This Homeowner Horror Story about massive power bills was written by a guest contributor and HVAC educator, Brad Cooper. Thanks, Brad!
Over a decade ago, a young technician arrived at a beautiful farmhouse. As he walks in, the homeowner snatches the power bill off the counter and brings it over to show the tech it was over $550.
“You just installed this new unit six months ago, and now my light bill is outrageous!”
The technician went right into detective mode. He checked the normal suspects: heat strips and cleanliness of the blower and evaporator. To his surprise, everything checked out perfectly. He then checked the coil temperature and the temperature difference between the return and the supply. He figured out the BTUs and efficiency, and there were no problems there.
The tech inspected other parts of the house. He noticed that since the unit was installed, the homeowner had a pool installed and a circulating pump on the water heater.
After the tech explained his thoughts on the extra energy usage of the 3500 sq. ft house, the customer replied, “That is a lie. My friend worked for the electric company, and he says it is the air conditioning.”
A few days later, the old electric company worker came with an old electric meter and installed it directly on the A/C unit. During the heat of the summer, the A/C unit was using $130 for that month.
August Power Bill:
- Air conditioning unit $130
- Swimming pool pump $120
- Hot water circulating pump $70
- Multiple candle wax warmers $20
- Desk lamp (old 120W incandescent light) $70
- 30 year old deep freeze (wasn’t working properly) $35
- Light, fridge, everyday electrical usage $105
- Total Bill $550
On average, the air conditioning is half of the power bill during the hottest months without add-ons like circulating and pool pumps. Things that can save you money on your electric bill include:
- Keeping air filters replaced
- Changing incandescent light bulbs to LED
- Changing deep freezers and refrigerators with hot spots on the side of them
- Adding attic insulation up to R-40
- Considering swapping to a smart thermostat
- Considering smart plugs or smart strips
- Home Energy Assessment
- Sealing air leaks around doors and windows
- Sealing ductwork
Some local power companies have energy-efficient programs to help with power usage. Check your electric service provider’s website to learn about ways that you can save money on your power bill or possibly even earn bill credits to help keep massive power bills from cropping up. Your HVAC contractor, like Kalos Services, can also install a smart thermostat or look for issues with your ductwork.
