Ways to save money on your utility bills

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – 22News is working for you with some ways to save money on your utility bills.

With temperatures in the middle 90s this week you’re probably thinking about cranking up the air conditioner but cooling your home amid high temperatures can be costly if not done correctly. Comfort doesn’t have to come at a cost, there are things that you can do to conserve the cool air in your home.

During the summer months, AC units typically work extra hard to keep our homes cool, and cranking up the AC can lead to a noticeable increase in electric bills. When it comes to air conditioning it’s important to keep those systems well-maintained.

Rocky’s Ace Hardware Assistant Manager Bob Parent told 22News that AC filters should be cleaned out every 30 to 90 days because when they aren’t maintained these units work harder.

“You’re going to waste electricity. You’re not going to get the high performance that you need from your air conditioner or you won’t get the cooling properly. So definitely a little bit of maintenance helps out. You want to make sure you have a clean air filter. Check the air filter on the unit itself and plug it directly into the receptacle in the wall,” said Bob Parent, Assistant Manager at Rocky’s Ace Hardware.

Simple actions like replacing appliances with more energy-efficient ones, keeping the refrigerator door closed, and doing laundry with cold water can help lower utility bills.

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