Do New Home Appliances Really Save Cash?
Posted by Tim Ryan on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 3:56pm.
Replacing your old appliances with new, Energy Star labeled appliances can save you bundles of cash over time for your up front investment. Certainly, the up front cost may seem like a steep investment at first, but when you consider all the added benefits you'll get from having new appliances, you'll soon find they practically pay for themselves.
Buy Now, Save Later
Looking for the Energy Star label can help you figure out which model will save you money in the long run. Some energy efficient models are more expensive up front, but the cost-savings in energy bills adds up quickly. Some people find that after only five or six years, the new appliances have paid for themselves in energy bills alone. Additionally, because these new appliances are built to last for 12 years or even longer, you'll get way more use out of them over time. In addition to energy savings, there are often added benefits, such as free delivery and installation, removal and disposal of your old appliances at no extra charge, and sales events that can boost your overall savings.
New Appliances Save Money and the Environment
The US Department of Energy reports that purchasing new appliances that bear the Energy Star label can help save 30% more in energy costs than by keeping and repairing the old appliances. A new refrigerator bearing the Energy Star label, for example, can result in savings over time due to the fact that some of these models use less energy to run than a 75 watt light bulb. Your refrigerator works 24 hours per day – so it's a great place to start saving. With new appliances that bear this label, you're not only saving money by reducing your energy consumption, you're saving the environment as well.
Why Replace Instead of Repair
Your appliances may be getting old, but a few repairs should straighten them out, right? Well, a repair might ensure your dishwasher stops making that strange grinding noise, but it's not going to make your dishwasher magically new, nor will it save your electric and water bills from rising. The older an appliance is, the less efficiently it will run – costing you money and energy.
The general rule is to repair something that is only five years old or younger, and replace anything older than that that doesn't bear the Energy Star label. Otherwise, you're just throwing money away on a repair that will prolong the inevitable, making you spend even more when you have to replace the appliance.
New home appliances can save you cash on all your utility bills – especially if you spend time researching different models to find the most energy efficient ones.
About The Author: Kevin Hughes is a Boise Idaho real estate agent servicing buyers and sellers in Idaho. If you’re looking for a great home in Idaho, you can visit Kevin’s website where you can search great cities like Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and Eagle.
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