Energy bills (Fort Wayne: new house, heat pump, to buy)

[jclose]

We recently moved into a new house, all electric, with an "efficient" heat pump. So I'm wondering why on earth my February power bill was $400! I know it was extremely cold last month, but I am convinced the builder of our house screwed us along with Airtron who they contracted to install our heating/air system.

Is anyone else having problems with an energy bill possibly caused by CP morgan??

[Ronzou]

The most inefficient things builders can do is use junk insulation, or worse no insulation at all. Even the most efficient heaters can't do anything about the extra loss of cold from poor insulation, inefficient windows, doors etc.

The best thing you can do is when its cold again see if there are breezes coming from places. Like around your windows, doors, plugs. Etc. And if you have an attic make sure it has some kind of insulation in it as well.

[sweetana3]

What is your temperature setting, do you have high ceilings or vaulted ceilings or a lot of windows, do you monitor the cold coming from doors and windows and use good drapes, do you have drafts, are you trying to keep the second floor as warm as the first? Do you open the curtains on the sunny side of the house on warm days and keep them closed when it is dark and cold?

We have a fairly cheaply built single family home with 1400 sq feet above ground on two levels and a 700 sq foot finished basement. Gas heat, hot water and stove. Gas and electric total about $125 or so and are sometimes lower. Electric heat is expensive (but the rates are cheaper here than in TX or FL for which we should be thankful).

We have an 75,000 BTU furnace and a 10cer AC. Found out they were the cheapest ones they could get quality wise in 1997.

Temp is no more than 67 in winter when we are home and awake and the upstairs is much colder. House was poorly designed for heating. We have socks, blankets, afghans and would rather layer than increase the temperature.

We checked the attic to make sure the insulations was thick and fully covered all the areas. We check the windows regularily to make sure they are tight and not drafty. We have had to add extra weatherstripping around doors where we felt major drafts. We made sure the caulking was redone this year when we painted.

From what I have seen, these big houses everyone wants do not seem to be designed to be very energy efficient. Lots of walls and windows. A heating contractor installs what the builder requests and pays for. Electric heat in a cold climate needs to be supplemented which really really adds to the bill. Our bill from the gas company said the last month was twice as cold as the same month last year.

[domergurl]

My neighbors found out, after high heating bills for 5 years, that the builder put a heat vent in an unfinished area in the attic! They ended up finishing the room because, well, they were heating and cooling it anyway!

Production builders, like CP morgan, cut corners wherever they can. Especially around windows.

[Southside Shrek]

I know someone who bought a new home from a builder and then had sky high heating bills. it was discovered that the builder forgot to put any insulation into the attic.

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by domergurl

My neighbors found out, after high heating bills for 5 years, that the builder put a heat vent in an unfinished area in the attic! They ended up finishing the room because, well, they were heating and cooling it anyway!

Production builders, like CP morgan, cut corners wherever they can. Especially around windows.

and

Originally Posted by Southside Shrek

I know someone who bought a new home from a builder and then had sky high heating bills. it was discovered that the builder forgot to put any insulation into the attic.

Eeek

Glad we live in an older house!
At least we knew what we were in for, draftiness-wise.

Like sweetana3 we just keep the thermostat in check (do you have a programmable? We do 68 in the morning and evening, 62 when we are gone during the day, and 62 for sleeping) and layer layer layer. It's a darn fine excuse to buy more cashmere IMO!

[mbuszu]

Originally Posted by jclose

We recently moved into a new house, all electric, with an "efficient" heat pump. So I'm wondering why on earth my February power bill was $400! I know it was extremely cold last month, but I am convinced the builder of our house screwed us along with Airtron who they contracted to install our heating/air system.

Is anyone else having problems with an energy bill possibly caused by CP morgan??

Your house is under warrantee because it is new (assuming you mean brand new). I'd get it inspected, really well, now that you've experienced this problem. All the reasons/thoughts given in this thread thus far are potentially valid.

I've experienced first-hand the effect of a crooked builder in Fort Wayne Indiana (name rhymes with Mancia) who managed to put up a roof without felt under the shingles, a north facing wall without insulation and improper sheathing, and mounted windows and doors without proper methodology --- all to cut costs. A lot of other short-cuts were taken as well. Overall since you have a new house you can still act to have these things fixed without absorbing all the costs of repair yourself.