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Simple Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill without Sacrificing Convenience
Whether you’re looking to add some new lighting features to your home or you need a complete service upgrade, you can count on Fielack Electric to meet all of your electrical needs. For more than 20 years, these licensed master electricians have been providing Medford, NY homeowners with outstanding electrical services. With a proven track record of success, affordable rates, and affiliations with the most renowned electrical associations, including the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and the Better Business Bureau, it’s no wonder why so many homeowners on Medford, NY count on Fielack Electric.
Keeping the lights on can be astronomically expensive – not to mention the air conditioner, the heat, and all of the appliances in your house. The US Department of Energy estimates that it costs about $2,200 to power the average home each year. That’s a pretty big expense.
You rely on your electricity for so much; you use it for lighting, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and so much more. Imagine how inconvenient life would be without electricity! However, despite how much easier electricity makes your life, the idea of spending so much money on powering your home makes you feel a bit sick to your stomach – and understandably so.
The good news is that you can lower your electric bill without having to forego convenience. Here’s a look at some simple ways that you can slash your energy use – and your bills – and still enjoy all of the benefits that electricity provides.
Maximize Heating and Cooling
If you’re like most homeowners in Medford, NY, heating and cooling probably account for the bulk of your energy bill. While you want to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer, you don’t have to shell out big bucks to maintain your comfort.
To reduce the amount you spend on heating and cooling, try these simple tips:
- Adjust the thermostat. Running it just a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees cooler in the winter can translate to huge savings.
- Update your insulation. Doing so will help retain heated and cooled air and prevent your HVAC system from having to work so hard, thereby cutting down the amount of electricity the system uses.
- Seal up any leaks. Air leaks around windows, doors, and even plumbing pipes on exterior walls can push your electric bill way up.
- Open and clean your vents. An accumulation of dust and debris on vents will reduce airflow, as will furniture placed in front of them.
Be Smart About Your Laundry
Washing machines and dryers use a tremendous amount of energy, even energy-efficient models. By making some simple adjustments, you can keep your clothes clean and lower your electric bill.
- Switch to cold water. Hot water accounts for roughly 90% of the energy that a washing machine uses. Washing in cold water isn’t only better for your wallet; it’s better for your clothes! When you wash in hot water, colors can bleed and delicate materials can shrink.
- Fill the machine. If you have a tendency to wash small loads of laundry, get in the habit of waiting until it’s full to turn on the machine. You can cut down on your energy bill and conserve water at the same time!
- Clean the lint filter regularly. You’ll improve the efficiency of the dryer, which will save you money, and you’ll also improve the safety of your home. Dirt lint traps are a serious fire hazard.
Change Your Dishwashing Habits
A dishwasher is certainly a handy appliance, but if you aren’t using it wisely, you’ll end up paying more than you need to. Enjoy the convenience of not having to hand-wash your dishes without spending a fortune.
- Be mindful of how you load it. Make sure you give dishes a good rinse and load them efficiently. Place plates, cups, and utensils in their designated areas, and make sure that they aren’t blocked. Changing how you load your dishwasher will prevent you from having to run it again – and from using extra electricity.
- Nix the heat dry. Instead of using the drying feature on your dishwasher, air dry or use a towel to soak up the remaining water.
Turn the Power Off
Did you know that even when you aren’t using your TV, your computer, or your gaming system, they’re still using power? It’s true! These electronics are serious power drains even when they aren’t in use.
To lower your electric bill, unplug these devices when you aren’t using them. If it’s too much of a hassle to unplug each individual device, connect them to a power strip and turn it off when you aren’t watching TV, gaming, or surfing the Web.
By making these simple changes, you can see significant savings on your electric bill. What’s more, you won’t be inconvenienced. Now that’s a win-win situation!
For more tips on lowering your electric bill or for any other electrical needs, you may have, contact Fielack Electric! Their licensed master electricians will be glad to assist all of your needs at 631-420-1700.
Medford is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 24,142 at the 2010 census.
The Long Island Rail Road established the Medford station in 1843 in a flat wilderness in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens. The station connected to the Patchogue Stage Road between Patchogue and Port Jefferson, and a post office was established.
In 1907 the LIRR established the Medford Prosperity Farm (officially called Experimental Station #2) on 80 acres (320,000 m2) to show that crops could be raised in the Pine Barrens. Theodore Roosevelt visited the station in August 1910. As the car drove across a trail between Medford and Wading River, it got stuck in the mud and Roosevelt was said to take a “flying leap” to get out.
By the mid-to-late-20th century, developers were building new neighborhoods within Medford. Eagle Estates was built along Horse Block Road east of NY 112 in 1963, although it was planned as far back as the 1930s. The development included a Blue Jay Market shopping center on Horseblock Road west of Eagle Avenue, and a youth baseball and athletic field east of Sipp Avenue between Wave and Race avenues. The Long Island Expressway was built through Medford in 1970, with interchanges at New York State Route 112 and Horseblock Road, the latter of which is close to an older interchange with Horseblock Road and Long Island Avenue, and was not completed until 1999. The Pines was established in the 1970s east of Buffalo Avenue, south of Jamaica Avenue, north of Woodside Avenue and far west of Patchogue-Yaphank Road.
Learn more about Medford.
