Air conditioning accounts for about 17% of a typical US home’s yearly electricity bill. So, if you pay $1,500 a year for electricity, $255 of that is for your air conditioner electricity bill alone.

That’s already a lot, but if you have an inefficient AC, you could end up paying even more. Especially this 2021, considering the projected hikes in residential electricity rates. The US EIA forecasts prices to go up to 13.50 cents per kilowatt-hour this 2021 from last year’s 13.20 cents.

That doesn’t mean you should just accept your high bills, though. However, you first need to know the link between a high electric bill and air conditioner issues. This way, you can take steps that will let you keep using your AC for less.

This guide will discuss how your AC may be costing you more than necessary and what you can do about it, so be sure to read on.

1. Clogged AC Filter

Your air conditioner’s filter protects your cooling equipment from airborne contaminants. It captures solid particles like dust, dirt, debris, pet dander, and shed skin. Without the filter, your AC’s interior components will develop layers of residue.

Residue, in turn, can have insulating properties. As a result, your air conditioner will have a hard time doing its job of cooling indoor air. It has to work harder, and this “overtime” can spike your electricity bills.

A dirt-clogged AC filter also has impaired airflow, so too little air can get into the system. Since there’s less air for it to cool, it’ll take longer for the equipment to lower the indoor temperature. The longer this goes on, the more energy it uses, and thus, the higher your electricity bills.

Changing your filter once every one to three months can help keep your entire AC clean and efficient.

2. Grimy AC Grilles and Vents

Air goes in and out of your air conditioner via the equipment’s grilles and vents. Like the filter, these parts can also get clogged with residue over time. They may also get blocked by furniture or even plants.

Your grilles and vents are among the easiest AC components to clean, as most are visible. You can simply vacuum these once or twice a month to remove dust and dirt build-up. Be sure no furniture or indoor plants obstruct their airflow, either.

3. Dirty Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is a cold loop of metal inside your air conditioner’s indoor unit. It remains cold because cold liquid refrigerant runs through it. It also needs to stay cold because it’s this part of your AC where warm air turns into cool, comforting air.

If the evaporator coil is all grimy, it can’t cool the air properly. Again, that’s because of residue, which serves as a barrier between the warm air and the cold metal.

Replacing the filter as needed prevents excessive residue build-up on the evaporator coil. However, it’s still best to have your AC professionally cleaned and tuned up at least once a year. This way, the licensed AC tech can give your entire air conditioner a deep cleaning job.

4. Dusty Condenser Coil

Aside from the evaporator coil, your AC also has a condenser coil. This one is hot, though, unlike the evaporator coil.

It’s in the condenser coil where refrigerant gas turns into liquid. From there, the liquid refrigerant moves to the evaporator coil.

Because the condenser coil is hot, it needs a fan to help prevent it from overheating. That’s what the condenser fan does: blow air against the coil. The hot air then moves out of the AC and into the outdoor air.

Dust build-up can keep the heat trapped within the condenser coil. If the coil gets too hot, so can the liquid refrigerant. If the chemical gets hotter than necessary, it can take a longer time to become cold enough.

That can then result in a prolonged AC cooling cycle. The longer the cycle is, the more energy the equipment uses. You’ll then find this excessive energy use reflected on your higher electricity bill.

Pre-seasonal AC maintenance is one of the best ways to prevent condenser problems. The HVAC tech will clean this part of your AC alongside the evaporator coil.

5. Old Age

If your air conditioner is about 10 years old, it’s likely an energy vampire. Replacing it with a modern, energy-efficient unit can save you 20% to 40% on your AC electricity bill.

However, you can save even more if you invest in an Energy-Star rated air conditioner model. These are the most energy-efficient, government-approved air conditioners in the market.

Not all HVAC contractors carry Energy-Star AC units, though, and neither do they have the training to do so. So, as advised by this article on Walrathhvac.com, be sure to ask if a contractor works with Energy Star ACs. This way, they can help you choose the best energy-efficient model for your cooling needs.

6. Leaky Ducts

Another link between a broken air conditioner and a high electric bill is the duct system. Damaged ducts can contribute to inconsistent hot and cold spots all over your home. Worse, leaks in air ducts can waste up to 40% of heating and cooling energy.

