Winter is the season that brings together cold weather, dry air, and unfortunately, higher energy costs. We understand the financial strain that comes with the season– holiday gifts, hosting meals, and electricity bills. That’s why our dedicated Hallock’s team is here to give you some expert advice on how to make your appliances work for you this winter. By upgrading your appliances or using them in a way that’s more efficient, you can save on your utility bills and have more room in your budget for holiday festivities. Consider the following tips to lower your winter energy costs:
Upgrade to Energy Star Models
Do you know how much energy your appliances consume in a year? If your answer is no, it might be time to check in on your current models. If your appliances are not certified Energy Star products, you could be overspending on your utility bills by hundreds of dollars! The easiest way to verify if your appliance model is Energy Star is through their product finder. Just plug in your model number and find out! Alternatively, you can look for the yellow Energy Star tag in your owner’s manual. These stickers are great identifiers for energy efficient appliances, and they even give you an estimated annual energy usage cost right up front. If you don’t see the yellow tag or are curious about the energy usage of a particular appliance, a Hallock’s team member is happy to help you find models that match your needs.
Winter is a great time to upgrade your appliances. Here at Hallock’s, we have fantastic savings for the holidays; from discounted prices to bundle deals and manufacturer rebates. By upgrading your old appliance to a new, energy efficient model, you’ll not only save money through discounts, but you’ll also save over time with lower energy costs every month. According to The Energy Star Website, households can save up to $450 on their energy bills each year. If you’re in the market for an upgrade, reach out to your local Hallock’s dealer to ask about the best upcoming holiday deals!
Here are some tips for when you start searching for those upgraded appliances:
- Check the estimated annual use cost.
- Consider what features are most important to you; models with bells and whistles could cost more annually to run.
- Don’t push off your shopping too long… Older appliances reaching end of life often run much less efficiently than new models.
Load Your Machines Properly
Upgrading your appliances is great, but how you use your upgraded appliances is just as important. While it’s important not to over-stuff your fridge and freezer, it’s even more important to make sure you’re loading your washing machine and dishwasher properly. Overloading either of these instruments can cause your dishes or clothing not to get as clean, and this also affects the efficiency of your appliances.
For your dishwasher: Make sure your plates, cups, and bowls have adequate space in between them. When the racks are too crowded, your dishwasher could add extra time or additional rinse cycles to ensure your dishes are clean at the end of the cycle. While these features are often convenient and useful, they do use excess energy per load. Properly loading your dishwasher also allows you to skip the heated dry function and allow the dishes to air dry at the end of the cycle.
For your washing machine: Opt for cold water over hot. Heating water for your wash cycle consumes energy and can even be harmful to fabrics. In fact, many clothing manufacturers recommend washing at lower temperatures because it not only preserves the integrity of the fabric, but it also cleans with the same effectiveness as hot water. Unsure if your clothing will do well in cold water? The tag on the inside of your clothing will give you the manufacturer’s recommendation on washing temperature!
Perform Preventative Maintenance
If it’s not in the budget to upgrade, don’t worry! You can help extend the life and efficiency of your current appliance through regular cleaning and maintenance. Keep your appliances in tip-top shape with these tips from our Hallock’s appliance experts:
- For your dryer: Clear your lint trap and dryer vent from any obstructions; clogs make your dryer work longer and harder to get your clothing dry.
- For your refrigerator and freezer: Check door seals and gaskets for cracks and clean your refrigerator coils– these simple steps will help your fridge and freezer regulate temperature efficiently, even as temperatures outside fluctuate.
- For any appliance with hoses (dishwasher, washing machine, etc.): Make sure that any exterior hoses are in good working order; checking in periodically during colder periods can help you avoid or spot frozen or burst hoses early.
- For any appliance with a thermostat (refrigerator, freezer, oven, etc.): Verify that the thermostat reads correctly. Appliances often over run if they sense they are colder or warmer than they actually are, wasting more energy and lowering their lifespan over time
Make sure you add the above to your list of seasonal chores. Not only will this keep your appliances running smoothly, but a couple of minutes every few months could make a difference to your electric bill.
Prioritize Off-Peak Times
Did you know that it’s more expensive to use your appliances during certain times of the day? In fact, almost all utility providers use a variable rate system that will charge higher rates of use during “peak” times, or hours when a majority of customers are using energy, and lower rates during “off-peak” times. Additionally, peak times typically change from summer to winter.
Oftentimes in the winter, peak hours are from 6am to 10am and 6pm to 10pm. This means that those late night laundry loads could actually save you money! Check your utility provider to see what your peak and off-peak hours are, and run your larger appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher) during off-peak hours to reduce the cost of your electric bill year-round.
Avoid Appliance Vampires
Have you ever received a utility bill that sent shivers down your spine? If so, you might be haunted by something called an “appliance vampire.” This is an appliance that’s left plugged in when not in use, which siphons electricity from your home. Yes, you read that right. Even if your appliances are off, they can still use energy when plugged in because they’re in standby mode. Think of the appliances that have small-light up buttons, or ones that always display the date and time. If you can, unplug them when not in use. You may not think that your toaster and coffee maker are drawing much electricity while they sit plugged in and idle all day, but even the smallest bit of savings adds up.
While winter brings shorter days, icy mornings, and higher energy bills, a few new appliance habits can make the season feel a lot less draining (both for you, and your wallet)! Whether you’re in the market to upgrade to new energy star models, or want to use your current appliances more efficiently, each small change can lead to more savings. Taking care to load your machines correctly, spending a couple of minutes every few weeks to perform some maintenance, and using your larger appliance in off-peak energy hours can help keep your energy costs in check.
The best part? None of these steps require major renovations or complicated equipment. As the temperature drops this winter, take a moment to give your appliances some attention. Stay warm, stay efficient, and here’s to a cozier and more affordable winter season!