Sorting Out Electrical Usage Mess
So after last week’s post, we now know we have crazy high usage on our 4-fam common areas bill- seems to be about double or triple typical kWh. Since there is nothing out of the ordinary usage-wise, it must be that when work was done, some apartment connections must’ve been put onto the common area…
So after last week’s post, we now know we have crazy high usage on our 4-fam common areas bill- seems to be about double or triple typical kWh. Since there is nothing out of the ordinary usage-wise, it must be that when work was done, some apartment connections must’ve been put onto the common area lines.
Our question now is to ask if anyone has an electrician who might be able to help us sort this mess out and figure out what’s connected to what? This work must’ve been done by the previous owners, but now we want to sort it out so the billing is correct and we can figure out what’s using so much electricity.
Any recs?
how about start with shutting off the power to that meter and see what gets powered down?
The gizmo I know it to be called a “fox and hound” probably has another proper name. I gave a recommendation for WCK Electric who did this same work in my house. They’ve had other good recommendations here as well, that’s how I found them.
Talk to Paul Laidlow the owner
WCK
61 Utica Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11213-1335
(718) 778-0070
As an electrician you can investigate this yourself, first turn off all circuit breakers in all the units. DO NOT turn off any breakers that service the common areas, then check every outlet and light in every unit, if there is any electricity present in any of the units it is therefore being fed from the common panel. This will need to by corrected by an electrician.
I like Supercharged. there’s a gizmo you can get that locates where in a breaker box any switch or outlet is. You need 2 people – one to hold one part of the tool against the various outlets & one to search the box w/ the other part. it’s quite amazing & only about $25.
Another option is Ceriello, also licensed, insured and highly recommended: http://bit.ly/dvO9Mk
Can’t comment on your specific situation, but as an electrician in general I can highly highly recommend Henry Thaisz, Verrazano Electrical (http://www.verrazanoelectric.com/about-us). Really responsive, helpful, communicative, and just a nice guy. Licensed and insured, very farily priced. Give him a call.