Hello High Electric Bill...

How about those Triple Digits, San Antonio!

The summer temperatures are up, and it would stand to reason that the current load on your electrical system is as well! That also means your

energy consumption is up and so is your energy spending!

Summers in San Antonio and South Texas can be quite stressful with all of the above mentioned pressures, so we wanted to shed a bit of light on some ways to combat higher electrical bills with some summer electrical tips for your home, and maybe save a bit of energy and $$ while we’re at it!

What’s the cause of higher electrical bills during the summer?

Cooling your home during the summer months in San Antonio, makes up anywhere from 40 – 50 % of your electrical bill each month. Basically making your HVAC unit one of the bigger stressors on your home’s electrical system. Here are a few things you can do to combat those stressors, making your system work easier as well.

Help your Air Conditioner, help you:

Change your Filters regularly – make certain they are clean.

When you’re away from home during the day, set your AC to 78 or above.

Install a programmable thermostat.

Make sure your outdoor unit is clear of any debris or overgrowth of grass, leaves, or weeds.

Have an HVAC professional clean and inspect your Ducts and tune-up your system at least once a year.

While they’re at it, they can address any duct-work leaks.

Show your Refrigerator some extra love:

Another large consumer of energy is your Refrigerator. It takes an effort to keep our food fresh!

To keep your unit from working overtime to maintain temperatures, inspect and clean the seals on the doors, and make certain they are clean and making a tight seal.

Also, verify your refrigerator is operating at the correct Temps,  37- 40 degrees for the Fridge/ 0 – 5 degrees for the Freezer.

Up next…the Hot Water Heater:

Your home’s Hot Water Heater is the #3 biggest energy consumer in your home.

Depending on how much hot water is used, and how often the hot water is used, the harder the draw of your electrical system. You can reduce the

usage by implementing the following: Summertime temps are hot, so try lowering your water heater temps to 120 degrees.

Also try taking short showers instead of baths. Showers use less water too and your energy consumption will also be less.

Another good bit of advice - make certain your Hot Water Tank is properly insulated.

Summer Cooking:

Dinner is often cooked during the heat of the day, and on a summer day when temperatures are soaring, the heat from your appliances can make your AC work overtime to cool the kitchen. Why not forgo the stovetop or oven, and fire up the grill! Your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep the house cool with the heat from the cooktop or oven; and will save you energy in the long run!  

Here are some other tips to consume less energy in and around your home as well…

• Turn off plugged in items that you aren’t using, rather than letting them run in the background when not in use. Items such as: Lights, Laptop Computers or Mobile Devices, Televisions, and radios. Turning these items off will put less strain on your electrical system. How much you ask? The average home’s lighting consumption accounts for 12 % and electronic devices contribute to another 10 to 15 %!

• Pesky power draws can get you in the long run.  Another 5% draw on your electrical system is what we like to call Vampire Power. This anomaly can drain about five percent of your power bill or more! The main culprits for placing a strain on your electrical system, even when they’re not in use. Cell Phone Chargers, Computers, Televisions, Gaming Stations, Microwaves…etc. If it has an indicator light, power adapter, clock, or stand-by mode…it will draw on your electrical power. We suggest unplugging these items when not in use to stop that pesky drain on your wallet.

Inside AND outside of your residence.

 We’ve addressed the main issues of stressors for your electrical system, as well as ways to keep the items inside of your home from causing higher energy bills.  Now let’s move outdoors and see what stressors are caused around the exterior of your home.

Exterior Lighting:

Here in San Antonio, exterior light fixtures have been used for many years; not only for security purposes, but to illuminate our walkways, doorways, trees…etc. One idea to save energy is by updating with newer electrical technology by installing exterior lighting with items such as a photocell, timer, or motion sensor to control these fixtures. With the help of these simple upgrades; the lights are only on when they need to be. Additionally, you might replace any older incandescent light bulbs you may currently use; with a more modern LED Bulb. LED bulbs us less than half the energy an incandescent uses, their also quite a bit brighter and safer for the environment!

We here at Bolt Electric hope this information helps you out with lowering your energy consumption, and hopefully bringing some $ummer $avings, as a result. The best part is; investing in these tips will certainly help to keep your home’s electrical system running more efficiently,

especially during these high temperature months here in San Antonio and South Texas.

If you’re needing some electrical Service/Repair, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

 We can assist you with Lighting repairs/ upgrades, as well as Ceiling Fan installations/ Swap outs.

If you’re needing a few new outlets/ receptacles, or you need them repaired; we’ve got you covered.

Our friendly office staff is waiting to take your call

We can’t wait to work with you!

BOLT ELECTRIC,LLC

18847 REDLAND RD, SUITE 105

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78259

(210) 545-BOLT (2658)