Every year, too many Canadian homeowners get the same nasty
surprises when opening up their energy bills. It seems costs are constantly on
the rise, with no end in sight. The average household in Ontario has spent $2500
a year on energy and utilities since 2009, according to data from Statistics
Canada. What many people don’t realize is that these staggeringly high amounts
can be reduced up to 30% by repairing and replacing major home appliances. 5
major money-grubbing appliances that may be running up your bill include:
1- Your furnace- Winter is enough of a
pain in the butt by itself- but thanks to your furnace- it is also often the
hardest on your wallet too. The most common way to cut back on your heating
costs is to make sure all cracks and openings in your home that leak air are
completely sealed and insulated. Old or cracked windows are also extremely
wasteful and inefficient; and lots of money can be saved by replacing them or
sealing up cracks in them. Automatic
thermostats are also a great way to control heat levels when you are not home
to get costs down.
2- Your washer/dryer- Washing and drying
your clothes has gotten pricey in recent years, however fear not; there are
ways of cutting costs while still keeping your clothes looking fab. Washing
clothes in cold water is not only recommended, it also is cheaper! Also, doing
your laundry on off-peak times that are set by the Ontario Energy Board can
also save a great deal of money. The cheapest times to do laundry are evenings
during the week, and weekends. Doing your laundry on a weekend can save up to
30 cents per load compared to any other time!
3- Your air conditioner- Sealing your
home’s cracks and openings up for the winter to save on heating costs will also
benefit you on the flip side when the dog days of summer come around, and can
result in substantial savings with your cooling system.
4- Your refrigerator- This one appliance
alone can be a major strain on your energy bill. Often, if your refrigerator is old (over 10
years), it may need to be repaired or even replaced in some cases. New
refrigerators are far more efficient on energy consumption and offer more space
than older ones.
5- Your dishwasher- Did you know that older
dishwashers can use up to 12 or more gallons of water each time they are run? (In
comparison, the average Energy Star dishwasher uses only 3 gallons (12 L). A
ton of annual waste can be eliminated simply by running full and not partial
loads, and making sure food is reasonably scraped from dishes.
Investing in Energy Star appliances are your best bet for
reducing waste and costs over the long-term, in all of the above cases.
However, if you cannot afford new appliances or just need minor repairs done, you
can save lots of money in the short-term, and we can show you how. EliteAppliance is the only Manufacturer Authorized Servicer in Toronto that provides
full repair services 7 days a week- so that whenever something goes wrong, we
are always available to help you, no matter what.
