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Dealing with high utilities costs in an apartment
Johnny Chopsocky
Scootaloo! We have to cook!Grillin' HaysenburgersRegistered User regular
Scootaloo! We have to cook!Grillin' HaysenburgersRegistered User regular
I live in a third-floor 2-bedroom apartment in Nebraska. Until last month, when it was nice enough outside that we could open the windows and it wouldn't turn into a sauna indoors, our average electric bill was around $60. However, when we turned the AC on last month, the bill jumped to $150. And then this month, it hit $180.
We have three computers, a refrigerator, a mini-fridge, 2 360s (only on when used), two TVs (only on when games are played), and a washer/drier unit. Both bedrooms have west-facing windows. And the thermostat has been set at 80 the entire time.
Is this an abnormal amount to pay for apartment electricity in the summer?
We have three computers, a refrigerator, a mini-fridge, 2 360s (only on when used), two TVs (only on when games are played), and a washer/drier unit. Both bedrooms have west-facing windows. And the thermostat has been set at 80 the entire time.
Is this an abnormal amount to pay for apartment electricity in the summer?
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As far as saving money:
- Put the computers on stand-by or off when not in use for prolonged period of time
- Lower the thermostats on the fridges if reasonable. Keep them full to maintain temperature.
- Reduce washing/drying to a minimum
I've seen several conflicting studies of "vampire energy". If you believe it, unplug the TV and the 360's when not in use.
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In fact, most evenings my roommate's room skyrockets to around 90 degrees while the air is running.
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Has the AC unit been checked out recently?
Do that, the apartment just did that and when I asked them for an energy audit they said to consult an online site for it because they charge to come out and look at it personally.
Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky
Don't use the dryer in the summer. In winter it will heat the place, offsetting some of the cost of using it, but during the summer you might as well hang your clothes to dry.
They said they checked it and cleaned it out, but I feel no difference. It still has poor airflow and took 2.5 hours to knock the temperature down to 78.
It's also an old unit, very box-like in stature. I've seen some newer units attached to other apartments and I'm wondering if I should just have them replace it with a newer one...
Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky
Is this the type of unit that sits in a hole in your wall, or is it a central air unit?
You want to set it to Med or High, and fairly Cold. When it's on Low, it kick on & off all the time, which doesn't help the motor or you. The air should be cold coming out of the unit.
Otherwise, fans blowing in the windows on the shady side of the apartment, and out the windows on the sunny side. Block off the parts of the windows the fans don't cover to improve airflow.
Also turn your computers off at night, that's like leaving the lights on all the time.
He may be lucky, but most apartments don't allow you to hang clothes (some because it's an "eyesore," but most for insurance reasons). I'd love to hang them, but using a dryer is necessary.
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In your case, though, if the only thing that changed was you had to put your AC on recently, I think you already know what the culprit is. Your AC unit sucks and uses a shitload of power.
I started doing that recently, but my roommate doesn't see the point.
Yeah, the more I talk to people who live in the same building as me, the more apparent it becomes that my AC is fucked. The guy in the two-bed 2 doors down from mine paid $100 last month for electricity, and he mentioned that he keeps his thermostat at 70.
Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky
- Turn off your computers when you're not using them. Would your rather pay $200/mo in electric bills or wait 15 seconds for your computer to turn on every time you need to use it?
- Check all the bulbs in your place to make sure they are low-watt. You don't need 100 watt light bulbs.
- Keep the A/C at a level where it is only 5-10 degrees colder inside than out. Cooling your apartment is more about creating a difference and air flow than it is making it an ice box. Most people keep their A/C cranked way too high, and it's not necessary at all.
Edit: Also, find out if you can go onto an equal billing plan. They charge you a bit more during the off months so that in the hotter months you'll be paying less. I keep my gas bill at $44/mo year round this way, even during the winter when the furnace is on 24/7.
Came in here to say this. It sucks paying more when you're not using the electricity, but a constant monthly cost is far preferable to a huge jump in your bill when you don't realize you're a power hog for a month.
we have central air here in the condo. 9 months out of the year, our bill in in the low $50s. 3 months its in the 300s. but we are enrolled in an averaging plan, where the bill stays the same every month, you just end up paying the extra during the winter. its a bit easier to manage, at least for me, as there are no sudden bills. if you have roommates it may be easier to split a bill like this.
Also, those little electric heating units you can use during the Winter? I had one that was barely bigger than a Gamecube and that little fucker sent our electric bill up $100 over a month. Don't bother with them.
Unless your mini-fridge is 15 years old, it's not using a whole lot. Also, those little space heaters? Not using much either, but they shouldn't be left on for extended amounts of time anyway.
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Not using much? Tell that to my $150 electricity bill. One of them. And it wasn't on all the time.
Hah, those two things are both huge energy hogs. Especially space heaters.
Seriously. That's like the point of space heaters.
I barely turn my lights on at all. and they are NEVER on when I am out
I am out of the house probably 10 or so hours a day
my computer is on almost all the time when I am home, but when I am asleep it is unplugged, as is my modem and monitor, etc
the only things that are plugged in all the time are my TV, my alarm clock, my phone charger, my lamp, my cable box, my other TV in the living room, my microwave, and my fridge
my AC runs constantly. I keep it at about 76ish, but it never seems to stop blowing cold air. Ever.
my bedroom window is poorly sealed and noisy from the outside traffic
and my front door has some spaces around it between the the door and the frame
my electric bill was 80 last month. I can't afford that every month
You need some caulk and weather stripping.
Our normal bill is around $150, and gets up to $250 in the winter -- with the thermostat set to 68F.