4 Hacks for Lowering Utility Bills That Won’t Work – and What You Should Do Instead
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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When you’re getting sky-high utility bills each month, you might be tempted to try an energy-saving hack to cut costs. These hacks sound clever. They seem to make sense. But many of these popular energy-saving tricks don’t actually work. Some might even make your bills higher in the long run, or just create new headaches.
Here’s a rundown of some popular but often misleading tips, plus what actually works. Avoid wasting time on advice that just doesn’t work, and you can start to see some real savings.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms – Why It Backfires
The hack: Many people think closing air vents in unused rooms will save money. It certainly seems logical. Why heat or cool spaces you’re not using?
Why it doesn’t work: Your HVAC system is designed to maintain a specific pressure balance throughout your home. If you close vents you disrupt this balance. Your system has to work harder to push the same amount of air through fewer openings. You’ll actually be using more energy. And the strain can damage and wear out your equipment.
What to do instead: Instead of closing vents, adjust your thermostat as needed. If your home has a zoned HVAC system, use that to manage the temperature in different parts of the house. If not, think about adding a programmable or smart thermostat. These will let you set different temperatures based on your schedule — like when you’re home, away or sleeping. This way it’s easy to save energy without putting all that strain on your system.
Turning the Thermostat Way Down or Up for Quick Temperature Changes
The hack: If you want your home to get hotter or colder fast, you might try setting your thermostat way higher or lower than usual. It might seem like it will change temperature faster — it’s like pushing the gas pedal in your car harder to go faster, right?
Why it doesn’t work: Your HVAC system doesn’t work like that. It works at the same rate no matter how you set the temperature. Turning it way up or down just makes the system run longer, not faster. You’ll end up using more energy and your home won’t get to the temperature you want any faster.
What to do instead: Set your thermostat to a steady, comfortable level and just let it do its job. If you need to cool down faster, you can use fans to help circulate the cold air.
Turning Off the Heater Completely at Night
The hack: Turning off the heat while you’re sleeping at night.
Why it doesn’t work: But if you turn it off all night and then turn it on again in the morning, your HVAC system then has to work much harder to bring the temperature back up to where you want it. If you’re constantly switching the system on and off like this, it’s less efficient and your bill will still be higher.
What to do instead: Lower the heat at night, but don’t turn it off completely. Dropping the thermostat by just a few degrees while you sleep can still help you save energy. If your system can keep it at a reasonable temperature all night, it won’t have to work as hard in the morning. Use a programmable thermostat to set a schedule, and automatically adjust the temperature each night and morning. That way you don’t even have to think about it.
Using Ceiling Fans in Place of Air Conditioning
The hack: Keeping ceiling fans running all the time to improve air circulation and reduce AC usage.
Why it doesn’t work: Fans on their own don’t actually lower the temperature of a room. They cool people by creating a wind-chill effect on your skin. Running fans in empty rooms wastes electricity. It also puts unnecessary wear on the motors.
What to do instead: Use fans only when you’re in the room. Reverse your ceiling fan direction for winter (clockwise) and summer (counterclockwise). This changes which direction the fan pushes warm air, and will help your HVAC do its job. You can actually set your AC to a slightly higher temperature and still feel comfortable. The combo approach is more effective for saving energy.
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