Do You Have High Utility Bills in Bellingham? Start Here

When your utility bills start climbing despite your best efforts to control your energy bills, it’s easy to get disheartened. Fortunately, there are a few hidden areas you may be overlooking.

High utility bills are your home’s way of telling you some parts of the home need more maintenance. You may have a hidden leak behind a wall or poor insulation sapping your heating or cooling. At Notturno, we’re determined to help homeowners get the very best out of their plumbing and HVAC systems.

Don’t let high utility bills in Bellingham stop you from enjoying your home. Our quick checklist will help you narrow down the issue (with a few DIY energy-saving tips you can start using today).

Your Utility Bill Checklist: 5 Places You Need to Check

Is your plumbing driving up your bills, or could it be your HVAC instead? These five common areas are easy to overlook, but they can have a huge impact on your monthly utility bill.

1. Inspect Your Toilet

When’s the last time you took a good look at your toilet? While not the most pleasant exercise, a quick DIY inspection is a great way to make sure no subtle problems pop up under your nose.

Your toilet should never have water dribbling back into the bowl after flushing. That’s a surefire sign of a worn-out flapper leaking where it shouldn’t. Another sign of a toilet problem is whistling, which usually points to a deteriorating fill valve (which refills your toilet after you flush). 

A toilet that’s constantly running or quietly leaking will noticeably increase your utility bills. A local plumber in Bellingham, MA, can fix the problem up easily.

2. Look for Leaks in Your Fixtures

Your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub could have hidden leaks that make you pay more than you should. Your first order of business is to look beneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks for any signs of moisture. 

Even if you don’t see dripping water, feel along the bottom of the cabinet for any wet or spongy spots. Even a little moisture could mean water is popping up where it shouldn’t. 

3. Review Your Water Heater

How old is your water heater? Tank water heaters last about a decade, while tankless water heaters last nearly twice as long. If yours is on the older side, you may already have your answer on high utility bills in Bellingham. 

If your water heater is younger, though, you may have a maintenance problem instead. Water heaters need to be flushed every year to keep them working smoothly. Annual water heater inspections also help spot potential material deterioration or leaks. 

4. Check Your Home’s Insulation

Another common issue for Massachusetts homeowners is poor insulation (especially since the area has many older homes). Poor insulation can show up as drafty windows, cracks in your floorboards, ill-fitting doors, or leaky ductwork.

You can check your insulation by walking through your home and looking for problem areas. Hover your hand in front of your windows or press your ear against a closed door. If you feel a draft or hear whistling, that’s where your heating and cooling are going. 

5. Inspect Your HVAC System

Similar to your water heater, your HVAC’s age could also be why your bills don’t seem to go down. Older systems simply can’t keep up with modern heating demands. They either lack more advanced energy-efficient designs or are actively failing, with you none the wiser.

For example, you could be dealing with high utility bills in Bellingham because your old HVAC has low refrigerant levels or a dying capacitor. 

If you suspect your plumbing is to blame, don’t miss our seasonal plumbing maintenance checklist. For those of you who need a well-rounded approach to multiple utility problems, we have a few ways you can start saving money.

3 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Energy Usage

You don’t have to completely overhaul your day-to-day life to lower high utility bills in Bellingham. These money-saving tips require only a few changes around the house or slight adjustments to your routine. 

1. Insulate Every Room in the House

Consistent insulation starts with plugging up all the drafts in your home. Give these following DIY tips a try:

• Use blankets or towels at the base of each door for a quick fix

• Try waterproof weatherstrips for your windows and doors for a long-term fix

• Keep windows closed during extreme temperatures (such as midday during summers and early morning to late night during winters)

2. Change Your Thermostat Settings

Your HVAC efficiency in Bellingham starts with a thermostat setting that matches your climate. We recommend around 65 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 75 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. 

3. Unplug More Appliances

Along with HVAC and plumbing, you can shave a few dollars off your utility bills by unplugging a few appliances. Some equipment still uses a little electricity even when you’re not using it.

Some of the biggest offenders of wasted energy are:

• Gaming consoles

• Some microwaves and coffee machines

• Televisions

• Night lights

• Plugged-in phone chargers

If your appliances have parts that are always ‘on’, like a display or sensor, that means they’re still using electricity. Consider unplugging a few and see the difference it makes. If you want even bigger savings, schedule an inspection with our team!

Schedule an Inspection With Notturno Today

A second opinion is the best way to make sure nothing escapes your notice on your way to a lower monthly utility bill. Notturno offers thorough plumbing inspections and an 82-point HVAC system evaluation to help you find any weak spots.

One of our team members will inspect your home from top to bottom, then recommend a personalized solution. You may benefit from a new thermostat, a water heater flush, or an HVAC repair. 

No matter what you need, you’ll have access to our current coupons and financing options to help you stay within your home improvement budget.

Stop high utility bills in Bellingham with Notturno. Schedule your inspection online today!