justme
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Post by justme on Jun 3, 2020 14:17:37 GMT -5
Geeze! Is it just because it's cooler where you guys are or do you just have higher electric bills? With my setting I'm still around $90 a month and that's with it being at like 81 when I'm not home! I don't want to know what it'd be like if I set it cooler. It depends on the price per kilowatt! Not all power/gas companies charge the same We have natural gas. But honestly I don’t care if mine may seem high. I’m going to be comfortable. I also admit I never change my temp when away from home, even when I worked full time or on vacation! I know, I am weird I have a fancy thermometer that shows me number of hours cooling and it definitely goes way up when I have it cooler. It's interesting enough to see the same month year over year how the hours cooling changes with the avg temp for the month. I'm not uncomfortable at the temps I keep it at - though I do keep my fan in my living room on like all the time. Made a decision to keep it slightly warmer but with fans on a while ago to save some money. Though now with working from home all the time my bill has been a lot higher without switching up my AC schedule. It probably won't last much longer though - my apt is now getting up to 81 during the day. It's ok under my fan but if I walk away from it it gets a little warm for my liking. If the bill is already around 90 with staying home I don't want to know what it'd be if I kept it at 75 during the day!!!
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flamingo
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Post by flamingo on Jun 3, 2020 14:26:13 GMT -5
I pay, on average, $100/month for electric. Which I guess is pretty reasonable. It's about the same as what we paid for electric when we lived in FL years ago. We have a gas fireplace, but everything else is electric. I don't know, it feels expensive given how small our place is, but everyone else tells me it's reasonable. So far, stay at home hasn't significantly increased my electric bill. But, we had a COLD spring, and I even with having to use the heat periodically into MAY, it hasn't been too bad. My water bill on the other hand.... yikes.
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MN-Investor
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Post by MN-Investor on Jun 3, 2020 15:30:25 GMT -5
I live in the Twin Cities and set my A/C at 74° and my furnace at 65°.
My furnace and A/C are about 40 years old.
We bought our house in 1980. I think the furnace and A/C were new at that point. The furnace's blower motor failed in Dec 2015. My sweetie was very handy and replaced it. We knew it was failing, so DH had done the research and had a new unit on hand.
The A/C was not cooling when I started it in the summer of 2018. DH had recently passed away, so a non-working A/C unit was very stressful. A repair man added two pounds of refrigerant ($250/pound!) and it's been working ever since. In Feb of last year I had the attic insulation re-done so my utility bills are a bit less. I had thought of replacing the furnace and A/C this year, but I'm not sure about that with the pandemic going on. My last 12 months of electricity + gas was $1,960, so about $163/month. That easily fits in my budget.
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jelloshots4all
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Post by jelloshots4all on Jun 3, 2020 16:20:16 GMT -5
I don't like AC. In the offices I have worked in it always felt like a meat locker all summer long.
I think mine is set at 75, and it's been in the 80s here. (midwest) My family room has windows on the south north and east side, so there is air flow.
I would turn it down a bit, but I've noticed my son playing video games with a blanket on and my daughter had a blanket too. So they haven't complained that it's too hot. I had my HVAC system replaced in 2015 so it' much more efficient.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Jun 3, 2020 16:45:02 GMT -5
I don't like AC. In the offices I have worked in it always felt like a meat locker all summer long. Back in March when I started the WFH thing - I was working in a north bedroom and it was a bit chilly for me... so I helped the economy by purchasing a heated throw blanket. Best. thing. ever. I plan on taking the throw with me to work (when I go back). I freeze year round at the office. We can't have space heaters. I would wear a jacket (and gloves) - I'm thinking the blissful heat of the throw blanket will solve my problem. FWIW: I had a snuggy blanket but it was a pain to put on and off. I'm thinking the throw will be better (and warmer).
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oped
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Post by oped on Jun 3, 2020 16:47:48 GMT -5
73-74... I sometimes drop it to kick on if the humidity is bad but the temp’s ok...
