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A 25 cu ft refrigerator made in the last ten years consumes around 100 watts when the compressor is running, and runs the compressor at about a 50% duty cycle (on half the time). So you're talking less than 40kwh per month when operating normally, and only 40kwh more per month if something were wrong and the compressor ran all the time. So that cannot possibly be the cause of your extra 500kwh per month.
.1kw x 50% duty cycle x 24 hrs/day x 365 days/yr = 438kwh/yr, 438 kwh/yr * $0.11/kwh = $48 a year, which agrees with a prior post about the cost to run a refrigerator.
An extra 500kwh and high sensitivity to cold temperatures smacks of resistance electric heat. If your new HVAC system is actually a heat pump, you may (accidentally) be triggering the emergency heat strips.
OTOH, if you have a gas furnace, and no electrical resistance heat anywhere, I don't have an explanation. 500kwh extra a month is around 700watts, 24x7. Could be explained by three Sony Playstations, running a distributed computing program in the background.
Any compressor uses an immense amount of electricity compared to other items. The only other thing that uses so much power is something that gets hot like a waffle iron or toaster, but they are small. A fridge with the compressor running non stop could substantially increase your electric bill. It woudl be a surprised for it to cause a 150% in usage by itself. Are you doing any arc welding?
haha arc welding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nitram
OP have you looked out the window to see if there is a long cord running over to the neighbors yard...
Properly functioning modern refrigerators use less than $50 of electricity per YEAR. I'd be looking for a hot water leak, more laundry being processed, and degree day differences.
good points......
a couple of things i'm going to do now......turning down the water heater temp.....it's warm enough out.....(i turn it up and then back down every year....no change from last year).
good point about ' more laundry being processed". we just had twins and do laundry once a week as opposed to once every 3-4 weeks last year.....and i know that dryer sucks electricity like a freaking *&#%*& working at the *&$*&%$!
wow I have a new heat pump and my electric bill is on average. I have the heat at 80 and pay around 79.00
and gas is around 46.00 with there meter fee. however, I am in Florida which maybe is why.
I have a gas propane dryer as the gas here.
Twins will do it. Even more when they become teens.
If hot water is being used to sterilize, there is even MORE usage. Don't worry about that water temp wasting energy though. Unless you have a leak turning it down doesn't make a difference, and doctor bills are a LOT more expensive than $5 power for a heater.
twins and once a week laundry? you'll be doing a load or two every day.
Have you sorted out the HVAC aux heat issue you asked about in January?
Not sure what you mean......'load or two every day'?
yeah, the HVAC was checked and rechecked.....seemingly working find. Aux doesn't come on now that the temp outside is above 32....which is about right.
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