Six Surprising Reasons Why Your Utility Bills Are Huge
Owning a home is great, except for the utility bills that come with it. The average cost of gas and electricity in the US is $206.22 per month , and if you’re willing to pay less, you’ve probably done the obvious—saving on your usage, sealing ( or replacing ) your windows and doors, or even running your appliances during off-peak times .
But if you’ve learned the basics and your bills still seem too high, it’s time to dig deeper. Sometimes the reasons for an unusually high utility bill are not obvious at all and have nothing to do with your behavior or usage patterns. Here are six unexpected, but not entirely unlikely, reasons for your bill to increase.
Your equipment is old
If your energy bill is constantly rising, take a look at the appliances in your home. The efficiency ratings on the label that came with your new furnace or water heater are based on the unit being in brand new condition. Unfortunately, home appliances age quite quickly in many ways: for example, a refrigerator’s energy consumption can increase by 11% in just two years.
This doesn’t mean you need to replace your appliances every two years, but just because they’re still working doesn’t mean they’re working as efficiently. If your utility bills are getting higher, think about the “useful” lifespan of those appliances —as they age, they will use more energy to do the same job.
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Refrigerators: Refrigerators typically last an average of 14 years , but the seals around the door begin to wear out after about 8 years. As its efficiency drops, it will use more energy to compensate, increasing your bills.
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Dishwashers: About 10 years.
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Washing machines: About 10 years.
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Dryers: About 13 years.
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Microwave ovens: About 9 years.
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Ovens, stoves and hobs. Gas models can last up to 15 years efficiently, while electric models have a slightly shorter lifespan of about 13 years.
Another consideration? “Vampire” technique . You can (and probably should) unplug countertop appliances like coffee makers when they’re not in use, and if you’re going on a long trip, you should consider unplugging stoves, TVs, and other devices that constantly draw energy, adding to your bill.
Ineffective interior design choices
Your home’s layout and design choices can have a big impact on your utility bills, as they can make it more difficult to heat and cool your home. Even if you set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature and schedule, if your furnace, boiler or air conditioning system has to work overtime to maintain that temperature, your utility bills will skyrocket.
A few considerations when renovating or rearranging furniture:
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Exposed beams. Exposed, rustic beams can add charm to your space, but they also increase your heating and cooling costs. Exposed beams mean there is no insulation there, so heat and cold will simply transfer through the roof and your utility bills will rise.
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High ceilings. Even without exposed beams , high ceilings make it more difficult to heat and cool your space simply because your HVAC system will have to work harder to cool or heat a larger volume of space.
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Layout. If you have furniture blocking heat sources or HVAC vents, you’re forcing your system to work twice as hard to heat and cool your home. Likewise, long window curtains covering radiators can increase your bills. Opening up your layout as much as possible by removing “breaks” such as bookshelves or tall furniture can help cool and warm air flow freely, making it easier for your systems to control the climate.
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Exposed brick. Regardless of the thickness of your walls, brick is not a good insulator. The R-value (thermal resistance rating) of brick is only 3 , but most homes require an R-value of at least 13 for exterior walls. Exposed brick will look amazing and will increase your utility bills.
Setting up your water heater
When you install a new water heater, there’s a good chance that the manufacturer’s default temperature is 140°F . That’s pretty hot—hot enough that the water can cause serious burns in just a few seconds of exposure. From an energy standpoint, this is simply an inefficient setting as most of the heat is lost, causing the water heater to work harder. You probably won’t notice much of a difference if you turn the temperature down to 120°F. Not only is it a safer bet, but it can also help you save up to 22% on your utility bills .
Faulty wiring
Defective wiring—whether due to improper installation or simply age—can cause electricity to leak, meaning you’re paying for electricity you don’t use. Old wiring can also overload appliances and lighting fixtures, pumping more energy into them than they need. Not only does this unnecessarily increase your utility bills, but it can also put a strain on your appliances and shorten their lifespan.
You have a parasite
Another possible reason why your utility bills are so high? Someone might steal from you . Water, electricity, and even internet services can be diverted and shared, forcing you to subsidize someone else’s use of them. A few telltale signs are extension cords plugged into outside outlets, mysterious digs around your property, and unauthorized hoses attached to your outside spigots.
Cryptocurrency mining
No, really: Depending on where you live, cryptocurrency companies could raise your utility bills. Mining cryptocurrencies requires a lot of energy , and many crypto companies have struck lucrative deals with local utilities to get discounts on electricity, with the costs sometimes being passed on to everyday consumers. For example, in Texas, residential energy bills rose nearly 5% due to subsidized rates for local crypto businesses. Similar scenarios exist in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arkansas.