Anyone have electric heat and gas water?

Question

I don't do the WARM program where you pay the same all year. Is it normal to have a gas bill as high as $150 in the winter and low as $30 in the summer when all you are using the gas for is the water heater? Why?

Answer 1

There are two things you should compare first, on your summer and winter bills..... volume of gas used, and the cost. I'm willing to bet you are getting charged considerably more for your gas in the winter, than during summer.

You did not say you were using any kind of radiant heat, or sub-floor heating system. So, that should not be a factor.

Another thing to look for on those bills.... A gas or water utility company will sometimes pass on an 'extra' charge for product that has leaked from their supply lines.... look for that.

One more item to look at... is each month's bill an actual reading? or an estimate? Some utility companies will only come out and read your meter every 2, or 3rd month.... and bill you for the difference, if they guess wrong that month they didnt read it.

Check those items first. Volume used, Amount charged, Surcharges, and are all months actual readings, or are some estimates.

There isnt a whole lot you can do about the cost of the gas going up in winter... it does that everywhere. If they are only estimating your amount used some months, though, you can actually read your meter yourself, and send it in to the utility for a more accurate billing period. If you are getting hit with high surcharges, or a lot of them... start writing! As long as no one complains, the utility will continue this practice, to offset poor maintenance, sloppy business practices, etc.

Since the hot water heater is the ONLY thing you are using gas in, you have a limit of alternatives.

Insulate the tank. (You can even insulate the pipes)
Reduce the operating temperature of the tank. Even as little as 5 degrees can make a big difference in the amount of gas used.
Convert to an electric water heater. (You may actually qualify for a credit with your electric company if you do this)

I tend to shy away from the 'tankless' water heaters..... at least as far as supplying water to the whole house goes. Their operation is fairly simple and straightforward.... there is no tank of water, being kept at a constant, hot temperature. Instead, a sensor detects when you have called for hot water by turning on a tap, or valve, and it immediately fires up a burner, heating the water as it travels thru the tankless heater. The idea, is that you heat 'only the water you use'. Tankless water heaters are great for areas that are a long distance from a tank, or in a hard to reach area. But you won't spend hundreds... you will spend thousands of dollars on such units, especially if you are trying to run the 'whole house' off of one of these. If you do a lot of laundry, run a dishwasher, have a large family, taking multiple baths or showers, etc.... you would actually be better off with a tank.

Hope this helped.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Keep in mind that the water inside your water heater has to stay hot all day long which is about 130 degrees. The colder the air temperature is next to the water heater, the more gas it will require to maintain the hot water inside the unit.

You might want to consider spending several hundred dollars on one of those instant hot water units, which only use Gas when you use hot water!

You can also try getting an insulating cover for your hot water heater which will keep in the heat and use less energy!

Answer 3

Electric heat is so much more exspensive in the winter, especially when it gets really cold, because you electric heat has two stages and when it's really cold the second stage on that heat pump kicks on and uses a lot of electricity to heat your home. Also the heat coming off the furnace is around 85 degress and by the time it reaches the rooms it drops maybe 5-10 degress, and gas is around 140 degress running through the ducts and it drop 5-10 degrees by the time it reaches and heats the rooms to the desired temp.

Answer 4

That kind of fluctuation in the gas bill is almost always with gas heat. Unless you take 5 times the showers baths or do 5 times the wash in winter.

Answer 5

Normally gas

Answer 6

Actually that sounds cheap! Heating water is one of the most expensive things you can do. Take shorter showers. :-D Also get yourself one of those cheap, water saving nozzles. They are adjustable and really do help save $$$.