I have 1 house that I'm going to put on the market (empty for 3 mos.)and 1 house 35 mi. away I'm living in. Both very close in size. Old house has had new windows, more insulation in attic, new roof and new siding in the last 6-10 yrs. New house is 11 yrs. old. Thermostat is set at 60 at old house, 70 at new house. Hot water heater is turned off at old house. Refrigerator at old house is turned off. No one using washer and dryer, dishwasher or taking baths at old house. ALL are being used at new house. Old house has 4 40 watt lights off and on to look like lived in. Got my electric bill and old house used 858 units. New house used 499 units. I called the electric co. and they said because there are no BODIES there giving off heat probably has a lot to do with it. IF they think I believe that, I have some swamp land to sell them. What are your thoughts????
What is the source of heat in both houses? How old is the heating system in both houses?
With 2500 heated square feet in my house with gas heat, gas water heater, gas stove and a gas dryer I used 764 kWh last month in NC. That's with 4 people living in the house and I work from home.
Heating would be the main usage in your house. You could swap out he light bulbs for CFL and save a little bit, but not much. If everything you think is drawing power is off, how fast is Redi-Kilowatt running around the meter?This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sparky,
General Disclaimer
Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.
My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Dec 03, 2012, 03:14 PM
indycatCarol
The heater at the old house is a heat pump installed in 2010 with LP gas as back up. Temp. there is turned to 60. Heat here at new house is gas with temp set at 70, original heater, 11 yrs. old. Baths, washer and dryer and dishwasher are used here. Supposidly, someone from the elec. co. is coming out tomorrow to check the old house.
Originally posted by indycatCarol: The heater at the old house is a heat pump installed in 2010 with LP gas as back up. Temp. there is turned to 60. Heat here at new house is gas with temp set at 70, original heater, 11 yrs. old. Baths, washer and dryer and dishwasher are used here. Supposidly, someone from the elec. co. is coming out tomorrow to check the old house.
So the house with electric heat (a heat pump) has a higher electric bill than the house with a gas furnace, go figure. You're not comparing apples to apples. Heating and air conditioning is the largest use of energy in your home. Your current home is heated with gas the other with electricity.
General Disclaimer
Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.
My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Dec 03, 2012, 05:23 PM
conrad
Could your heat pump thermostat possibly be set on "emergency heat" rather than normal heat pump setting? That can be a costly mistake when the outdoor temps are not down in the low teens/single digits.
Dec 03, 2012, 05:25 PM
nettiejay
Why are you keeping old house thermostat set at 60? Set it as low as it goes (45 or so?). You only need enough heat to keep the pipes from freezing, right?
Dec 03, 2012, 06:42 PM
indycatCarol
I'm going there tomorrow, I'll turn it down to 55. The realtor told me people don't want to come into a "cold" house. No, it isn't set on emergency heat. I know what that looks like on the thermostat. I guess I just thought NOT having any of the other appliances used would offset the heat. So when does the propane kick in on the old house heat pump?
I agree with the realtor that viewing a cold house is unpleasant. In fact, in SoCA we were always advised that showing an unfurnished house is not a good idea; people many times cannot visualize what it will look like with furniture.
But given the stated conditions, I don't understand the difference in fuel usage.
Dec 03, 2012, 10:28 PM
Sparky
With your heat pump the propane is emergency back-up heat. That will kick in when the temperatures drop below about 35F or so. Since it is still fairly early in the heating season you're probably running on the heat pump which is electric heat most of the time.
Your new house has a gas furnace, so the only electricity used for heating your newer house is to run the blower motor to move the heated air through the ducts. That to my mind explains the difference in your electric bills. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning is the single largest consumer of energy in a house.
General Disclaimer
Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.
My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Dec 03, 2012, 11:00 PM
indycatCarol
Bob, luckily the old house is still "stage" furnished.
I guess I just thought it was "stupid" for the gas co. to say because there were no "bodies" there giving off heat was why I was using more electricity to heat the house. Makes me wonder why my late husband wanted the heat pump if it would have been cheaper to run gas. Good thing I moved I guess.
I guess I just thought it was "stupid" for the gas co. to say because there were no "bodies" there giving off heat was why I was using more electricity to heat the house.
I'm confused, your old house has an electric heat pump with propane back-up. What gas company is advising you on electricity usage? The LP gas company? The natural gas company from the looks of it has nothing to do with your other house. Unless you are in an extended period of sub-freezing temperatures the propane back-up isn't being used at the old house. Electricity is the only source of heat in that house. Your new house has gas heat, you're comparing apples to oranges in the energy use between the houses because you are not taking into account the gas bill for the newer, and occupied house. That said, the newer house will probably be cheaper to heat with gas than the older house with a heat pump occupied or not.
General Disclaimer
Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.
My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Dec 05, 2012, 08:29 AM
indycatCarol
Sorry, Sparky, I meant to say electric co. told me that. Sounds like I'll save some money on utilities by having moved, except now I have to pay a water bill and sewer bill because at the old house we had a well. LOL!