Should I Upgrade My Appliances?

Upgrading your appliances can be costly but what you may not realize is that updating your home will offer several benefits.  Upgrading equates to a better-looking household, being more eco-friendly to the planet, but also having more convenience. Upgrades may save you headaches and repairs in the long run, as well as money.

  1. What Appliances Use The Most Energy In Your Home

Out of the top ten energy users, the cooling and heating system (HVAC) leads by far with 47%. It is followed by water heaters, standing at 14%. Washer and dryer consumer about 13%. Although lightening depends on the type of lightbulbs, it takes about 12%. Refrigerator, electric oven, TV, DVD and cable box, dishwasher and computer are at the bottom of the list with single figures. To put it in dollar values, heating costs an average household about $662 per year whereas cooling takes approximately $394 out of your annual budget. Washer and dryer operate at about $143 per year and the refrigerators takes approximately $95 off your yearly budget.

  1. Benefits of Upgrading Your Appliances

Upgrading your appliances is bound to provide you with long-term benefits, as well as some immediate ones as the new features will make your house even more pleasant to live in.

They pay for themselves, and more

When renovating your bathroom with energy-efficient devices, research suggests that the return on investment is 102 percent. In other words, you’ll get back all the money that you invested in and even gain some more.

They lower your utility bill

Technology has advanced rapidly in the 21st century. Use it to to lower your Peco utility bill as any device that is not efficient means you are paying more than you have to. Those savings will eventually add up to more than what you will pay for the new appliance.

  1. Home Appliances Worth Upgrading

Most appliances have made a lot of energy-saving leaps over the years. Here are some of the most common upgrades which are definitely worth the cost.

AC

Air conditioners are well known to suck energy in the summer. Maintenance can help an older air conditioner, as well as replacing filters and cleaning, but it won’t keep the energy usage numbers as low as a modern one.

Refrigerator

Some refrigerators include video of the contents inside so when you’re at the grocery store, you can take a peek to see what are you out. Moreover, if your fridge was originally made before or in the 1990s, you could save up to $100-$200 a year by upgrading.

Washing machine

A washer/dryer system that connects to your smartphone allows you to turn it on from anywhere by pressing a single button. New models have become more efficient by switching to the front load clothes washer, which uses around 50 percent less water and 37 percent less energy. You could save up to $135 a year on both water and electricity.

TakeawayIf your appliances die or the repair cost is more than 50 percent of buying a new one, getting in upgrade is a no brainer. The rule of thumb to follow when a device breaks is: If it’s more than halfway through its lifespan and will cost half as much to repair as to replace, just replace it.  But under any scenario, upgrading your appliances will save you money on your electricity bill while benefiting the planet. Adding smart technology is always a smart choice. Their features will make turn your house into a happier home and you will get addicted to them. This is why upgrading your appliances isn’t a splurge purchase as besides being good for your wallet, it will also enhance your everyday life.