There might be a weird reason behind your skyrocketing monthly bills.
Credit: lex Yeung / Shutterstock.com Owning a home is great, except for the utility bills that come along with it. The average cost of gas and electricity in the U.S. is $206.22 per month, and if you're eager to pay less, you've probably done the obvious stuff—conserving your use, sealing (or replacing) your windows and doors, or even using your appliances at off-peak times. But if you've covered the basics and your bills still seem too high, it's time to dig deeper. Sometimes the reasons behind an unusually large utility bill aren't obvious at all, and have nothing to do with your behaviors or usage patterns. Here are six unexpected—but not entirely unlikely—causes for a higher bill. Your appliances are older If your electricity bill has been rising steadily, investigate the appliances in your home. The efficiency ratings on that sticker that came with your new furnace or water heater are for an appliance in brand-new condition. Unfortunately, appliances age pretty rapidly in a lot of ways—in just two years, for example, a refrigerator's electricity use can climb by 11%. That doesn't mean you need to replace your appliances every other year, but just because they're still working doesn't mean they're doing so efficiently. If your utility bills are getting fatter, consider the "useful" life of those appliances—as they get older, they will pull more energy to get the same job done. Refrigerators: Refrigerators typically last an average of 14 years, but the seals around the door will start to wear out after 8 years or so. As its efficiency falls it will pull more power to compensate, bloating your bills. Dishwashers: About 10 years. Washing Machines: About 10 years. Dryers: About 13 years. Microwaves: About 9 years. Ovens, Ranges, and Stoves: Gas models can operate efficiently for as long as 15 years, but electric models have a slightly shorter lifespan, about 13 years. Another consideration?…