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jelloshots4all
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Post by jelloshots4all on Jun 3, 2020 17:50:27 GMT -5
I don't like AC. In the offices I have worked in it always felt like a meat locker all summer long. Back in March when I started the WFH thing - I was working in a north bedroom and it was a bit chilly for me... so I helped the economy by purchasing a heated throw blanket. Best. thing. ever. I plan on taking the throw with me to work (when I go back). I freeze year round at the office. We can't have space heaters. I would wear a jacket (and gloves) - I'm thinking the blissful heat of the throw blanket will solve my problem. FWIW: I had a snuggy blanket but it was a pain to put on and off. I'm thinking the throw will be better (and warmer). My last office had 4 big panes of glass so it was cold in the winter too. Luckily I had the thermostat in my office. This cocky 28 yrs old sales manager had the next office. Every morning I would crank up the heat as others were cold too (had jackets on and blankets on their laps). I truly tried to sweat him out LOL
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2020 18:16:58 GMT -5
Well, I just figured out why I was so lethargic despite swilling down 16 oz. of water with electrolyte powder after my bike ride. It was 94 outside and 87 in the house. Time to turn on the A/C. It's killing me. I can hear the unit running and it's the sound of money flying out the window. And yet.... how did I survive till age 22 without it? We never had it when I was a kid.
I just looked and my highest electric bill since DH died was $103. Before that, in this house, it was about $250 in the summer months and in our previous, larger house it could run over $300. DH's ongoing health issues meant that he tolerated only a narrow range of temps- otherwise he ended up with sweating or chills accompanied by itching.
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princessleia
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Post by princessleia on Jun 4, 2020 7:00:18 GMT -5
I live in the Twin Cities and set my A/C at 74° and my furnace at 65°.
My furnace and A/C are about 40 years old.
We bought our house in 1980. I think the furnace and A/C were new at that point. The furnace's blower motor failed in Dec 2015. My sweetie was very handy and replaced it. We knew it was failing, so DH had done the research and had a new unit on hand.
The A/C was not cooling when I started it in the summer of 2018. DH had recently passed away, so a non-working A/C unit was very stressful. A repair man added two pounds of refrigerant ($250/pound!) and it's been working ever since. In Feb of last year I had the attic insulation re-done so my utility bills are a bit less. I had thought of replacing the furnace and A/C this year, but I'm not sure about that with the pandemic going on. My last 12 months of electricity + gas was $1,960, so about $163/month. That easily fits in my budget. 40 years old AC & Furnace? That is amazing.
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princessleia
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Post by princessleia on Jun 4, 2020 7:05:44 GMT -5
Well, I just figured out why I was so lethargic despite swilling down 16 oz. of water with electrolyte powder after my bike ride. It was 94 outside and 87 in the house. Time to turn on the A/C. It's killing me. I can hear the unit running and it's the sound of money flying out the window. And yet.... how did I survive till age 22 without it? We never had it when I was a kid. I just looked and my highest electric bill since DH died was $103. Before that, in this house, it was about $250 in the summer months and in our previous, larger house it could run over $300. DH's ongoing health issues meant that he tolerated only a narrow range of temps- otherwise he ended up with sweating or chills accompanied by itching. Which state are you in? My gas utility company has a feature on their website that gives you an idea of your neighbors' usage compared to yours. Very interesting. I wish the electric company has it too.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Jun 4, 2020 7:31:39 GMT -5
My electric bill is on level billing. It averages about $90/mo year round and my natural gas bill is also on level billing. That one averages about $44/mo. Level billing is an easy way not to have to worry about the up and down in the monthly utility bills.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jun 4, 2020 7:37:32 GMT -5
See, I like having the feedback of the up and down of utility bills. It helps me to adjust usage/motivated me to cut back a little.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2020 7:44:05 GMT -5
Which state are you in? My gas utility company has a feature on their website that gives you an idea of your neighbors' usage compared to yours. Very interesting. I wish the electric company has it too. MO, near Kansas City- previous home was across the state line in KS. I get that comparison in my monthly bill, too. See, I like having the feedback of the up and down of utility bills. It helps me to adjust usage/motivated me to cut back a little. I agree. I've never liked any sort of payment plan that leveled out irregular costs- as costs increase they always "over-adjust" to pay the shortage and protect themselves against another shortage. (I've hated escrow accounts for this reason and don't have one.) When I have a month with low power usage it feels like money in my pocket and I can handle the steeper bills when I have to turn up the heat or the A/C.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Jun 4, 2020 7:44:44 GMT -5
I just got an email saying my electric bill is estimated to be $171 for last month. But add $25 for the outside light and sales tax probably another $20 or so.
