Question – Steps to Take to Lower Your Electric Bill

How to Lower Your Electric Bill: Home Appliances and Electrical Consumption. Tracking Down High Energy that leads to Big Electric Bills © By: Dave Rongey

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Electric Usage and Utility Bills

Electrical Question: Should I get a new hot water heater since getting an electrician would probably cost me as much as a new water unit?

In November I noticed a jump in my power bill (from $31-42 to $89). Since I had already put up multiple lights for the holidays, I wasn’t that surprised (my bill had more than doubled)…however when my bill tripled for December (to $114), and then continued to be more than double I called Appalachian Power. My home is five years old and I have been in it since March. I am basing the increase on my bills from the year.
AEP stated that yes they saw the energy usage surge and so came out to check my meter box. They installed a new digital meter and said nothing was wrong at their end, it was probably my hot water heater. I had a cousin check my water heater and he said he THOUGHT it was OK. He is a teacher and isn’t too savvy either.
Now….I have changed nothing as far as appliances or usage is concerned other than getting a television, which I watch from 1-3 hours a day on most days. Other days it doesn’t run at all. Rarely I watch for longer than 3 hours on rainy weekends. I keep my heat at 55 in the winter and work 12 hour days. I have two mini night lights and one mini window candle. But I had those in March. Since I had NO heat or air on last month and it was still $88, I have guessed that it is not my Trane heating and cooling system.
Or should I just get a new hot water heater since getting an electrician would probably cost me as much as a new water unit? I can install the unit myself. I have done so in my last home twice over the years.
I had a problem with my refrigerator last April and had it repaired. The bills remained consistently low following the repair of the motor. The motor does seem to run a lot but then it always has, since I moved in. I wash one load of laundry every week with an extra load every other week.
Please give me any ideas and suggestions you may have…..I am not wealthy and like most Americans I live from paycheck to paycheck so a large financial outlay will be difficult. HELP!

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your Electrical Question.

How to Lower Your Electric Bill

Home Appliances and Electrical Consumption

Tracking Down High Energy that leads to Big Electric Bills

Have you had the refrigerator coils cleaned?
This will add to the consumption as well. How close is the refer to the wall(s). Refrigerators and freezers are known to be ignored, set up too high and run a lot. I’d check the coils and make sure they are clean.
Is the dryer electric? If so – is it venting ok?

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