We’re Dishing Out the Secret to Lower Energy Bills & More!
November is the perfect month to focus on how grateful all of us are for the good things in our lives. At Cornerstone Pros, we’re thankful for our customers who rely on us for all of their home service needs—from drain cleaning to home rewiring to heating or air conditioning repairs in Trinity, FL, and beyond!
To show our gratitude for you, we’re sharing some need-to-know tips for …
Carving Out Lower Energy Bills!
It’s great to host family and friends during Thanksgiving. But, good gravy, your wallet certainly takes a hit, doesn’t it? Having more people in your home increases the demand for electricity. And higher energy bills are the not-so-great part of being surrounded by the ones you love. Here are some simple ways you can offset energy usage to keep your bills from getting out of hand. Even if you’re not having a large crowd due to the pandemic, these tips can still save you money:
- Let your slow cooker do some of the work. Although slow cookers take longer to cook food than an oven, they use far less energy. When it comes to side dishes, opt for the slow cooker. But try to avoid taking a peek at your food while it’s cooking. Every time a slow cooker lid is lifted, the temperature inside of it drops 10 to 15 degrees, which can add up to 25 minutes to cooking time.
- Make the most out of your oven. Take a look at your side dishes. Can any be cooked at the same temperature as your turkey? If so, cook them simultaneously. This will cut down on the overall time your oven has to operate.
- Turn on your oven’s convection feature. This setting circulates heated air around your food. This allows you to decrease the required temperature and cut down on the cooking time, potentially reducing your energy use by 20 percent.
- Choose ceramic cookware. This material retains heat better than other types of cookware, which allows you to reduce your oven’s temperature by 25 degrees. Plus, it will continue cooking food after it’s been removed from the oven, allowing you to operate your oven for less time.
- Don’t forget the lid! Putting the lid on pots when cooking on the stovetop is essential. It helps food heat up faster and keeps it hotter for longer.
- Wait before you refrigerate! Allow leftovers to cool down before you put them in your fridge. But don’t leave the food out any longer than two hours! Doing so can cause mold and/or bacteria to grow!
Protecting the Ones You Love!
Of course, it’s important for your guests to leave Thanksgiving dinner with full stomachs and hearts. But, it’s crucial that you keep them safe while they’re under your roof, too. So, make sure you follow these electrical safety tips:
- Test your GFCI outlets in the kitchen.
- Test your smoke detector, changing its batteries or replacing it if necessary.
- Replace any electrical appliances with frayed or damaged cords.
- Make sure to avoid overloading electrical outlets when cooking with multiple appliances.
- Unplug unused appliances.
- Tuck away slack from any electrical cords so they’re not dangling from the countertop.
Want to make sure your home is as safe as can be? Cornerstone is here to help! We’re currently offering electrical home inspections for only $50! During your inspection, our certified electricians will check for aged circuits, faulty wiring and other electrical system hazards and ensure your electrical components are up-to-date!
Let’s Talk Turkey!
No matter what home-related problem you’re facing, our team is here to help! From electrical service to heating or AC maintenance, Tampa, FL, residents can count on us for all of their HVAC, electrical and plumbing needs. Call our pros at 813.995.7558 or fill out our online form today!