After they worked on the furnace last year our bill went down about $30 a month winter and summer, still high. I run a dehumidifier in the basement year round.
We live in south western Indiana. I keep ours about 75 or 76 but if I'm canning or working in the house I crank it down till I'm done. We do have ceiling fans if needed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2020 7:48:41 GMT -5
Our electric company website is awesome. You can see your usage per day. I can log in today and look back and see a spike a few days ago and remember, "oh yeah, I did like 10 loads of laundry that day".
But, for the most part, I don't worry about electric or gas usage much. I grew up with no AC and practically a padlock on the thermostat for the furnace and I'm done with that. I'm going to be comfortable in my own home. It doesn't save me much to not be anyhow.
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MN-Investor
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Post by MN-Investor on Jun 4, 2020 10:50:16 GMT -5
I'm 67 years old, yet I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't had air conditioning. When I was growing up, my dad was a physician in a small Wisconsin town which meant he worked a lot of odd hours. My parents got a window unit A/C back in the first house I remember so that Dad could catch up on his sleep even during the heat of day. When my folks built a new house in 1959, it had central air.
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princessleia
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Post by princessleia on Jun 4, 2020 11:06:24 GMT -5
My electric bill is on level billing. It averages about $90/mo year round and my natural gas bill is also on level billing. That one averages about $44/mo. Level billing is an easy way not to have to worry about the up and down in the monthly utility bills. I thought about it but I decided not to go with it since my gas bill (heating) goes in opposite direction with electric (cooling) use, it kind of evens out. I love those months when I do not need to use the furnace and AC. It is $$ in my bank.
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princessleia
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Post by princessleia on Jun 4, 2020 11:16:25 GMT -5
I just got an email saying my electric bill is estimated to be $171 for last month. But add $25 for the outside light and sales tax probably another $20 or so. After they worked on the furnace last year our bill went down about $30 a month winter and summer, still high. I run a dehumidifier in the basement year round. We live in south western Indiana. I keep ours about 75 or 76 but if I'm canning or working in the house I crank it down till I'm done. We do have ceiling fans if needed. If your basement has access to your AC/furnace ductwork, open the vents in your basement so the AC and furnace can suck out the humidity. Dehumidifiers adds a lot to your electricity bill. I ran mine one month years ago and my electricity bill came to double of my hottest summer month ever. I literally thought somebody was stealing my electricity then. Since then, I stopped and my highest electric month for the summer is about $100 +/- $20.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jun 4, 2020 11:24:41 GMT -5
It depends on the price per kilowatt! Not all power/gas companies charge the same We have natural gas. But honestly I don’t care if mine may seem high. I’m going to be comfortable. I also admit I never change my temp when away from home, even when I worked full time or on vacation! I know, I am weird I have a fancy thermometer that shows me number of hours cooling and it definitely goes way up when I have it cooler. It's interesting enough to see the same month year over year how the hours cooling changes with the avg temp for the month. I'm not uncomfortable at the temps I keep it at - though I do keep my fan in my living room on like all the time. Made a decision to keep it slightly warmer but with fans on a while ago to save some money. Though now with working from home all the time my bill has been a lot higher without switching up my AC schedule. It probably won't last much longer though - my apt is now getting up to 81 during the day. It's ok under my fan but if I walk away from it it gets a little warm for my liking. If the bill is already around 90 with staying home I don't want to know what it'd be if I kept it at 75 during the day!!! My family would revolt if I kept the house at 81! we are melting when it's in the low 70s! But I keep it cool in the winter so that is what we are used to. I set the house to 68 and I'm pretty sure my daughter keeps her room even cooler. I can't handle being too warm so the cost savings just wouldn't be worth it to me. And my 21 year old, extremely skinny daughter is the same way...so it isn't that I got fluffier since I got older!
