Oh My Got my Electric Bill Today (Portland: insurance, water heater)

[NCN]

We live in a similar size home with a garage attached, but not heated. This brings our home to about 1625 square feet. We have a heat pump also. Our electric bill was $128.00 and we keep our heat set on 72. You need to study about heat pumps. The problem may be that your heat is set so low. A heat pump works best when you use the heat pump during the day to pull the heat out of the air and hopefully don't have to use so much at night. When the temperature gets down so low that the heat pump cannot give you hot air and the electric furnace comes on is when you really start using electricity. I am wondering if you have a door or window open somewhere or if you have too many doors closed inside. According to what I have read, heat pumps operate more efficiently when the doors to most rooms are open. If you had furniture in your home, there would be something to hold onto the heat also. I think that once you move in you will be very happy with the heat pump. I personally would not have any other kind of heat if I could help it.

We used to have an electric furnace and our heating bill was about twice what it is for a heat pump. I personally liked baseboard heat better than the heat pump or the furnace, but it did not include the central air. With the baseboard heat, we had a control in each room. We could keep it warmer in the living areas and cooler in the bedrooms. You have to watch the heaters to make sure the children don't accidently leave something laying on them.

[LeeB]

Originally Posted by alleycat

Next question, Lee. Have you had a wood store or fireplace before? And have you bought firewood before?

Yes I have had wood burning stoves before. Yes I know that fire wood is expensive. But we love the wood stove heat. (somehow it's different) and should the power go out we would be with out any heat at all. With the wood stove we will have a heat source.

[LeeB]

Originally Posted by bran_smith

We have the same eletric company, and we live in a very small apt. not even close to 1000sq feet and out bill was in the low 100 range..and we keep it 72 in out place...I know their rates went up some..I dont think you bill should be that hight with it being 50 in there.. does it have a up stairs thermostat..if soo check it, they may be different....

There is no upstairs. However we had carpet installed and the installers may have turned up the stat and didn't turn it down after they were done. (I am having it checked out as I type this responce)

[LeeB]

Originally Posted by NCN

We live in a similar size home with a garage attached, but not heated. This brings our home to about 1625 square feet. We have a heat pump also. Our electric bill was $128.00 and we keep our heat set on 72. You need to study about heat pumps. The problem may be that your heat is set so low. A heat pump works best when you use the heat pump during the day to pull the heat out of the air and hopefully don't have to use so much at night. When the temperature gets down so low that the heat pump cannot give you hot air and the electric furnace comes on is when you really start using electricity. I am wondering if you have a door or window open somewhere or if you have too many doors closed inside. According to what I have read, heat pumps operate more efficiently when the doors to most rooms are open. If you had furniture in your home, there would be something to hold onto the heat also. I think that once you move in you will be very happy with the heat pump. I personally would not have any other kind of heat if I could help it.

We used to have an electric furnace and our heating bill was about twice what it is for a heat pump. I personally liked baseboard heat better than the heat pump or the furnace, but it did not include the central air. With the baseboard heat, we had a control in each room. We could keep it warmer in the living areas and cooler in the bedrooms. You have to watch the heaters to make sure the children don't accidently leave something laying on them.

Thanks so much for the input (I am going to read up on heat pumps). The house is empty right now and you may have a great point. I did when I left in Dec. close the house up and turned off the registers in the bedrooms along with closing the doors to those rooms.

I am learning more and more everyday and want to thank each and everyone of you for your inputs. We are more relaxed now about our move.

Anyone wanna help unload a truck on or about April 21st? hahaha....

[MontanaGuy]

There's been some interesting points in this thread. I started reading about wood stoves on the internet and the pellet stoves caught my interest. Apparently the pellets are made from waste products that would just end up in a land fill and they're easy to manufacture, they're not expensive, and they produce the lowest amount of pollution. A pellet stove is also easier to install than a regular wood stove. Modern wood stoves are very good too from what I've read and are nothing like the old fashioned models that were very inefficient. So let me ask those of you who use a wood stove, what type do you have and what kind of expenses are you looking at?
Also I have a few thoughts about heat pumps. Almost everyone uses a heat pump in the Phoenix area where I lived but they're rarely used in very cold climates like my home state of Montana. I suspect that Tennessee is mild enough that a heat pump can provide efficient heating and cooling but I suspect that it might be more efficient at cooling than heating in this particular climate. The highest bill I ever had in Phoenix was just $135 during the summer when it was at least 110 degrees everyday. In the winter it was maybe $85 so I'm paying alot more than I used to and I'd like to do something to reduce that cost. Thanks.

[alleycat]

I don't claim to an expert on wood stoves (or anything else for that matter), but the biggest problem I see with pellet stoves is they take electricity to run.

[LeeB]

Originally Posted by alleycat

I don't claim to an expert on wood stoves (or anything else for that matter), but the biggest problem I see with pellet stoves is they take electricity to run.

You are correct Pellet Stoves has to have electric to feed the pellets. It has been a long time since I had a wood stove. There are different sizes and models if you go to Tractor Supply they have a few wood stoves that I have been looking at.
Tractor Supply Company - Home

[Bones]

I see 2 problems with pellet stoves, need electric to run auger and blower, you "have" to buy the pellets. Wood stoves require no electric, and sometimes you can scrounge wood for free.... I've got wood from a farmer for free for next winter and starting on winter of 2009-2010. All I have to do is cut the logs that are in piles and split. The wildlife management area will let you cut dead or down trees for $5 a day.....
Wood is messy to handle in the house, but I have a pass-through storage that helps. Last winter I used 4 chords, looks like 3 1/2 this year.

[MontanaGuy]

Bones wrote:

I see 2 problems with pellet stoves, need electric to run auger and blower, you "have" to buy the pellets.

Thanks for the info. Since my last post I started looking for dealers that sold the pellets and so far didn't find any nearby. If you can't find the fuel you can't use the stove so you have a good point. As far as the blower is concerned doesn't that just spread out the heat? Anyway, that's an interesting bit of information about how you get your firewood. My problem with that is I have some pretty bad back problems and I don't know if I could go out and chop up my own firewood. I'm going to have to look into this a little more. Thanks.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by MontanaGuy

Bones wrote:

Thanks for the info. Since my last post I started looking for dealers that sold the pellets and so far didn't find any nearby. If you can't find the fuel you can't use the stove so you have a good point. As far as the blower is concerned doesn't that just spread out the heat? Anyway, that's an interesting bit of information about how you get your firewood. My problem with that is I have some pretty bad back problems and I don't know if I could go out and chop up my own firewood. I'm going to have to look into this a little more. Thanks.

The going rate for a chord of hardwood delivered here on the plateau cut, split and stacked is $120 - $150. You want hardwood to season at least a year and kept dry in fall and winter ( I use tarps)....
Keep in mind you have "NO" of the price of pellets. Not positive, but I think there is a blower to the firepot which has to be cleaned very often.