Your yearly AC maintenance will reveal duct problems that require repairs ASAP. Be sure to get these fixed right away, as you don’t want your comfort, health, and wallet to suffer.

Time To Reduce Your Sky-High Air Conditioner Electricity Bill

As you can see, there are at least half a dozen ways your air conditioner electricity bill can go through the roof. However, so long as you maintain your air conditioner, a lower electric bill is attainable. If your AC is too old, though, it may be time to get an Energy-Star replacement.

Looking for more ways to save and thrift up while keeping your home comfy and healthy? Check out our other informative posts for more hacks like this then!

It’s time for you to enter the housing market to find your first place. After much looking around, you realize there’s nothing that you like that’s within your budget. It might be better for you to forget about searching around for the perfect place and create it instead. 

Building affordable homes isn’t as difficult as it may seem. There are plenty of tricks you can use to have your dream house without breaking the bank. 

Are you ready to get started with your project? Check out this guide to learn how to design a house that’s both affordable and sturdy.

Keep Things Simple

If you can create a place that looks like a beautiful log cabin vacation home without using an intricate design, do so. The more curves you have, the more money you’re going to need to pay an architect to build it. 

This is because building something that complicated takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll have to make the labour costs worth it. If you can keep your floor plan confined to a box shape, that will be ideal. 

You shouldn’t stop at a simple structure. Big multi-level rooftops look awesome, but they’re expensive to build. Go with something a little easier. 

Not only will the simple design not cost quite as much, but they also tend to be sturdier. This means you’ll save more money in the long run because you won’t have to worry about leaks. 

Consider a Tiny Home

The smaller your house, the fewer materials go into building it. That’s why many homeowners elect to go with a tiny house. Not only will you not have to dish out that much money on wood, but the labor cost will be low as well. 

The best part, if you decide to move in the future, you won’t have to worry about building another house or dipping your toes back into the housing market. Tiny homes can have wheels. All you have to do is move it where you want to go. 

Don’t DIY

Unless you have significant construction experience, don’t try to tackle this project on your own. Building a house isn’t as easy as it looks. It’s simple to make a mistake that can cause you to have to start all the way back over with brand-new materials. 

The money you’ll save in labor isn’t worth that. Tell the construction company that you want to put the house up while spending as little cash as possible. They’ll be able to choose the right materials to keep costs low. 

Construction and Materials

How long are you going to be living in this house? If your answer is 50 years or more, you want to go with a sturdy construction design, so it makes it that long. 

There are certain areas where you shouldn’t go cheap. For example, go ahead and invest in proper insulation. This will keep your heating and cooling costs low throughout the years. 

Now, sturdy doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank. Certain building materials are as functional as they are inexpensive. 

Reclaimed Materials

Reclaimed materials are old housing parts that you can use in your new home’s construction. Not only is it cheap to use old barn doors and other wood alternatives, but it also makes for a pretty cool look. 

Doors aren’t the only thing you can get. You can also find flooring, decorative flourishes, and windows if you know where to look. Craigslist and salvage stores should have everything that you need. 

Prefab Panels 

Prefab panels are wall panels that someone prepares in a factory and ships to you. They’re ready to install as soon as they arrive on your build site, cutting labor time pretty much in half. 

As you can imagine, this will shave money off of the overall labor costs because the workers don’t have to bother with building and framing. 

Precast Concrete 

Precast concrete works a little like the prefab panels. Someone pours the concrete into a mold inside a building somewhere, and after it’s cured, it’s shipped to you. 

It’s a lot cheaper to go this route because pouring concrete onsite comes with a unique set of complications. For example, labor could meet a delay if the weather is bad. 

Getting Your Designs Approved

As soon as you have a home design in your head, you need to send your plans off to get approved. It may take a while to get your approval back, and you can’t build anything until it does. 

If you do go ahead and delve in, you might get hit with a huge fee. 

Build With Energy Efficiency in Mind 

The initial cost of building your home with energy-efficient features isn’t cheap. You’ll need to spring for high-quality insulation and windows. Some people go the extra mile by getting solar panels or using wind energy systems. 

