Got hit with December Nat Gas Bill! Survey

[cn]

Just got slapped with my gas bill!

I know every house is different and weather is different throughout the US, but I post this to see if other people in similar situation like me consumed twice CCF in Dec. compared with Nov. because of the cold weather in early December.

My furnaces have been tune up by tech and run fine, but need people (similar location) to confirm, especially those living on the same latitude. I did not change the Thermostat setting or do anything unusual. Actually out of town for 10 days in Dec. when Tstat was toned down to 62F all day.

I am kind of blaming mother nature but wonder if people living on the same weather belt (Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, MN, Colorado) can share their experience:

NATURAL GAS HISTORY
Aug 20 CCF
Sep 26 CCF
Oct 72 CCF
Nov 190 CCF
Dec 437 CCF (This is the Wow month!)

Thanks guys.

cn
Omaha NE

* 2-story home built 1991, well sealed and insulated
* 2 gas furnaces
* Programmable Tstat 69F when there are people, 62F when no people.
* 2 50 Gallon HW heaters (in Aug summer consumption about 20 CCF)
* Electric Range

[heatnac]

I'd double check your bill and make sure it is not a calculated bill. