Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 32 of 33 of 3

Am I paying too much to heat water?
ShantiSeamstressing Advanced Beginner Member since 6/11/10 Posts: 1204	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/15/12 3:10 PM We've got an indirect hot water heater, (SuperStor) with one of those expansion tanks above the boiler. Our house is heated with wood. The oil we buy is exclusively for heating water - showers (6 people), dishwasher once a day, laundry (which isn't much hot, as my HE washer has a special cold setting, so I can often use cold or warm water). So, I buy about 375-400 gallons of oil/year, at about $1800. So that's $1800....just to heat water? Really? My boiler is 15 years old and in good shape, checked yearly, as good efficiency as it's going to get at 85%. My water tank is in good shape. No leaks, nothing like that. My furnace guy (I don't buy oil from him, so no conflict of interest) says what I'm paying is actually fine. But my plumber says to go electric, I'll save. And SuperStor's technician told me I likely might save by going electric. ? What think you?
Coconuts   Intermediate MI USA Member since 12/2/09 Posts: 1100	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/15/12 3:23 PM The energy graph thing for a 40 gallon electric water heater is $480-532, and that's for the cheapest model at Lowes, so I think you would save money, even with adding to your electrical system and buying the water heater.
Elona   Advanced CA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7401	Login to reply to this post In reply to ShantiSeamstressing << 1 member likes this. Date: 8/15/12 6:47 PM We live in an area with extremely hard water, and for decades I have used cold water for everything. Clothes and linens come out fine, and it does save bucks. Do you absolutely have to use hot for some reason?
diane s Intermediate OR USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 3886	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/15/12 8:08 PM In my area natural gas is less expensive than electricity. My furnace, hot water heater and dryer are on natural gas. My most expensive bill ever was $160.00 (for one month)and that's when there was a blizzard. In the summer I don't use heat and my bill this month was $21.00. My house has 2300 sq feet. I don't have an HE washer and warm is my favorite temp. I do have a newer gas hot water heater. I always use a dryer, and I don't have a clothesline. My previous house built in 1923 was heated with wood. I finally put in a gas furnace. It wasn't that expensive because they could use the existing duct work from the old wood furnace, and ran the heat upstairs through the old flu. The gas company piped the gas to the house for free, because I put in 3 gas appliances. (stove, furnace, dryer) -- Edited on 8/15/12 8:12 PM -- ------ My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.
Michelle T Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 4178	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/15/12 8:20 PM We used to live in a house that had wood heat. There were water pipes through the wood stove and water was preheated before going into the electric water heater. That saved quite a bit of money during heating season for heating water, is that ab option for you? ------ Proud parent of a Dwight International School Honour Roll Student
ShantiSeamstressing Advanced Beginner Member since 6/11/10 Posts: 1204	Login to reply to this post In reply to Coconuts << Like this post Date: 8/15/12 10:33 PM Quote: Coconuts The energy graph thing for a 40 gallon electric water heater is $480-532, and that's for the cheapest model at Lowes, so I think you would save money, even with adding to your electrical system and buying the water heater. Hhmmm, yes, that's what I'm beginning to think, too. My plumber said the same thing to me.
ShantiSeamstressing Advanced Beginner Member since 6/11/10 Posts: 1204	Login to reply to this post In reply to Elona << Like this post Date: 8/15/12 10:35 PM Quote: Elona We live in an area with extremely hard water, and for decades I have used cold water for everything. Clothes and linens come out fine, and it does save bucks. Do you absolutely have to use hot for some reason? Well, I don't really "have" to use it for anything except showers. And that's mostly what it's going to, is showers. That's why I thought that perhaps I was spending too much. But then again, like I mentioned, my furnace guy said it sounded okay. But I keep hearing better things about electric....
ShantiSeamstressing Advanced Beginner Member since 6/11/10 Posts: 1204	Login to reply to this post In reply to Michelle T << Like this post Date: 8/15/12 10:37 PM Quote: Michelle T We used to live in a house that had wood heat. There were water pipes through the wood stove and water was preheated before going into the electric water heater. That saved quite a bit of money during heating season for heating water, is that ab option for you? You know, that sounds fascinating. But in my case just at the moment, I wouldn't have the money to re-convert to that; plus, when it's hot, there's no way we could have the wood stove going to heat the water. We don't have lots of summer time (mostly June/July - Sept is our warm time of year), but when it is warm, it's hot and humid. But thanks for the tip, because I'll keep it in mind just in case!
ShantiSeamstressing Advanced Beginner Member since 6/11/10 Posts: 1204	Login to reply to this post In reply to diane s << Like this post Date: 8/15/12 10:38 PM Quote: diane s In my area natural gas is less expensive than electricity. I'll look into pricing around here! Thank you for the tip. I know a couple people who have natural gas (LP) for their gas stoves, so I will ask.
Vintage Joan Intermediate Member since 7/16/07 Posts: 9228	Login to reply to this post In reply to ShantiSeamstressing << Like this post Date: 8/16/12 0:11 AM Quote: Quote: diane s In my area natural gas is less expensive than electricity. Yes, gas appliances are normally quite a bit less expensive to operate. I have a gas water heater (rented), a gas stove, gas furnace, and a gas dryer (well, after almost 30 years it gave up the ghost on me, but I did have one). Running these things doesn't add much at all to your natural gas bill, but my hydro/electric bill is much less than most people's. I'm the only person living here, but still. -- Edited on 8/16/12 0:13 AM -- ------ my shield and my very great reward (Gen. 15:1) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ http://clearingclearing.weebly.com/

Go to Page: 1 of 32 of 33 of 3

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.