We just moved into a new house that is about 3000 square feet. Our old house (in the same city) is 2000 square feet. Both are about the same age, and both had gas-powered heater, water heater, and stove, but my gas bill at my new house (same gas company) is about 4 times the amount of my old house. What is wrong? Even in the winter, we paid about $50 a month at the old house, and now it's like $220. Please help!
2007-01-17 08:23:42 · 9 answers · asked by Tumtum 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The new house is half again bigger than the size of the old house, so that's probably the main cause. If it is a newly built house, it should have good insulation, tight windows and doors, and a new furnace, but you can check just to make sure. This sounds dumb, but also make sure all the doors and windows are closed tightly, it's possible there's one open somewhere. (Stranger things have happened at our house!)
If the "new" house is an older home, maybe you need more insulation, again check the doors and windows and also your attic if you have one. Another place to look is any exhaust fans, especially in the bathrooms. Older ones tend to leak heat. If there's snow on your roof right now, go outside and look to see where it's melted, that will tell you where you're losing heat.
You can also contact your gas company and ask about budgeting your bill over 12 months, so you have an even amount every month instead of having it shoot up during the heating season. The gas company may also do home inspections in your area to show you where you can improve your gas economy.
Good luck to you!
2007-01-17 08:36:33 · answer #1 · answered by mom of 2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insulation. There is probably not nearly enough to contain the heat. Your furnace and water heater are probable a lot less efficient than your old house. There are a lot of possibilities. The fact that the house is a lot bigger might also have something to do with it. You might also have old Windows and doors that aren't energy efficient.
2007-01-17 16:29:21 · answer #2 · answered by FRANKFUSS 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have an expert come to your home and inspect the insulation. Also, check your windows. You can check for "leaks" and feel around the trim for drafts. For now, the solution may be sealing them up with plastic until you're able to replace or repair the windows. If it's quite an older home, 20 years or older, it would save you on your bills in the long run, and also had much more value to your home at resale. It's a smart investment.
2007-01-17 17:14:20 · answer #3 · answered by Josie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
$50 a month to heat a 2000 square foot home sounds insanely cheap..that can't be right. Nat gas was very expensive last winter. $220 does not sound unreasonable at current rates, unless you live in a very mild climate.
2007-01-17 16:46:10 · answer #4 · answered by TB28 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are heating an extra 1000 foot of house. Also, your new house may not be as well insulated as the old one. Maybe the hot water heater has a leak.
2007-01-17 16:27:44 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. Goodkat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your house probably isn't as well insulated as the old one, or the efficiency of the new heater is not as good as the old one. The efficiency is how much gas goes into producing how many BTU s of heat.
2007-01-17 16:29:50 · answer #6 · answered by CASSONDRA D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Are the windows well sealed?
2. Close the doors to the upstair rooms.
3. Close the refridgerator door.
4. Listen to Howard more.
2007-01-17 17:12:13 · answer #7 · answered by DJFresh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your old bills were wrong, you were lucky.
$220 is the norm for your size home
should have stayed in your old home
Oh well
Good Luck and pay like everyone else
2007-01-17 16:27:24 · answer #8 · answered by Cher 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yikes...you can ask the utility company to come and check to make sure your meter is working right..but the other answers have their points too...
good luck
2007-01-17 16:32:33 · answer #9 · answered by darlin12009 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