While there is a lot to enjoy about the winter season here in the Waco, TX area, there is also something most homeowners do not welcome – high electricity bills. Sometimes a seasonal high electricity bill has an easy explanation, while other times it can indicate that it’s time to make some changes. If you’re wondering how to lower your electric bill this winter, Evergreen Heating & Cooling has the professional advice you need to start conserving energy at home and bring those utility expenses down.

Why Are Winter Electric Bills High?

If you receive a high electricity bill once colder weather sets in, rest assured that this can be a completely normal occurrence. 

Increased Energy Use

Many households simply use more electricity in the winter. This extra energy use is augmented by the extra time we spend indoors when it’s cold outside. A household will run a heating system regularly, and there tends to be an increased demand for hot water over the winter. Operating devices like electric blankets, space heaters, even holiday lights, add to your electricity bill this time of year.

Electric Heating

If you are wondering how to lower your electric bill this winter, you probably have electric heating in your home. Both heat pumps and electric furnaces can be found in homes across the Waco area, but heat pumps consume far less electricity to get the job done. Heat pumps can heat a home with up to 50 percent less electricity versus an electric furnace.

Additionally, both types of heating equipment can experience higher electricity use as they age and suffer the impact of wear and tear over the years. A significant hike in energy costs is often a sign that your heating equipment is not operating efficiently. The system consumes more energy as it struggles to do its job, effectively wasting electricity.

Rate Increases

Lowering your electric bill this winter could involve some cutbacks in the areas mentioned above, but the higher price you pay may be out of your hands entirely. Because there is a higher demand for electricity over the winter season, utility companies often increase their rates. Even if you used the exact same amount of electricity this billing period as you did during a summer billing period, the cost may not be the same as utility providers may have increased rates to cover the increased costs they experience.

How Can I Lower Electric Bill in Winter?

The best way to lower your electric bill is to make some energy-smart changes in your household. Here are some ways you can keep your home comfortable while consuming less electricity this season.

• Upgrade your heating system – replace that old, inefficient electric furnace or baseboard heaters with an energy-efficient heat pump system. Heating accounts for about 40 percent of the energy consumption in the average home, so significant improvements in the energy efficiency of your heating system can make a serious difference in lowering energy bills over the winter.
• Keep your existing heating equipment maintained with an annual tune up. This service works to protect the system from damaging wear and tear while helping it operate more efficiently this winter.
• Set back your thermostat’s temperature by 7 to 10 degrees whenever the home is empty or even while you sleep. Doing so for at least 8 hours a day can lower your annual heating costs by up to 10 percent.
• Adjust ceiling fans to rotate clockwise, and use them when a room is occupied. The fan’s movement will redirect warm air down to the space where you are. You’ll feel warmer without having to turn up your thermostat.
• Lower your water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees or even lower if it’s comfortable. You’ll still have plenty of hot water to meet increased demands; your system just won’t have to use as much energy heating it and storing it.
• Use your window coverings. Open them during the day and allow the sunlight in, along with its thermal energy. Close them at night to avoid heat loss.

Energy-efficient Heating from Evergreen Heating & Cooling

Upgrading your home’s heating system is likely the most impactful move if you’re wondering how to lower your electric bill this winter. A new, energy-efficient heat pump system can lower your heating costs up to 50 percent immediately when replacing an old, electric furnace. Call Evergreen Heating & Cooling today to request a quote for heat pump installation in the Waco, TX area.