Well the plan is to use my tax return money to get a woodstove for the house finally. This harsh winter definitely drove home the need. First pic is of our electric usage compared to neighbors and what not. We are the blue line. This morning i was drinking coffee and getting ready for work. It was about 20° outside and my heat is set at 62° inside. I like it cold when I sleep. But sitting there I was pretty cold. Took a thermometer to several of the windows, all original (30 years). So obviously by these pics it would behoove me to replace all the windows (24) in the house. Double Kitchen window Bonus room window Sorry about the long post just feeling frustrated but this is life and its one day at a time. So this is wood related here is some spoons i carved from firewood
Is that wet spot on your bill from your tears? 21 windows here, single pane from 1985 install. Time for mine to go too.
Yea papadave. I have electric heat. My thermostat doesnt go above 68 and goes down to 62 at night. Still had a 400 dollar electric bill last month. Its only my wife and I, I do my part to turn off lights and electronics when not in use.
I think I'd just move or something. We've got electric stove/oven and dryer and man, are they ever hogs. Oh, and I don't know when our 22 windows were installed, but 18 of 'em are single pain with storms, and the other 5 just absolutely and completely define the term SUCK. How big's the house? Got a stove in mind? Nice spoons too.
I'm not to far away from you as the "crow" flies, and My highest electric bill has been $183.00. My whole house is electric but the heat hasn't been turned on in 30+ years. I blame $83.00 of that electric bill on my Daughter and her 30 minute steamer showers! when she's home on the weekends. Yes Buddy, you need a stove! Go to the flouresent bulbs in your lamps or L.E.D. , They are more expensive at first but pay down the road! It's not your lights so much as it is your refridge, Water heater, and close dryer. I work with two AC/R guys here in the CG and since I've pulled my refridge away fron the wall just 4" I have noticed a difference in the running times and slight change in my bill. You also need to keep the back area clean as best you can. I have three dopey dogs and the hair builds up quick! For the record, my neighbor two houses away from me, "all electric" had a $765.00 bill
I've had fairly good luck with the shrink window film. Helps keep the drafts down, and some of the cold. Sitting here noticing cold coming from the window behind me. The trim is probably covering a nice gap that didn't get insulated well. Pretty typical for this place.
Its 1900sqft or so. If i get an insert a osburn 2400 is the one and if its a free standing probably the nc30 with chopped legs so it will fit.
I'd get at least a 3 cu. ft stove. Unless your house is fairly tight (sounds like it may not be), anything less might be a disappointment if you're trying to heat the whole house.
Yeah, we've done the laundry hanging in the stove room trick. No basement. The elec. use is usually under 400 Kwh/month and would be less if I could get others to be a bit more aware of their habits.
I'd say that would be making excellent use of the tax return. For sure I know I could not live in a house with those temperatures. Don't mind it cool when sleeping but still like to get up to a warm house. Replacing that many windows can add up to a lot of dollars. I remember years ago when every fall I'd make "storm windows." It was a bit time consuming but still made a big difference in the comfort of the home. You might try replacing just a couple of them each year rather than doing the entire thing at once. On the other hand, please go to this link: http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/resources/primer-on-woodburning-by-backwoods-savage.6/ Click on the "Download Now" button and you'll get a pdf file. This can help you a lot. In addition, if you plan on burning wood next fall, you should have that wood already cut, split and stacked out where the wind can help to dry it. Be careful what kind of wood you get the first couple years until you can get yourself ahead on the wood supply. Good luck.
I get the same kind of graph and mine is always higher than the neighbors. They estimate our bills here a lot and I know a lot of my neighbors have propane or oil heat. My windows are junk as well, but u only just recently turned my heat breakers back on for the wife, so she doesn't have to fool with the stove in the morning when I work night shift.
