My Occasional How Much Was Your Utility Bill Thread

[Merilyn Member Find all posts View Profile Close Merilyn]

I have all electric and mine was 137. At little less than last month. My water was 34. I don't have sewer, live in the country. My bill has been so much lower since I moved from west TN to east TN. My bill in Memphis was around 400 during the winter and here it is around 250. My home is about 2000 sq ft.
Even during the summer with the pool running it isn't much more than 200, but the water is a bit higher with watering and pool water.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I just read an online piece about how to save on heating your house . . . insulation, window kits, space heaters, programmable thermostat, turning it down at night and when you're gone, etc. It had a comment feature and folks had posted about what they do.

I wanted to post . . . we have a leaky house, crappy insulation, no window kits, old-fashioned thermostat, keep it at 70 all day and night even when we're gone, and use space heaters . . . and seldom pay more then $150.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I wanted to post . . . we have a leaky house, crappy insulation, no window kits, old-fashioned thermostat, keep it at 70 all day and night even when we're gone, and use space heaters . . . and seldom pay more then $150.

My duplex was built 1924, no insulation, old style single pane windows on most areas and even the replacement windows are not worth much. Can't get renters to use a programmable thermostat, so it stays warm day and night (probably over 70). I pay heat on the rental property. This last month, it was over $170. For the same period, my home, built in 1993 with better windows and insulation had a gas bill of $33. November was warm. December has been cold. The duplex will probably use over $250 for heat and I will be around $50-75.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

How Much Was Your Utility Bill - For Past 12 Months - $2,775.

Our house is Total Electric - Has Central Air and Heat Pump

[JoAnn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoAnn]

I really dread getting this months electric bill (we are all electric too) with this cold weather we've been having

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Has anybody used those window kits? How hard are they to install? Do they help? Do you have to do absolutely every window in the house, or can you just do one room or one floor? Do you feel like you're living in a big ol' garbage bag? And in the spring, do you just rip the plastic off?

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I use them on my rental property (still for sale if anyone wants it). House was built in 1924 and has old wood windows that are drafty. When I lived in the house, I did what I could to stop the air movement. I found that putting up the shrink wrap system each fall really helped stop the air flow and make the rooms warmer. I did only the bedroom windows where it was the coldest and most drafty. I do not use them in my new(er) house. Built in 1993, the windows are much tighter and I don't believe the shrink wrap would be enough value to pay for itself.

The only consideration for installation is your window covering. If you have mini blinds that are inside the frame, figure out if you want them up, down, open, closed, cause that is the way they will stay until spring.

Install is to put the tape in place, remove the tape backing, spread the film across the window opening and then press the film to the tape. Hair dryer shrink the film and it is all done.

Removal is two part, the shrink wrap plastic and the tape on the window frame. Sometimes, you grab a corner and the tape and film comes off together. Otherwise, you grab plastic and then work on the tape. It does come off pretty nicely.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Thanks! I think I might try them in my kids' rooms. It's pretty darned breezy in there, and each room has only two windows. The house is old, but the windows aren't all that old.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

We have new windows, but the cold air still gets in because the window panes still conduct some cold air into the room. The plastic covering works well because it provides an extra barrier for the cold and reduces the cooling of the warmer room air. My mother has an all electric ranch home. Her electric bill is $600/month in the winter. She put thermal curtains on all the windows and that's helped somewhat.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I just paid our all-electric bill for 10/13-11/11 . . . $87.45.

I bet the next one will not be that low!

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

10/28 thru 11/29 Electric 37.15 (We have a 5.2KW Solar system helping there)
10/15 thru 11/15 Gas 23.92 (that one will be higher next month for sure)

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

10/28 thru 11/29 Electric 37.15 (We have a 5.2KW Solar system helping there)

10/15 thru 11/15 Gas 23.92 (that one will be higher next month for sure)

Interested in your solar system.

Do you have battery storage or is it just while the sun's shining?

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Just paid our electric bill for 2 months - electric only (have oil heat and hot water but have electric stove and dryer) - $182. This is the lowest I can remember in years, but I think it's because we have become empty nesters this year!

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Electric

October 7 to Oct 16
Oct 29 to Nov 5, 10
760 kWh - $ 103.73

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Interested in your solar system.

Do you have battery storage or is it just while the sun's shining?

We looked into solar panels and found out that our house is a poor candidate. You need a good clear southern exposure at roof level, plus (ideally) a large, gently sloped roof. Our roof is too steep and has too many little "pieces" to fit enough panels to justify the cost--it would take forever to break even.