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Posted by Art on November 5, 2005, 10:13 am
Here's the situation. I live in a house that normally has about a $180-200
a month electric bill during the summer heat. In September, when we shut
off the air, it dropped to about $130. October's bill came and it was $242!
Called the elctric company and they verified that yes, we had used that many
kwh. After discussing it the only thing the wife and me could figure out is
I was on the road alot during September so the wife had less laundry and
dishes to do. She also ate out more (electric range).
Here's my question. Can the increase in hot water cause a jump this
drastic? Also, our ice-maker in the fridge is making a funny sound (a
whirring motor sound) alot. Could a malfunctioning ice-maker cause the
jump?
If it's the hot water heater we are willing to get a new gas one (our house
is fitted for both gas and electric). Gas is cheaper than electric in our
area right now. But we don't want to get a new heater if it's something
else causing the jump.
Any opinions are welcome.
Art
"This is the earliest I've ever been late by." - Yogi Berra
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Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on November 5, 2005, 10:33 am
show/hide quoted text
> Here's my question. Can the increase in hot water cause a jump this
> drastic? Also, our ice-maker in the fridge is making a funny sound (a
> whirring motor sound) alot. Could a malfunctioning ice-maker cause the
> jump?
Seems like a lot for an icemaker motor as they are very small. OTOH, I
think they do have some sort of heater to release the ice and if it was
stuck on, the heater not only adds to the use, but so does the fridge
running more often.
Any water leaks?
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Posted by m Ransley on November 5, 2005, 11:42 am
Does your meter agree with the reading, ive had mine wrongly read to
200$. A new frige may only take 3-5$ a month old ones can cost 15+ a
month . Get a Kill-a-Watt meter and check your usage of everything.
Look into a gas water heater. My yearly electric is what you pay in a
month, there are many ways to save.
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Posted by udarrell on November 5, 2005, 10:41 am
Art wrote:
show/hide quoted text
>Here's the situation. I live in a house that normally has about a $180-200
>a month electric bill during the summer heat. In September, when we shut
>off the air, it dropped to about $130. October's bill came and it was $242!
>Called the elctric company and they verified that yes, we had used that many
>kwh. After discussing it the only thing the wife and me could figure out is
>I was on the road alot during September so the wife had less laundry and
>dishes to do. She also ate out more (electric range).
>Here's my question. Can the increase in hot water cause a jump this
>drastic? Also, our ice-maker in the fridge is making a funny sound (a
>whirring motor sound) alot. Could a malfunctioning ice-maker cause the
>jump?
>If it's the hot water heater we are willing to get a new gas one (our house
>is fitted for both gas and electric). Gas is cheaper than electric in our
>area right now. But we don't want to get a new heater if it's something
>else causing the jump.
>Any opinions are welcome.
>Art
>"This is the earliest I've ever been late by." - Yogi Berra
>
It could be something besides your hot water heater, but I suspect it!
The hot water heater thermostat(s) could be sticking on!
Normally the high temperature limit would trip and you would have to
reset it.
However, if you have low wattage heater elements, as I had, it will keep
heating which would run your bill sky high!
My tank was limed-up and the T-stats would not cycle off even on their
lowest settings!
Try setting the T-stats lower, if that won't work.
- udarrell - Darrell
--
Optimizing Air-Conditioner Efficiency
http://www.udarrell.com/air-conditioning-efficiency-btuhr-evaporator-coil.html
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Posted by Joseph Meehan on November 5, 2005, 10:49 am
Art wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> Here's the situation. I live in a house that normally has about a
> $180-200 a month electric bill during the summer heat. In September,
> when we shut off the air, it dropped to about $130. October's bill
> came and it was $242! Called the elctric company and they verified
> that yes, we had used that many kwh. After discussing it the only
> thing the wife and me could figure out is I was on the road alot
> during September so the wife had less laundry and dishes to do. She
> also ate out more (electric range).
> Here's my question. Can the increase in hot water cause a jump this
> drastic? Also, our ice-maker in the fridge is making a funny sound (a
> whirring motor sound) alot. Could a malfunctioning ice-maker cause
> the jump?
> If it's the hot water heater we are willing to get a new gas one (our
> house is fitted for both gas and electric). Gas is cheaper than
> electric in our area right now. But we don't want to get a new
> heater if it's something else causing the jump.
> Any opinions are welcome.
> Art
> "This is the earliest I've ever been late by." - Yogi Berra
There are a number of possible problems. I agree that the ice maker
heaters could have caused an increase. They would not only consume energy,
but cause the fridge to run more often. Water heater is less likely IMO.
I would also suggest another possibility. First you want to make sure
what time period the billing really covers. Reading to reading. You also
need to find out if they really read the meter each month, many estimate
between reads. Also a miss read one period will cause an offsetting
correction the next reading period. You next reading may be lower than
expected or the preceding period may have been lower than it should have
been and that was made up on the next reading.
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia duit
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> drastic? Also, our ice-maker in the fridge is making a funny sound (a
> whirring motor sound) alot. Could a malfunctioning ice-maker cause the
> jump?