How many Kilowatt Hours (kWh) do you use per day/month? Help me figure out why we're using 57.4... - Page 2

[Tjej]

I'd bet on the fridge too.  We had an old freezer and it was crazy how much it was costing us - I think we saved $20/month when we switched over to a newer one. 

Tjej

[rhiandmoi]

Originally Posted by CrunchyClark 

I have cleaned it all out. Will see if that helps. We only do a total of 12 dryer loads for 44 mins at most in a whole month. Maybe less.  I have friends who do that in a week and their bills are lower, so while it might contribute, it's got to be something else. So frustrated at this point!

Is it possible that the heating element is going out, so that it takes a lot more electricity to warm it up?

[Mommy2Austin]

I would suspect the old fridge first. Second thing I would check is the weather stripping around your outlier doors. You could be heating the porch if they aren't well sealed! You can also drop the temp on your water heater if its way up high. I know that made a nice difference on our bill and didn't effect our showers or laundry!

[Stacey247]

Do you have a well?  If so, can you hear it cycle?  Maybe you have a leak somewhere...

[bobandjess99]

Another vote for the fridge.  My sister HALVED her electric bill when she replaced  her old, old friedge with a newer one - not even a brand new energy star one, but just a somewhat newer one! 

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by Stacey247 

Do you have a well?  If so, can you hear it cycle?  Maybe you have a leak somewhere...

Ooo good one I didn't think of! I had that happen too!

[Momsteader]

I do have a well, but it was all inspected for the purchase. You would *think* they could see/tell something like that?  But, I will investigate it too! Good suggestion. I cannot hear it cycle as the pump house is outside w/ the well. But I can go and look/listen and see what I find.

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by CrunchyClark 

I do have a well, but it was all inspected for the purchase. You would *think* they could see/tell something like that?  But, I will investigate it too! Good suggestion. I cannot hear it cycle as the pump house is outside w/ the well. But I can go and look/listen and see what I find.

They'll inspect it and make sure it works. Beyond that they could care less. So as long as its functioning when they inspect it, they won't sit and listen to see how often it cycles.

[pitter_patter]

My guess is something wrong with the well pump, second would be the old fridge.  Old refrigerators are huge energy suckers!  Try the dollar bill trick to check the seals, close a dollar bill in the door then try to pull it out.  If it slips right out or is very easy to pull out the seals aren't good and you need a new fridge.

[CookiePie]

I agree that the fridge is likely a contributing factor to the high bill, but I don't think  that alone could cause the bill to be soo high!  I think there is another problem somewhere, weather it is the heating system, the well or something else?  Check out this link to a calculator that will help you figure out how much your fridge is using!     I hope you get to the bottom of this quickly! 

[cristeen]

Is it possible that they estimated usage in previous months and then came to read the meter (so that bill actually covers several months)? I know in some places meters are only read quarterly.

I took a look at our most recent bill, and we used 52 kwh in 32 days. That covers at least 6 loads laundry/week (3 dipes, 3 clothes), in the dryer (electric, about 5 yo). Fridge is about the same age. And a house full of electronic toys that do not get unplugged at night. Heat, water and cooking are gas, so not reflected in that number. But the old tv is on pretty much all day, as well as 2 Macs. Old dishwasher run 2-3x/wk. In order to get that high, you have something running pretty constantly, whether its the fridge or the well pump. Is the new water heater tank or tankless?

[cristeen]

Is it possible that they estimated usage in previous months and then came to read the meter (so that bill actually covers several months)? I know in some places meters are only read quarterly.

I took a look at our most recent bill, and we used 52 kwh in 32 days. That covers at least 6 loads laundry/week (3 dipes, 3 clothes), in the dryer (electric, about 5 yo). Fridge is about the same age. And a house full of electronic toys that do not get unplugged at night. Heat, water and cooking are gas, so not reflected in that number. But the old tv is on pretty much all day, as well as 2 Macs. Old dishwasher run 2-3x/wk. In order to get that high, you have something running pretty constantly, whether its the fridge or the well pump. Is the new water heater tank or tankless?

[Amanda Sumner]

Not at all helpful, but just in case it makes you feel better...

Our house was built in 1987.  It's 4000 sq feet (but half of that is a finished basement).  Half geothermal heat, half propane.  We generally ste the heat at 65 degrees during the day and 63 at night.  Had an energy audit and followed most of the suggestions.  And...we still used a whopping 2500 kw last month!

We also homeschool, and dh works frome home, so we have a lot of electronics going.

[iris777888]

I work for a utility, and if you call in and ask they will tell you the average use for a property. It's the same calculations they'd use for a budget bill. So if the house was occupied over the last year or two, you can see if it was also costing the previous occupent that much. That will help you determine if it's a larger problem, like lack of insulation, or something specific to your usage patterns.

I second what someone else said about estimated billing. This is a common reason for high bills. If for some reason the utility can't get to your meter, including something their fault, like a meter reader shortage!, they'll estimate. How many months in a row they can do this depends on the laws in your state. You could definitely call and ask if your bill was estimated.

The old fridge will make a significant difference, sometimes up to $100 a month or so, but that certainly doesn't account for all the extra you're seeing.

Also second what someone said about energy vampires. Some really common ones are chargers, along with TVs and other things that maintain indicator lights of clocks. Some TVs don't really go to sleep even when you turn them off, just keep running at reduced power so they're warmed up whenever you're ready to turn it back on!

When it comes to measuring particular appliances, an energy monitor is deifnitely the way to determine precisely where problem appliances lie. Sometimes a utility will have them to borrow, and local libraries sometimes do too. Definitely worth checking before buying one.

Also check to see if your utility offers free energy audits. Many do, and sometimes they even provide free supplies, like weatherizing kits, CFLs, etc.

[Momsteader]

Thanks Iris. :)  I am very rural and my utility co is done doing audits for the year in my area :( They will start again in Oct and I can call then and get on the list (not now!). My 'vampires' are all on one strip at my desk and turned off each night.

I did buy a Kill-A-Watt and my fridge has been plugged into it for 4 days. It says it will use only $12.49 of energy a month...sooooo that's not my culprit. Really leaning towards this being water related, and am working on finding someone to inspect my pump.