High electric bill

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Barkleymut

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Our electric bill last month was about 20% higher (in usage) than it has ever been in February. I am looking to find out why and want some input. First off I am pretty sure it is not our heating system since the system has been running in a very normal manner.

The only culprit I can logically find is the hot water heater. It is a 2 element electric heater that is 11 years old. It seems to not provide the amount of hot water for as long as it used to leading me to think one of the elements has gone bad. Would only 1 element account for such a difference in electricity usage?

Any other items I should consider?
 
an electric heater is around 100% efficient. A single element should just need to impart the energy twice as long.

If there is a major film of built-up junk on it, the heat transfer may be poorer, but the heat has to go somewhere else then, and there arent many places for it to go.

IIRC on our last utility bill, it was stated that the average temp was 7 or 10 degrees lower this year compared to last. Do you have electric heat?
 
It would certainly be something to examine if it isn't performing. They make devices to monitor usage.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
an electric heater is around 100% efficient. A single element should just need to impart the energy twice as long.

If there is a major film of built-up junk on it, the heat transfer may be poorer, but the heat has to go somewhere else then, and there arent many places for it to go.

IIRC on our last utility bill, it was stated that the average temp was 7 or 10 degrees lower this year compared to last. Do you have electric heat?


+1

Consider that even without electric heat you likely have a circulator pump or blower if a furnace and that can make a substantial difference in electrical usage.
 
Our electric company here in Illinois shows how this year compares to last year on each months bill. They do that every month of the year. My house is all electric and my bills have increased a bit over last. According to my bills, Dec., Jan, and Feb have been several degrees colder than last year so the bills are recording more useage. You may want to consider that for your area.
 
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Yes, we have 2 heat pumps. One for upstairs and one for downstairs. I considered the colder temps, but I'm not sure that it was much colder than usual....Maybe it is the 10 and 13 year olds standing at the open fridge door for 45 seconds wondering what they are going to snack on.

I am going to examine the temperatures for the time frame that the bill is based on and see how much colder it really was.
 
Did someone leave a light(s) turned on where you don't see it like in the attic perhaps? Are the kids leaving computers on overnight?
 
Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
Yes, we have 2 heat pumps. One for upstairs and one for downstairs. I considered the colder temps, but I'm not sure that it was much colder than usual....Maybe it is the 10 and 13 year olds standing at the open fridge door for 45 seconds wondering what they are going to snack on.

I am going to examine the temperatures for the time frame that the bill is based on and see how much colder it really was.


IIRC for NJ last year, last month the average was 40, this year 33. That 7 degrees pulls a lot more heat from your home...
 
Originally Posted By: Boomer
Did someone leave a light(s) turned on where you don't see it like in the attic perhaps? Are the kids leaving computers on overnight?


One computer stays on pretty much non stop, but it has been like that for years. As for lights....lets just say I am a bit of a light Nazi
smile.gif
If you are not in the room that light better be off or else daddy gets a little mad.
 
Check the bill detail and make sure that you are actually using more kilowatt hours(units). Could be your rate per unit has gone up a lot. In MO electricity has gone up about 50% in the last five years.
 
Check your refrigerator. 3 years ago mine went bad, it didn't go out, but it apparaently was running a lot because it wasn't cooling properly. I noticed my bill climbing gradually starting in November of the prior year, but it was cold and I leave some outside lights on 24x7 in the winter so I assumed it was that. I finally noticed that the 'fridge was not working right (you mean milk isn't supposed to pour out chunky?), bought a replacement, and with that one change my bill dropped dramatically the following month.
 
As the war on coal in this nation continues and deepens it's going to get a lot worse for us all, "rates will necessarily skyrocket". The dude warned us, yet........
 
Its more than likely cooler temps. are causing your increase. Heat pumps become less and less effective as temps. drop, completely reliant on heat available from outside air, so your aux. heat or emerg. heat (electric heat) which I assume you have is coming on more often as well as more forced defrosts from your cold temps.- every defrost lights up the electric heat..
This is all assuming you have a conventional split heat pump system, if your using an underground loop or cooling tower its a little different senario.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
an electric heater is around 100% efficient. A single element should just need to impart the energy twice as long.

If there is a major film of built-up junk on it, the heat transfer may be poorer, but the heat has to go somewhere else then, and there arent many places for it to go.

IIRC on our last utility bill, it was stated that the average temp was 7 or 10 degrees lower this year compared to last. Do you have electric heat?


While it may take longer to recover, its always 100% efficient. Maybe the kids are getting into hour long showers?
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
an electric heater is around 100% efficient. A single element should just need to impart the energy twice as long.

If there is a major film of built-up junk on it, the heat transfer may be poorer, but the heat has to go somewhere else then, and there arent many places for it to go.

IIRC on our last utility bill, it was stated that the average temp was 7 or 10 degrees lower this year compared to last. Do you have electric heat?


While it may take longer to recover, its always 100% efficient. Maybe the kids are getting into hour long showers?


Or maybe you have a hot water leak somewhere that waste a lot of hot water. Or your water is a lot colder from the inlet.

Check your water bill (or if you are on a well your pump's counter if there's one) and see if you have significantly more water usage.
 
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