While you might spend a lot of money to install these features outright, it will pay off in the long run. Your utility bills will stay manageable and you get to do your part to help the environment. That’s a win-win in our book. 

Building Affordable Homes 

It’s not as easy as it seems to find the perfect home while browsing the market. Everything is either too expensive or doesn’t meet your specifications. By making your own floor plan, you can solve both these problems. 

Building affordable homes isn’t as difficult as it may seem. As long as you follow the tips we’ve provided, you’ll be well on your way to having your dream place. 

Now that you have your home up and ready to use, it’s time to decorate. Check out our blog to learn how to personalize your new house on a budget. 

Ever wondered about the symptoms of hormonal imbalance?

If your hormones are perfectly balanced, the better you’ll function mentally, emotionally, and physically. Hormones help keep your body running much more smoothly. Without proper balance, you may feel certain signs in your body. 

In this guide, you’ll learn more about what is hormonal imbalance and signs you need to watch out for.

1. Trouble Losing Weight or Weight Gain 

Hormonal imbalance in women can induce weight gain, including an underactive thyroid. Throughout menopause, women get fat because of metabolism decline. Hormone disorders, such as Cushing syndrome, can make you overweight. 

2. Low Sex Drive and Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Low estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone correlate with lowered libido in men and women. It is ubiquitous after age 50, when estrogen and testosterone production weakens.

Estrogen is one of the main hormones controlling a woman’s menstrual period. A reduction in the production of hormones can result in: 

• Hot flashes
• Unpredictable
• Sore intercourse
• Irregular periods that are too short or too long 
• Infertility
• Heavy or painful periods
• Mood swings

Consider testosterone as part of your hormonal imbalance treatment. It can improve your libido as well as boost your mood and energy levels.

3. Skin and Hair Changes

An unexpected increase in acne is one simple means to see if you have a hormonal imbalance. If your body produces too many androgens, sebum can increase your pores and let a pimple out. 

The condition of your hair is also related to your hormones. Thyroid irregularities may make brittle nails, thinning hair, dry hair, or skin. Parathyroid, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism disorder can also cause hair loss.

4. Constant Fatigue

Everybody is weary at times. Though with a healthy diet, adequate rest, and hydration, you will recover fast.

If you look out for yourself and still feel weak, have a hormonal imbalance test. Hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue are common causes of fatigue.

Fatigue is a well-known symptom that may have many possible sources. Low progesterone makes it difficult to sleep, and too much progesterone makes you feel tired. A more simple hormonal imbalance that induces fatigue is hypothyroidism. 

This ailment is easy to distinguish with a blood test. If your levels are low, you can take medicine to make your levels back up to the norm. 

5. Insomnia and Poor-Quality Sleep

Insomnia is a hypothalamic axis dysfunction, your basic stress reaction system. This is where your endocrine system and nervous system mix. It’s capable of controlling the circadian rhythm by releasing hormones.

Melatonin also acts on the brain area that contains our circadian rhythm. A failure to sweat melatonin may result in trouble falling asleep. Also, if your cortisol levels are too high, you may have difficulty falling asleep at night.

Want to know more about hormone imbalance? Read more information here. 

Watch Out for Hormonal Imbalance Signs

Hormonal imbalance can affect your sleep, hair, skin, weight, and so on. Simple steps to support your hormones are to eat anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fats. Get enough sleep and use supplements to fill in any nutritional deficiency. 

If you want to know more about hormonal imbalance symptoms, check out our other guides. 

Let’s be honest: getting young kids to take good care of their teeth ends up feeling near impossible at times, with their refusal to brush and constant soda drinking. That said, it’s critical that you follow through, or else your child could face severe consequences to their teeth down the line.

But the same old reminders and warnings aren’t cutting it anymore. What can you do?

Well, we’re glad you asked. It’s time to take a look at our guide on taking care of your kids’ dental health from day one! 

But enough preamble! Let’s dive head-on into this thing!

Brushing Is Vital to Kids’ Dental Health

You should start your child on brushing their teeth as soon as they are around one year old (once their teeth start to appear) to help get them into a routine and protect their baby teeth from cavities and plaque. Even small children who don’t have teeth in yet should get their gums gently wiped after meals to prevent food from sticking around. Removing and cleaning baby bottles as soon as babies are done drinking from them also helps here.

