Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

Posted: **Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:15 pm**

Ok I knew that 3 halides would put our electric bill some, and all the pumps would add up some, but is it normal for our bill to be $150 more this month than last year this time? Did anyone else go through this. I am to the point if the bill keeps climbing like this each month, we will have to change from halide to T5 right away or go all VHO, as well as condense our tanks.

Any sugestions are welcomed. I hate to see August and Septs amount.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:53 am**

Our bill did go up but it was only about $70 or so difference then last year. This is the only month this year that it has been that big of a jump. I think ours went up more this year because the AC can not keep up with the house (it is to small of a unit).

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:26 am**

My bill went up almost a hundred dollars this month but I am still about a hundred under last years bill. I blew in insullation and also put in attic fans. That saves us some money. I just got me some halides hooked up yestarday so I'm kinda wondering how much my bill is going to go up.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:34 am**

that much of a jump isn't the lights... we were getting hit about $50-60 for 4 x 250w MH's running 8 hours a day. Our electric bill went way up this past month due to the A/C running constantly... Jason's steps are on my list to do as well. Jason, how much did blowing extra insulation cost you, did you handle it yourself?

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 8:07 am**

I think it was around $100 dollars for my house. But my house is small. If you get the insulation from home depot they will let you get the machine for free. It takes two people and a good dust mask. It is a easy do it yourself project. I can really tell a difference on my power bill.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 8:11 am**

Thanks for the suggestion Snakeman, and please do let us know what kind of jump you have with your halides.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 8:26 am**

sweeeet thanks Jason, that's going on my to-doo list for sure. How deep did you have when you started, and when you finished?

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 8:44 am**

Ours went up ALOT with our 75 gallon, the AC ran all day long, and I am being literal. The AC in the old house would cut on at 9am and not turn back off until 7-8pm running constant. The insulation in the old house was packed down and the AC was not cooling that great if you ask me.

That is the reason we went with smaller tanks and no halides, I just cannot do it again. We also had a chiller at that time did not help.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:52 am**

Rates go up in the summer, and it's been hot as heck outside as well. Mine went up 100 last month also, but it's because the month before that the a/c had hardly been running at all.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:09 am**

I would like to blow insulation over our attic and plywood the entire area if we keep the house.

Does anyone know anything about vinyl siding ?? I have a small area in our bathroom that leaks every single time we have wind/rain ! If I someone could tell me what to do I will fix it myself, the builder is absolutely worthles.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:10 am**

I understand that the rates and temp have alot to do with it, but to go up 150 more than last year this time and it is less people in the house. Like I said I am really scared to see Aug 's bill

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:43 am**

Has your air been running lots Karen, maybe low on freon or something?
I know at our old house Our power was outrageous, because something was wrong with the A/C and it could not keep up anymore, just ran all the danged time.

I don't know the wattage or how many halides your running, but the electricity costs for just the halides is not usually that bad.

Probably already know this, but:
Watts x Hours used / 1000 = kwh
kwh * .07 = costs

This was the usage for my tank a while back:

Code: Select all

   	 Watts   Hours   Kwh   Costs/Day   Costs/Month 
Halides   750     10     7.5   0.45       13.5 
VHO       320     12    3.84   0.2304      6.912 
Pumps     120     24    2.88   0.1728      5.184 
Heater    300     1      0.3   0.018       0.54 

Total               $26.13 a month

I left some other power eaters out, but I figure mine is somewhere close to $30-$35 a month

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:00 am**

It is running constantly. I guess it is time to get someone out here to check it out and also blow that insulation in like Snakeman did. We have a heatpump system, and it is actually larger than the house needs, so you would think it wouldnt make a 300+ power bill for this size house.

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:29 am**

lets see...our powerbill history is as follows...i dont mind sharing heh
And yes we want to blow more insulation to try and help...

June 2005 2,505 $210.37
May 2005 1,797 $133.49
April 2005 1,836 $136.04
March 2005 1,585 $116.22
February 2005 1,821 $130.79
January 2005 2,943 $199.95
December 2004 2,294 $157.96
November 2004 2,303 $158.51
October 2004 2,459 $168.04
September 2004 3,246 $259.16
August 2004 3,119 $249.26
July 2004 3,206 $256.40
June 2004 3,248 $258.13

Posted: **Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:34 am**

Excellent Idea Deanna!! This is ours

Code: Select all

June 2005..........2,960........$247.41   
May 2005...........2,160........$156.74   
April 2005.........2,320........$167.05   
March 2005.........2,160........$151.69   
February 2005......3,280........$220.83   
January 2005.......2,960........$200.99   
December 2004......2,080........$144.95   
November 2004......2,080........$144.95   
October 2004.......3,200........$213.15   
September 2004.....1,200........$99.93   
August 2004........2,160........$174.63   
July 2004............640........$53.82

I wonder why our september's usages are so different.

Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

Electricity is killing us.

Electricity is killing us.