Electricity is probably one of the biggest bills you pay month after month. Whether you’re paying for cooling in the summer or heating in the winter, we need electricity to live modern, comfortable lives. But does your electric bill need to be as high as it has been? Chances are, the answer is ‘no’. Most homes have some inefficiency that leads to unnecessary electrical use – and expense.

You may be asking, “Why is my electric bill so high?” This is always a good question to ask.

At Bud Matthews Services, we want to help you keep your electric costs low, and that means hunting down the source of the unnecessary power drain. Let’s take a look at the top four reasons why you might have a high electric bill and how to save on your electric bill for each.  

Most Common Causes for High Electric Bills

Electricity is necessary to run your home, but high electric bills occur when appliances use more electricity than your home really needs to run properly. The four most common causes of high electric bills each play a role in overusing electricity when your home could be more efficient.

1) Vampire Appliances / Phantom Load

Vampire appliances continue to suck electricity from your circuits even when they are switched “off.” This extra load also called a phantom load, means you’re paying for appliance time that you’re not using.

‘Smart,’ wireless, and remote-controlled appliances are often the culprits because they are really on ‘standby’ listening for the next signal. However, device chargers can also become all-day vampires even when devices are not charging.

The ideal solution is to put these appliances on power strips that switch off their access to electricity when you turn the whole strip off – without unplugging.

2) Frequently Using High-Consumption Appliances

Running your larger appliances inefficiently can also use more electricity than you realize. Daily small laundry loads and incomplete dishwasher loads can majorly affect your high electric bills. The more often you use your large appliances, the more electricity you need.

Try planning for larger, less frequent loads of laundry and dishes. Modern fabrics and detergents require less sorting and if your supplies are small, investing in a few extra outfits or dish sets can actually cost less than the electricity to run small constant loads.

3) Old, Outdated Appliances

The older an appliance, the more electricity it uses. If your refrigerator, dishwasher, laundry machines, or stovetop are more than a decade old, they could be huge energy sinks, especially if they are rarely cleaned or maintained. Did you know that Energy Star didn’t even start rating appliances until 1997? Old appliances may come with the house, but repairs and replacements could save you thousands on energy bills over the next few years.

Bud Matthews appliance repair services can give you insight into your appliances as well as the repairs and installations you need to achieve energy efficiency.

4) HVAC System Malfunctions

Lastly, your HVAC typically makes up more than 50% of your power bill. If your AC or heating is running inefficiently or malfunctioning, you could lose thousands of dollars annually. Bud Matthews HVAC repair services can inspect your air system and quickly remedy the cause of your high electric bills. You might be surprised by the size of your future bills after repairs if your HVAC has been the problem.

How to Prevent High Electric Bills

Most of the time, extremely high electric bills (and electric bills that rise year over year) are caused by HVAC problems. You can minimize the electricity spent on heating and cooling by keeping up an HVAC maintenance schedule. The occasional inspection, cleaning, and tune-up can save you a lot of money by ensuring your HVAC runs as efficiently as possible.

Bud Matthews Services is proud to provide HVAC maintenance to residents throughout Chapel Hill, helping you to avoid high electric bills and prevent costly repairs before they become an issue.

Lower Your Electric Bill with the HVAC Maintenance & Repair Experts in Chapel Hill, NC

Is your electric bill too high or higher than it was this time last year? Bud Matthews Services can help. Contact us today for the HVAC or appliance repair services you need to bring down your electric bill and keep your home running smoothly every year. Book the service you need, and we’ll be right out to help.