In Pursuit of Curb Appeal

Got a heater in your home? It may force you to deal with the drought that's hitting a large swath of the U.S. even if your specific state isn't experiencing dry weather. Hydroelectric power forms as little as 7 percent of the country's supply of electricity, and while that doesn't sound like a lot on paper, it is a lot to those whose homes depend on it. But as drought hits rivers and dams, hydroelectric power availability is falling, resulting in higher costs for what's being produced. If you live in a city that relies on hydroelectric power for part of its supplies, that means you must ensure that all your appliances, including your heater, are in tip-top shape.

Inspect Now

Winter might seem far away, but it's an excellent time to get your heater inspected. The last thing you need is to find, at the last minute, is that you need a lot of repairs done to keep your heater working efficiently. If you wait until the last minute and find you really do need a lot to be done, you could end up paying higher repair costs for fast work. Or, you could end up paying more for your utilities as you wait for the repair companies in the area to have time in their schedules for you.

The problem that hydroelectric plants are having is simple. Less water running through the plant means less power is produced. City utility companies are handling this in two ways. One is to raise prices on or add surcharges to hydroelectric power. The Sacramento Bee noted in March 2015 that the city of Roseville, California, had been charging 2 percent extra since 2014 as a "hydroelectric surcharge." The Bee also noted that other utility companies have been switching their supply lines to other forms of power that generally cost more. In either case, homeowners are seeing increased bills.

The way to combat this, at least until rains can get the hydroelectric scene working again, is to ensure that your energy usage is as low as possible. Some of this comes from modifying your habits, like setting air conditioners a couple of degrees higher in summer. Other ways to reduce bills, though, come from ensuring that your appliances aren't hogging power.

Consider Replacement

If your heater isn't very efficient, you might need to replace it. Repairs can do only so much, especially if the heater is old and not built for maximum efficiency. Luckily, the repair companies you call can generally do replacements as well as repairs. If you're worried about cost, talk to the repair company to find out about local rebates for making your home more energy efficient.

If you'd like more information about those potential rebates or you want to get started with and inspection, contact local heating repair companies like those at http://www.smedleyservice.com. Get this done with so you can have a comfortable and affordable winter.