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June 20, 2007
Summer Gas Bills
My gas bill for February and March was astronomical ($900+), but my April/May bill was $490!
Now that it's warm outside, the only things running on the gas meter at the moment are A) a viking gas range, B) a gas dryer, and C) a hot water heater.
Although we do like to cook occasionally and and we keep our clothes clean, I hardly think the 2 appliances could account for THAT much gas, which means the main culprit is probably the hot water heater.
What is average in summer months for you guys? Is a $250/month ($500 per 2-month bill) average for a 2 family house in the summertime?
And is there something I could/should be doing to decrease my consumption/increase my water heater's efficiency?
Thanks.
Comments
First of all, congratulations on the Viking range. Wow. What kind of microwave do you have?
Consider an on-demand water heater. When you turn the hot valve, it immediately fires up. Takes a few seconds, but might be worth it.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 21, 2007 10:27 AM
I have a 2700 sq ft. 2-fam and my gas bill is quite a bit lower for same periods. Is the bill based on a meter reading or an estimate from prior year when weather/owner may have been different?
Posted by: John at June 21, 2007 10:37 AM
OP here.
The viking range came with the house. It has huge burners and the oven gets really, really hot... that's why I mentioned the brand (ie: it's not a dinky little Kenmore). I just wish they had put in the Sub Zero fridge. No way I'm spending $6k on a fridge.
The gas bill is based on actual readings, not estimated. Based on the last 6 months of bills (Jan-May 30th), it's averaged about $270/month including both the summer and winter months.
What are your bills coming to on average?
Is it possible to install an on-demand water heater for the tenants' apartment (ie: ideally on their gas meter as well)? They like to take long showers it seems... and what sort of output do tankless heaters have - we're a 2 family w/ tenants occupying downstairs.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 21, 2007 10:56 AM
Do I take your last posting to mean that the tenant's gas is billed separately? If so, your gas bill is very high. Our gas meter is for the entire house.
I'm in a two family 4 story brownstone: in summer months, one gas stove, one gas cooktop, one gas dryer and one gas hot water heater (total of three bathrooms). Our April bill (Mar & April) was $400, but in the summer it drops to $100 max.
We have an insulation blanket wrapped around our 50 gal hot water heater, and a front loading washer, which uses far less water (less to heat). The Viking may be burning more gas than you realize. Does the tenant's shower have a water saver valve in the shower head? Hope this helps.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 21, 2007 11:09 AM
tenant's gas is for their stove only.
the main gas meter is for our unit (stove and dryer are our only gas appliances), heat and hot water for the house...
Posted by: Anonymous at June 21, 2007 11:20 AM
I think they replaced the water saver head I installed with their own shower head... I'm thinking of installing a ball valve on their water line anyway as they get all the water pressure and we experience extreme drops on the top floor when they're running their water.
I'm new to homeownership so I'm not too familiar with these things but do I need to flush the water heater or anything to increase efficiency? I can order an insulation blanket for the tank, but it still sounds really high to me.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 21, 2007 11:29 AM
My Feb/Mar bill was 1,250 and Apr/May 296 -- 4-storey semi-detached 2 unit. Feb/Mar was cold, and you may have been keeping the heat up in Apr/May. Your next bill should be abt. $100.
No way heavy cooking, drying or showering can change a $100 bill to $590.
Nothing to service in w/h unless you go to the xtreme trouble of checking the anode rod (nobody does it). Insulation blanket may save $10/month tops. Water saving head maybe less (if you take plenty of showers.) You inttall these to save water, not gas. Also to feel good.
Get rid of Viking, it's bad for global warming. And don't even think of getting a SubZero ;).
Posted by: cmu at June 21, 2007 3:26 PM
It was a chilly April, remember?
Ask Keyspan on-line for your billing history for the last two years(free overnight response). Check the heating-free summer months. That will give you good numbers.
Posted by: tom at June 21, 2007 3:29 PM
We have a four story (5 with finished basement) and live on the lower triplex (inc. basement) with two upper apartments. Both rental apartments have two adults living in them and we have three adults and two very young boys in ours. Like you our April/May bill was $409 but this was down from $438 the same period in '06 (usage dropped from 298 to 254 therms). Like you we have a gas stove, gas dryer, a boiler for the heating but we have two hotwater tanks. When one of the tenants moved out recently Keyspan came to change that meter and the installer told me that our gas meter was 'too small' for the amount of gas we were using and that as it was working overtime was moving too fast and probably giving incorrect readings. He changed it to a 10 PSIG one whereas the one for the apartment is only a 5PSIG one. I have no idea if this is what helped the reduction in usage but perhaps it's worth checking your meter and giving Keyspan a call?
ps. for the four winter months (November through February which was prior tp the change in meter) our gas bill was $2,240!
Posted by: Simon at June 23, 2007 9:51 AM
Your bill is crazy out of line and you should get that fixed-- but don't listen to the loser who says get rid of the Viking range! Cook hot, cook well, and invite me over for dinner!
Posted by: anon at June 24, 2007 1:40 AM
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