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MN-Investor
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Post by MN-Investor on Jun 4, 2020 11:35:54 GMT -5
The only way I'll ever do housework in the summer is if it's cool enough in the house. Having tabletop fans in the various rooms makes a world of difference too.
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justme
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Post by justme on Jun 4, 2020 11:41:39 GMT -5
I have a fancy thermometer that shows me number of hours cooling and it definitely goes way up when I have it cooler. It's interesting enough to see the same month year over year how the hours cooling changes with the avg temp for the month. I'm not uncomfortable at the temps I keep it at - though I do keep my fan in my living room on like all the time. Made a decision to keep it slightly warmer but with fans on a while ago to save some money. Though now with working from home all the time my bill has been a lot higher without switching up my AC schedule. It probably won't last much longer though - my apt is now getting up to 81 during the day. It's ok under my fan but if I walk away from it it gets a little warm for my liking. If the bill is already around 90 with staying home I don't want to know what it'd be if I kept it at 75 during the day!!! My family would revolt if I kept the house at 81! we are melting when it's in the low 70s! But I keep it cool in the winter so that is what we are used to. I set the house to 68 and I'm pretty sure my daughter keeps her room even cooler. I can't handle being too warm so the cost savings just wouldn't be worth it to me. And my 21 year old, extremely skinny daughter is the same way...so it isn't that I got fluffier since I got older! I bet I'd have to double my electric bill to keep it in the low 70s 24/7! 81 is still 10-15 degrees cooler than outside. Low 70s is more than 20 degrees less than the outside temp which is $$$.
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nidena
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Post by nidena on Jun 4, 2020 11:52:11 GMT -5
I'm in a second-floor apartment in an area of town that has sirens going all the time so I don't open the windows. I do open the sliding glass door but there's no airflow. My a/c is currently set at 79 and I sleep with a fan blowing on me.
And, after living on the East coast for more than a decade, I'm loving the lack of cost for my electric bill. $30/mo vs $85/mo is just fine by me. And I can't say that it's all due to living in a smaller space. The HVAC is 20+ years old.
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Jun 4, 2020 12:08:26 GMT -5
We heat and cool the basement too, not as warm or as cool up here. So we are talking 3600 sq ft, so that adds to it. It is set at 76 and is 75 in there. I freeze about ready to go take a nap and wrap up and get warm.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jun 4, 2020 12:46:41 GMT -5
The only way I'll ever do housework in the summer is if it's cool enough in the house. Having tabletop fans in the various rooms makes a world of difference too.
The only way I do housework if it's warm enough in the house. I keep my house on the slightly warmer side in the winter. Otherwise, I'd hide under the blankets 24/7.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jun 4, 2020 15:59:41 GMT -5
Ok, so it's 75 outside, ac is set at 75, and I just put a fleece hoodie on because I'm sitting at my desk and drinking cold water. That's the weirdness that is me.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jun 5, 2020 7:53:21 GMT -5
My family would revolt if I kept the house at 81! we are melting when it's in the low 70s! But I keep it cool in the winter so that is what we are used to. I set the house to 68 and I'm pretty sure my daughter keeps her room even cooler. I can't handle being too warm so the cost savings just wouldn't be worth it to me. And my 21 year old, extremely skinny daughter is the same way...so it isn't that I got fluffier since I got older! I bet I'd have to double my electric bill to keep it in the low 70s 24/7! 81 is still 10-15 degrees cooler than outside. Low 70s is more than 20 degrees less than the outside temp which is $$$. I could save money, I'm sure. But it's not worth being uncomfortable to me. We all have our splurges and apparently mine is electricity!lol
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2020 8:06:10 GMT -5
My worst electric bills are actually in the winter. Heating tanks of water for livestock when it's 20 below zero takes a lot of energy. My highest bill the past 12 months was $193 in January. June/July/August last year were $110/$124/$159 with the AC set around 70.
My bills are a little inflated though because I'm part of a coop and there is a $35 base charge every month that I'd have to pay even with no usage.
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