as 90% of the rural population lacks access to electricity. People in these areas must rely on fuel-based lighting.

Solar power provides green jobs. Production of solar panels for domestic use is becoming a growing source of employment in research, manufacture, sales and installation.

Solar panels contain no moving parts and thus produce no noise.

In the long run, solar power is economical. Solar panels and installation involve high initial expenses, but this cost is soon offset by savings on energy bills. Eventually, they may even produce a profit on their use. Solar power takes advantage of net metering, which is the practice of crediting homeowners for electricity they produce and return to the power grid. As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, public electric utilities are required to make available, upon request, net metering. This practice offers an advantage for homeowners who use solar panels that may, at times, produce more energy than their homes require.

Solar power is reliable.

In summary, solar energy offers significant advantages to conventional fossil fuels and other renewable energy systems. For more information please contact Peter Young.

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