If you are worried your child is too young to use toothpaste, start by brushing their teeth with water and work your way up to toothpaste. Remind them to brush twice a day, as well as floss once a day. 

But what if your child shows resistance to this habit? In that case, find ways to make dental care more fun and involve them. For example, let them pick out their toothbrush color and style. 

You can also use phone apps with your child’s favorite character to encourage them to brush. Pokémon Smile, for example, lets your child wear a funny hat through AR technology while they brush and catch Pokémon if the app sees that they’ve done a good job. 

Diet Changes and Dentist Visits

Another important aspect to aiding the dental health of young kids is controlling their diets. Too many sugary foods and drinks like soda will lead to acids present in the soda dissolving tooth enamel and creating cavities. Try to encourage your child to eat fruits in place of desserts when they need a sweet treat, and use caution if your child takes gummy vitamins (as these contain similar  sugars and acids). 

In addition, make sure that you schedule dentist appointments for your child as soon as they grow teeth. Regular checkups and cleanings are vital for catching problems before they grow into something worse. Feel free to look here now if you’re in the market for a top-rated family dentist. 

The Importance of Fluoride

Fluoride is a valuable component to strengthen your teeth, but many kids miss out on it if they drink purified water. This is because many kids receive their primary source of fluoride from tap water (as well as toothpaste). 

If you sense your child isn’t getting enough fluoride, try reaching out to your dentist. They can give you an oral supplement for your child to take that will increase their fluoride levels. 

Happy Teeth Means Happy Kids

And there you have it! Now that you know all about how to take care of your kids’ dental health, you’re ready to ensure their teeth stay healthy for the rest of their lives! And for more guides on keeping your kids healthy and happy, make sure to check out the other articles on our blog! 

Finding a quality skincare routine is tricky. There are so many conflicting opinions about what products are necessary and which you can skip!

Some recommend a single cleanser while others swear by the 10-step Korean skincare routine. So, with all these opinions, how do you know what’s right for you? What order should the basic skincare steps be in?

If you’re looking for ways to perfect your skin, to see what you should and shouldn’t be using in your routine!

Start With Basic Skincare Steps

Generally, experts agree that most people need, at the very least, three products. These are considered the basic steps for a good skincare routine.

Starting with a cleanser to clean skin and clear pores is one of the most important steps in your skincare routine. 

Next, a toner helps to fully strip the skin of any leftover grime and dirt that your cleanser might have missed. Toners are also great for those with oily skin, as they help remove oil and tighten your pores.

Finally, a great moisturizer is the key to keeping your skin hydrated. While cleansers and toners are necessary, they can be harsh and drying. Ensuring that your skin stays hydrated will keep you looking and feeling great!

Add What You Need

Skincare is great because it is easy to customize to your specific needs. 

One of the most important products to use in tandem with a three-step base is SPF. Many people only apply sunscreen when they are planning on being outdoors, but it’s crucial to apply it every day

Similarly, many young people will often overlook the importance of eye creams. Using this product in your youth can help protect against wrinkles as you age.

Luckily, boostyourenergy.co.uk has a 6-step skincare system, perfect for those with oily skin. Not only does it include the basics, but it also comes with an SPF, eye cream, and a night gel!

What Order Should Your Routine Be?

This order will vary slightly depending on the time of day. However, following the skincare steps in order will maximize the effectiveness of each product.

Generally, though, the skincare steps order should be:

• Cleanser
• Toner
• Serums
• Creams
• Moisturizer
• SPF (For your morning routine)
• Night Gels (For your night routine)

Also, be sure to give the products time to absorb into your skin before beginning the next step. This will allow the products to work, as opposed to just layering products on top of one another. 

Ready to Rock Your Routine?

Skincare is a very personalized part of your health and hygiene. It can be tricky to perfect what truly works best for you. Luckily, your skincare routine can be adjusted to fit your needs.

When you start any basic skincare steps, remember to do a skin test when working with new products. This will help you avoid any allergic reactions.

If you found this skincare guide helpful, be sure to check out the rest of the site for more lifestyle tips!