If your APS electric bill is too high, you need to find ways to reduce your power consumption. One of the most effective ways to do so is to reduce your heating costs. In a typical home, water heating accounts for approximately 18% of energy consumption. Any action you can take to reduce this portion of your household’s power usage can affect your bills. That is why we have put together the following tips to help you lower your heating costs.
Take faster showers
Showering accounts for the largest percentage of energy consumption in your home. You should therefore reduce your showers to cut your heating costs. If you take 10 minutes to take a shower, try to reduce it to five and you will see a significant drop in your power consumption.
Run full loads of laundry and dishes
You need to make sure you are getting the most out of your hot water. This is why it is best to wait until the washing machine or your dishwasher are all full before you run them.
Turn off your water heater when on vacation
There is no sense in heating your water when you are on a vacation or when you are not going to use it. If nobody is going to be at home for a few days, you should lower the thermostat on the heater or turn it off completely. This is one of the most effective ways to lower your electric bill.
Lower your water heater’s thermostat
This is one of the easiest ways you can cut down on your heating costs. Most manufacturers set their heaters at 140 degrees. However, the typical household only requires its unit to be set around 120 degrees. So doing lower temperatures will help reduce electricity usage.
Insulate your water heater
You should insulate your heater to contain the heat inside the heater. This will result in less electricity consumption and lower electricity usage.
Insulate your pipes
You should add insulation to the first six feet of the pipes leaving the heater to reduce heat loss when water moves through the pipes.
Install low flow showerheads and low flow faucets
Low flow showerheads and low flow faucets will make it easy to reduce the consumption of hot water because they allow less water to get through.
Use efficient appliances
Whenever you use a new heater, washing machine or dishwasher, you should ensure they are efficient. Efficient appliances consume less hot water and allow you to reduce your electricity bills.
Final word
No one wants to pay a high APS electric bill. If you feel your bill is higher than you expected or if your bill starts going up for no clear reason, you should look at your water heater and ensure you are using a properly-functioning heater. You should also look for other outdated appliances in your house and replace them accordingly. If your water heater has a fixable problem, you should fix it as soon as possible.
