How to Avoid Unnecessary Apartment Bills
It’s normal for your apartment utility bills to fluctuate slightly from month-to-month but if you’ve ever experienced an extremely expensive bill out of the blue, you’re not alone. It’s rare for companies to make a billing mistake (although it does happen) so it’s up to you to discover what went different that month, if you’re unaware, and take measures to normalize your bill next month. Here are a few ways you can cut utility bill costs and save on your monthly expenses when renting a Greystar apartment.
Unplug Small Appliances
Believe it or not, unplugging your phone charger, toaster, rice cooker, gaming consoles, and other small appliances when they are not in use can save you money on your electricity bill each month. Even if they are not in use, they are still unnecessarily acquiring a small amount of energy; this is called “phantom energy”.
Get into the habit of plugging an appliance in when you need it and unplugging as soon as you’re done. (For obvious reasons, there’s no need to practice this with larger appliances like refrigerators or stoves).
Change Your Air Filter Regularly
Some apartment communities schedule maintenance to visit units and replace air filters quarterly, but if this is not the case for your apartment, make sure you are regularly changing your air filters. A dirty air filter makes your HVAC work two times harder, and you may need to amplify your heating and cooling to feel normal temperatures. If you’re in an apartment with pets, this is especially important, as pet hair clogs filters much faster than a home without.
Take a look at your HVAC every three months and check the condition of your filter—this is the best way to determine how often you’ll need to change it for optimal heating and cooling results.
Fix Leaks ASAP
If you hear your toilet running for long periods of time (or intermittently) chances are your water bill will skyrocket the following month. Slow, constant leaks can waste hundreds of gallons of water and cost a fortune, and these can usually easily be fixed by a maintenance professional. Use the online maintenance service request or call/visit your maintenance office if you hear what sounds like running water from any water outlet, or if you see constantly dripping when a valve handle is completely twisted off.
This also applies to showers and sinks; if you see constant dripping water or hear a flow of water, this could lead to a bigger problem on your hands if left unattended and you may need help immediately.
Use Your HVAC Responsibly
When you’re not at home, there’s no need to blast your HVAC as if you were there to enjoy the temperature to your liking. Lower or higher the temperature several degrees (depending on the weather) to cut electricity costs if you’re stepping out for a long period of time, like going to work or staying at a friend’s place. Many people turn their HVAC off completely in hopes to cut costs but powering it on and off takes more energy than simply changing the temperature to a degree that won’t require a frequent hard start-up.
These tips can help to keep your utility bill costs low and help save on your monthly expenses. If you need additional assistance or have a maintenance request, just give your Greystar office a call or log in to the resident portal to submit a maintenance request.
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