Get a free estimate
For immediate installations or repairs, please fill out a form describing your project.
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 Melville, 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 Melville, 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 Melville, 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.
Melville is an affluent hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, in the United States. The population was 18,985 at the 2010 census.
The area was known to the Native Americans as Sunsquams. In the 17th century it was known as Samuel Ketcham’s Valley, named for a local resident. Afterwards it was known as Sweet Hollow. This name was replaced by Melville in school records in 1854. There is some debate as to the origin of the Melville name. It may be derived from the Latin for honey (the area had an abundance of honey bees, and this may have also been the origin of the previous Sweet Hollow name). The author Herman Melville was being published around this time.
A Presbyterian church was built in Melville in 1829 at the corner of Old Country and Sweet Hollow Roads. In 1977 the church was moved 1 mile (1.6 km) to the west. The church was in continuous use until 1930. It reopened in 1944 for the funeral of Edward Baylis and has been in use since then.
In 1909 a trolley line to Huntington was established. This was an extension of the Huntington Trolley Spur and went as far south as Amityville and had a connection to Babylon. There were six fare zones, one of which was the Duryea Farm at Melville. The line was shut down a decade later after farmers complained that noise from the trolley frightened their animals. Buses provided transportation after the trolley line closed. The growing use of private cars also reduced demand for the trolley line.
Learn more about Melville.
