As a homeowner, you rarely have to worry about your energy bill because you already know where it ranges. All over a sudden, your recent electric bills are so high, and you can't help but wonder what's causing the sudden spike. You have even tried to minimize your electricity usage, but nothing is changing.
So, what might be causing your electric bill to shoot at such a high rate?
Inefficient Light Bulbs
The type of bulbs you have installed in your home will determine the amount of energy you'll consume. These days, you can choose to either buy LED bulbs, halogen bulbs, incandescent bulbs, or compact fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately, compact fluorescent bulbs and incandescent light bulbs tend to consume a lot of energy because they emit heat and light in all directions. So, if you have such bulbs in your house, you might want to replace them with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs. These bulbs can help you reduce your electricity bill.
Old or Faulty Wiring
Houses with faulty or outdated wiring are known to have high energy bills all the time. So, if your energy bills keep increasing, there is a likelihood you have problematic wiring. Apart from increasing your electric bills, faulty wiring can easily cause fires and other electrical accidents.
If you suspect that you have faulty wiring, call an electrician to rewire your entire home.
Insufficient Insulation
If you live in a location with an extreme climate, you'll be required to have sufficient insulation to keep your house warm. Without sufficient insulation, your HVAC system will have to do a lot of work to keep your space at your desired temperature. You have to ensure that the heat is not escaping.
Otherwise, your space heater and HVAC system will run throughout. And as you well know, running your AC unit throughout can consume a lot of electricity. Ensure your windows, doors, walls, attic, and roof are adequately insulated before you call for electrician services.
Changes in Your Energy Use
Most people don't track their energy use. Therefore, it's easy to assume that you are using the same amount of energy every month. That may not be the case, however, since there are certain times when you consume more electricity. You might need to run your AC and ceiling fan more often during summer.
Adding more electric appliances and light bulbs can also increase your energy bills. So, be aware of that before going ballistic about your high energy bill. If you can diagnose the cause, you'll have an easy time resolving the problem.