5 Summer Habits That Might Be Spiking Your Utility Bills (and What to Do Instead)

Summer weather is ideal for enjoying the pool, the yard, and the sun, but after being outside for a few hours, it can also be a great relief to step into an air-conditioned home. These hot temperatures often cause many homeowners to adopt certain habits that are more wasteful than helpful.

In an attempt to escape the heat, keep the house cool, and maintain the lushness of the yard, it can be all too tempting to try things that actually increase utility bills, costing you more in the long run for minimal relief. Use this guide to discover what summer habits secretly spike utility bills and what to do instead.

Read on to discover the ways you might be increasing your monthly bills without even realizing.

1. Cooling Unused Areas of the House

Air conditioners help to cool down the home, but when you aren’t actively using specific rooms, there is no need to keep the doors open to these areas of the home. Central air conditioning systems might still provide some cooling to these areas through the ductwork, but ultimately, the cooling capabilities will be more focused in the central areas of the home where the thermostat is typically located.

Closing certain doors allows the temperature to drop more effectively in the areas you are actually using, while saving energy. This particular trick works incredibly well for window and standing air conditioners, since their output is already focused in a single area of the home.

2. Running Fans 24/7

Fans can help move cool air throughout the home and provide direct relief to individuals who are near the fan. However, fans do not actually cool down the house, and their continuous operation can even add heat to the house. “A common habit is leaving fans on in empty rooms. Fans cool people, not rooms, so leaving them on when no one’s around just adds to the electric bill without any benefits,” says Scott Levene, vice president of Levco and licensed HVAC professional.

3. Frequent Lawn Watering

Watering the lawn frequently might keep the grass looking lush and the gardens blooming nicely, but it is also a huge use of water that will drastically increase the cost of your water bill throughout the summer. In some areas, watering the lawn and yard might even be against local regulations due to droughts and water conservation efforts. Instead, it’s best to consider possible alternatives that can avoid waste and help save on your water bill.

4. Running the Air Conditioner with the Windows or Doors Open

Many homeowners know to turn off the air conditioner if they are opening a window or door. However, this same knowledge might not be as obvious to other people living in the home, like children or teenagers. Additionally, some adults might open the windows on cooler evenings to bring in fresh air, but then forget to turn the AC off, which increases energy waste and leads to higher energy bills.

5. Setting the Thermostat Temperature Too Low

Unfortunately, just because you turn the thermostat temperature as low as possible, this does not increase the speed at which the home will be cooled, though this doesn’t stop many homeowners from trying year after year. “The most common habit we see is turning the thermostat down too low, thinking it will cool the house faster. Setting the thermostat to 65°F instead of 75°F doesn’t make it work any faster; it just makes the system run longer and work harder, which drives up utility bills,” explains Levene.

How Do These Habits Burn Your Budget?

Deciding to put a stop to these habits and making the switch to a more budget-friendly alternative will help keep more money in your wallet and reduce waste. “The examples listed might only cost a few extra bucks a day, but that adds up over time,” Levene says. “Additionally, the extra strain on the HVAC system causes faster wear and tear, which can shorten the lifespan of the equipment. Frequent repairs or premature replacement costs are a major expense.”

7 Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Beat the Heat

The more unnecessary warm-weather habits you tend to do each year, the higher the cost of your energy bills and the larger your ecological footprint, which is reflected in water and energy waste. Instead, work toward adopting budget-friendly habits that can both keep you cool and reduce your spending this summer season.

1. Use a Programmable Thermostat

When you have a regular thermostat, it’s your responsibility to change the temperature throughout the day and when you leave the home. “Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature. We recommend 76°F to 78°F when you’re home and 78°F to 80°F when you’re away,” Levene says. With a programmable thermostat, you can simply set a specific schedule based on when you leave for work, when you typically go to sleep, and when you wake, so you can reduce energy waste without even thinking about it.

2. Set Up a Rain Barrel

Constantly watering the lawn is a huge waste of water, and it can quickly add up on your water bill. Instead, use one or more rain barrels in the yard to catch and collect rain. The collected water can then be used for watering the lawn and garden, reducing your spending and your water waste, while still keeping the lawn and garden looking great throughout the summer.

3. Properly Seal the Home

A simple step to benefit you both in the summer and the winter is sealing up any gaps or cracks around the windows and doors. “Use weather stripping and caulk to close up air leaks around doors and windows,” suggests Levene. After completing this process properly, you shouldn’t have to worry about it for at least a couple of years, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a properly sealed home without actively doing anything.

4. Plant Shade Trees Near Sun-Facing Windows

A great way to help keep the home cool throughout the warmer months of the year, while also adding to the aesthetic appeal of the yard, is to plant shade trees near sun-facing windows. These trees look pretty and reduce the amount of direct sunlight that enters the home, allowing the house to remain cooler during the summer. And if you go with trees that drop their leaves in the fall, you can still get ample sunlight through these windows during the colder months of the year.

5. Use Blinds and Curtains Effectively

If you don’t plant shade trees to help keep out the sun, you can make use of blinds and curtains to perform the same task. “Keep blinds or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day to help block the heat from the sun,” Levene says. Then, once the sun goes down, you can open the blinds and curtains at night to allow cooler air to circulate through the home, improving natural ventilation. Just make sure to turn off the AC if you decide to open the windows or doors at night.

6. Turn Fans Off When You’re Gone

Fans are great for moving air around a specific area and providing relief to individuals nearby, but when no one is home or in the same room with the fan, keeping the fan on is simply a waste. “Using fans with your AC is helpful, but be sure to turn them off when you leave to avoid wasting energy,” mentions Levene. This includes desk fans, standing fans, and ceiling fans; otherwise, you are simply using energy to push some air around the house without any discernible difference beyond increasing the cost of your electricity bill.

7. Run Major Appliances During Off-Peak Hours

Major appliances, like the clothes washer, dryer, dishwasher, and even the oven and stove, tend to use a lot of energy compared to smaller appliances, like a toaster or coffee maker. To reduce energy bills, it’s recommended to run these larger appliances during off-peak hours. “Avoid using your oven during the hottest part of the day; cook outside on the grill if you have one instead,” Levene suggests.