Members
Change Profile
Discussion
Topics
Last Day
Last Week
Tree View
Search Board
Keyword Search
By Date
Utilities
Contact
Administration
Documentation
Getting Started
Formatting
Troubleshooting
Program Credits
Coupons
Best Coupons
Freebie Newsletter!
Coupons & Free Stuff
|
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive December 2007: Heating costs
Just curious..for those of you that live where there is a winter, what is your average heating costs? We are in an older home and have discovered it is costing us close to $1000/mth! As many of you know, I've had issues with this move as it was and this certainly isn't making me feel any better about the situation.
$1000 a month!!! I can't imagine costs that high. We get both gas (heat, cooking, hot water) and electric from PECO, and this year my total is a little over $2,100. My highest gas charge this year was $295. Are you heating with oil? I know from my church's budget that the cost of heating oil was $1.65 a gallon last year and this winter we are starting at $3.00 a gallon, nearly double (which is pretty much what has happened with gas prices). I live in SE Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia, and our temperatures seldom go below freezing (32 Fahrenheit, and I think 0 Celsius. About 10-20 days of winter we get in the mid-teens Fahrenheit, which is maybe -5 to -8 Celsius. You'd be better off hearing from people in upstate New York or upper Michigan for a better comparison.
I think our worst one is probably is around 200 in US dollars. (198 Canadian dollars - yahoo currency convertor)
When we lived in Chicago, we had a home that was 12 yrs. old, and really needed new windows. Our bill was around 500.00-600.00 a month for November, December, January, and February..sometimes March. We did the yearly average thing, and we paid around 200.00-250.00 every month. It was terrible. Now that we live in Oklahoma our bill is much lower. I want to say our highest last year was around 250.00-300.00, but that is only for a month or two. Now, we do have a high electric bill also for 2-3 months. But, the highest we had last summer was 350.00. So, it still ends up being cheaper then in Chicago.
I live in Ontario, so you know that my winters can be -40. We have gas heating, and my equal billing has never hit $100/month in the 17 years we've lived in this home. We pay close somewhere around $300/month for our water and hydro. I know that oil heating is way more, so I'm guessing that's what you must have. That's crazy money!!
OMG!!!!!!! We live in Indiana where it's coooold in the winter. Our home is 32 years old and we bought a new furnace about 3 years ago. (gas) Before the new system, our absolute highest bill was around $175 in the very coldest month. Now it never is over $160, and that's usually only 1 month. Highest A/C bill is $160 and highest heat bill is $160. (It also get very HOT in Indiana!!)Our windows are less than 10 years old, and all new doors as well, for what it's worth.
We are on an equal payment plan to avoid the winter spikes. Gas heat/water is $90 every month, which comes to $1080 year. Electricity (which runs the furnace fan) $67 month every month. We're in the Pacific Northwest in an old house with old windows.
Wow, that is more than my HOUSE note! I can't imagine spending that kind of money!
I know! We are renting so we are limited to what we can do to the house. Yes, it is oil heat. We are only allowed to stay in this place until May 30 so we can't do an equal billing plan since we are not here all year.
Oh, I forgot to mention...yes it is an older home. I'm guessing about 80 years old. They did put new windows in last summer but it doesn't seem to be helping.
Big {{hugs}} Paula! I'm sorry that things aren't going so great and that you are feeling so bad.
((((Hugs for you Paula))))
{{{HUGS}}}
WOW! I can not imagine a heating bill that large! I am always looking to save money on the heating bill. Last year we splurged and purchased electric blankets for every bed (at about $50.00) per blanket) and we turn the heat down to about 60 at night. We also leave it on about 65-70 in the daytime when no one is home and it makes a BIG difference!
Gina, we only had it at 70 and it was still that bad.
Big hugs! Are you shopping around for the best oil prices? We paid $3.19 a gallon just the other day. We use about 300 gallons a month, less, more often than not.
Did you see the bill or is the landlord saying it's that much??? That's *way* too much. Did the last person who stayed there not pay the bill and it's been accrued? Did you call the company and maybe there's a typo??? Talk to the landlord and see if that's normal.
OMG!!! I cannot imagine!! The highest my electric bill has ever been is below $300, I've never had a water bill over $100, or a gas bill over $50.
That is crazy. We are now having to pay both oil and gas heat. Oil for my in-laws home and gas for ours. I have to keep the heat on over at their house or the pipes will freeze, but I am keeping it at 50 degrees Farenheit. I have 1/2 a tank of oil and to fill it is going to be about $700, but that would last months. Our gas bill is high, but not crazy. Like Heidi said, are you ordering and paying for the oil or are you getting a bill from the landlord?
There is a $319 bill from the landlord for the November 11th fill up. We didn't even know that had happened. But on Dec 5th we ordered it and the bill came directly from the oil company. It was almost $500. It is now December 24 and the gauge on the tank is reading just below a half a tank which will be another $500. So, for the 19 days between Dec 5 and now it will be another $500!
Just spoke to the oil company to check on last years heating costs. The people that were here last year were paying $700/mth (based on the oil cost for this year). However, I'm assuming they were probably working and had it turned off during the day. We have it set at 60F all the time now so we will probably get it down to $700 but that is still too much.
Paula, This is a bump in the road... I have you in my thoughts daily that you can find peace. I can feel for you, I know the frustrations of a major change. I have been down that road many times... (((HUGS PAULA))) I hope you are able to find that peace and a nice warm place to live..
{{{Paula}}}} I am so sorry that things aren't working out for you in your new place!! I am sure the holidays, and added stress that brings, are making it worse. Hang in there. I know easier said then done. It really does sound like a lot of money. I don't know any thing about oil heat though. Do you have a furnace that may not be working properly?
Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers Bobbie and Debbie..and everyone else. I know there are people much worse off than me but sometimes that is hard to remember. We have savings and could cover the cost of the heat this year but those savings are the profit from the sale of our home and are meant to be for a down payment at some time.
Paula, maybe you should have it checked out anyway??
I agree, that is pretty high. can you find air leaks?? Maybe you can address them, blankets and such to cover up places you know are leaking. I might have the landlord have the furnace checked also.
(((Paula)))
We just got a gas bill and it was $187 dollars, for natural gas forced-air heat.
A home that old probably has zero insulation. Not much you can do since you are renting. Sorry this is not working out for you.
|
