How to Lower Your Water, Gas & Electric Bills in Chicago — Winter & Summer Guide
· 9 min read · Right Away Plumbing and HVAC
In Chicago and the northwest suburbs, utility bills climb twice a year. In winter, your furnace or boiler runs for hours a day and your water heater works harder on cold incoming water. In summer, your air conditioner carries the load, and lawn watering pushes your water use up.
A small seasonal rise is normal. A sudden jump, or a bill much higher than last year in the same month, usually means something in your home is wasting water, gas or electricity. The good news: most of the causes are plumbing and HVAC problems a licensed technician can find and fix.
Below, our technicians at Right Away Plumbing & HVAC walk through each bill, what to check yourself, and when it's time to call a pro.
High water bill? Look for a hidden leak first
If your water bill spiked and your habits didn't change, a leak is the most likely cause. A running toilet alone can waste hundreds of gallons a day without you hearing it.
Check it yourself
- Meter test. Turn off every faucet and appliance. Write down the number on your water meter, wait 1–2 hours without using water, and check again. If it moved, you have a leak.
- Toilet dye test. Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Wait 15 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking.
- Listen and look. Check for dripping faucets, a hissing water heater relief valve, damp spots on walls or floors, and a sump pump that runs when it hasn't rained.
Winter water tips
- Insulate pipes in crawl spaces, garages and outside walls to prevent frozen and burst pipes.
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots before the first freeze.
- If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve and call us right away.
Summer water tips
- Check sprinklers and hose bibs for leaks after the winter freeze.
- Water the lawn early in the morning to cut evaporation.
- Test your sump pump before heavy summer storms.
When to call a plumber: the meter moves with everything off, you see water stains, or you hear water running inside the walls. Our technicians find hidden and underground leaks and fix them the same day when possible.
High gas bill in winter? Your furnace, boiler or water heater may be the cause
Whether you're on Peoples Gas in Chicago or Nicor Gas in the suburbs, winter is when gas bills hurt most. Heating is the biggest gas user in most homes, so a furnace or boiler that isn't running right shows up fast on your bill.
Common causes
- Dirty furnace filter. A clogged filter makes the furnace run longer to heat the house.
- No yearly tune-up. Dirty burners and worn parts waste gas and can create safety problems.
- Short cycling. A furnace that turns on and off every few minutes wastes fuel and wears out faster.
- Old or oversized boiler. Common in older Chicago homes and two-flats; steam and hot-water boilers lose efficiency as they age.
- Aging tank water heater. It keeps 40–50 gallons hot all day, even when nobody is home.
Winter gas-saving tips
- Change your furnace filter every 1–3 months during heating season.
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat and lower it a few degrees at night and when you're away.
- Seal drafts around windows and doors.
- Bleed radiators so they heat evenly.
Schedule a furnace or boiler tune-up before the first cold snap.
Consider a tankless water heater. A tankless unit heats water only when you use it, so it stops paying to keep a full tank hot. Our technicians are certified Navien installers, and we offer a tankless membership that protects your water heater for life and transfers to a new homeowner if you sell.
Gas safety note
If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company's emergency line. Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors on every floor.
High electric bill in summer? Check your air conditioner
For most Chicago-area homes on ComEd, the air conditioner is the biggest reason the electric bill jumps in July and August. An AC that's dirty, low on refrigerant or past its prime runs longer and pulls more power to keep you cool.
Common causes
- Dirty air filter or outdoor coil. The system works harder to move air and release heat.
- Low refrigerant. Usually a leak; the AC runs nonstop and still can't keep up.
- Leaky ductwork. Cool air escapes into the attic or walls before it reaches your rooms.
- Old system. A 15–20-year-old AC uses far more power than a modern high-efficiency unit or heat pump.
- Furnace blower running constantly. If your thermostat fan is set to ON instead of AUTO, the blower runs all day, all year.
Summer electric-saving tips
- Change your filter every 1–3 months while the AC is running.
- Keep 2 feet of clear space around the outdoor unit and rinse dirt off the coil.
- Set the thermostat a few degrees higher when you're away.
- Close blinds on sunny windows during the hottest part of the day.
Schedule an AC tune-up in spring, before the first heat wave.
Winter electric tip
If you have a heat pump, keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice so it doesn't fall back on costly backup heat.
Note: Right Away Plumbing & HVAC handles heating, cooling and plumbing. We don't do electrical work, so wiring or panel problems need a licensed electrician.
Quick checklists
Winter (October–March)
- Furnace or boiler tune-up
- New furnace filter
- Insulate exposed pipes
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots
- Test carbon monoxide detectors
- Flush the water heater
- Lower the thermostat at night
Summer (May–September)
- AC tune-up
- New air filter
- Clean around the outdoor unit
- Check sprinklers and hose bibs for leaks
- Test the sump pump
- Set the thermostat fan to AUTO
- Run the toilet dye test
Call us for inspection or call us for consulting.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my water bill so high all of a sudden?
The most common cause is a hidden leak, usually a running toilet, a dripping faucet or a leak under the floor. Do the meter test above; if the meter moves with all water off, call a plumber.
Can a running toilet really raise my water bill?
Yes. A worn flapper can leak hundreds of gallons a day without making noise. The fix is usually quick and inexpensive.
Why is my gas bill higher in winter?
Your furnace or boiler runs much longer when it's cold, and your water heater works harder. A big jump over last winter often means a dirty filter, a missed tune-up or an aging system.
Does a tankless water heater lower my gas bill?
It can. A tankless unit heats water only when you use it, so you stop paying to keep a tank hot around the clock.
Why is my electric bill so high in summer?
The air conditioner is usually the biggest user. A dirty filter or coil, low refrigerant or an old system makes it run longer and use more power.
How often should I service my furnace and AC?
Once a year each: the furnace or boiler in fall, the AC in spring.
Do you serve my area?
Yes. We serve Chicago and the suburbs.
Talk to Right Away
If your bill jumped and you can't find the cause, let a licensed technician find it for you. Right Away Plumbing & HVAC finds leaks, tunes up furnaces, boilers and air conditioners, and installs high-efficiency tankless water heaters across Chicago and the northwest suburbs.
Chicago: call 773-250-6060. Suburbs: call 847-550-3322.
You can read more about our plumbing services, check the communities we serve, or start with plumbing in Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Planning a remodel or weighing a big replacement? Our consulting service is built for that conversation.
Service areas for this work include Chicago and Des Plaines. Questions about your building? Use our contact page.