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Michigan-Arizona

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21. What my brother did

Thu Mar 7, 2013, 10:28 PM

Mar 2013

My brother put a switch (like a light switch) on his electric hot water tank (on the wall, not on the tank). Hubby & I bought the place from him. We would turn it on for about 15 minutes before we wanted to shower or wash dishes. We maybe had it heating up water for 30 mins. a day. I loved it set up like that, only turn it on when you want to use it. It saved a ton off our bill.

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How the Freak is my electric bill $100.00 a month? [View all] diabeticman Mar 2013 OP

Yes it's your water heater. dkf Mar 2013 #1

and this is a new one. He says it is energy effecient. maybe I should have him lower the tempature diabeticman Mar 2013 #2

It's the water heater Aerows Mar 2013 #22

My parents got a solar water heater years ago and it makes a huge difference. dkf Mar 2013 #32

You can also try using an insulating blanket on it bhikkhu Mar 2013 #51

Isn't There A Way To Have It Checked Out? grilled onions Mar 2013 #3

I'd try the Electric Company Hekate Mar 2013 #37

i'd love to have a 100 buck electric bill arely staircase Mar 2013 #4

Me too TxDemChem Mar 2013 #14

ive had one as low as 135 this time of year arely staircase Mar 2013 #19

Me three Omaha Steve Mar 2013 #23

Same here. 840high Mar 2013 #40

I've never ever had a bill that low TorchTheWitch Mar 2013 #46

ya know? nt ecstatic Mar 2013 #41

A solar energy company told me that if our electric JDPriestly Mar 2013 #45

Do you know how to read an electric bill? oldhippie Mar 2013 #5

We never had electric water heater before or a dishwasher. diabeticman Mar 2013 #7

Air dry the dishes instead of letting the dishwasher dry them... Historic NY Mar 2013 #39

I have a portable dishwasher where I can turn that drying feature off, and we do that too. MADem Mar 2013 #53

ditch the dishwasher if it's just the two of you Skittles Mar 2013 #63

The useage seems to be more than at the old place. I'll be honest I don't understand the reading diabeticman Mar 2013 #10

I think there is your answer. oldhippie Mar 2013 #12

We lowered ours by turning the computers off when not in use nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #6

We only have the computer on when we are using it. Otherwise it is off. diabeticman Mar 2013 #13

You should be so lucky! Munificence Mar 2013 #8

$20 will get you a Kill-a-Watt meter that records energy usage. NYC_SKP Mar 2013 #9

our local library has kill-a-watts available for free, you check one out just like a book! unblock Mar 2013 #25

Fantastic, thanks! Funny thing-- Freepers resist energy efficiency programs.... NYC_SKP Mar 2013 #29

I would be happy to trade bills with you n/t doc03 Mar 2013 #11

I may sound like cry-baby BUT when my wife and I are on a tight budget and stuggling just to get by diabeticman Mar 2013 #17

All you can do is try to cut your KWHs. Get CFL bulbs, cut your water heater temperature doc03 Mar 2013 #24

First, remove the panels on your water heater Warpy Mar 2013 #15

you can put your water heater on a timer so it only heats the ThomThom Mar 2013 #16

Check your refrigerator, too. The old self-defrost models really draw a lot of power Hekate Mar 2013 #18

Mine was $205.00 two mos. ago...last month it was $160.00 Auntie Bush Mar 2013 #20

What my brother did Michigan-Arizona Mar 2013 #21

I'd have to ask the Landlord. diabeticman Mar 2013 #26

It must be all the hydroponics and grow lights in the garage. n/t Ian David Mar 2013 #27

No garage. diabeticman Mar 2013 #28

Do you have Gas too...if so what's the combined amount? pkdu Mar 2013 #30

Wish I knew what the combine would be. My wife has been calling the gas company demanding a diabeticman Mar 2013 #31

You really need both for a comparison...we have gas cooker and heating and pkdu Mar 2013 #48

If I had to use electirc in Jan/Feb I'd have $600+ electric bills. geckosfeet Mar 2013 #33

I'd love your bill and CokeMachine Mar 2013 #34

Electric clothes dryer? FarCenter Mar 2013 #35

Yeah BUT we had electric washer and dryer at the old place as well. diabeticman Mar 2013 #36

You should feel fortunate...we paid $410 last month and $370 this month. nt. OldDem2012 Mar 2013 #38

We lowered ours by putting a timer on the tsuki Mar 2013 #42

Can you shut off/turn on your water heater at will? blogslut Mar 2013 #43

You lucky dog. Mine is never less than $300 and sometimes up to The Second Stone Mar 2013 #44

Oh man! I feel small complaining about my bill. How do people live with such high bills? diabeticman Mar 2013 #47

Summer is tough. But I work in my home and need it cool The Second Stone Mar 2013 #54

If it is the water heater... moondust Mar 2013 #49

Lucky you: my last electric bill was $357.22. apocalypsehow Mar 2013 #50

I have a little holiday shack with a halfassed water heater--it is fairly new and in good condition. MADem Mar 2013 #52

Mine was $168 last month and that ohheckyeah Mar 2013 #55

I would be thrilled if my electric bill was $100 a month Blue_In_AK Mar 2013 #56

I think its the hot water heater Broken_Hero Mar 2013 #57

My water heater from the 1940's only makes about a $60 bill per month... JCMach1 Mar 2013 #58

Space heaters are guzzlers of electricity. David__77 Mar 2013 #59

TV's can be energy hogs Turbineguy Mar 2013 #60

Did you switch energy suppliers recently? PADemD Mar 2013 #61

Add your electric bill and gas bill from your old place together, TheManInTheMac Mar 2013 #62

Do you have a well? reteachinwi Mar 2013 #64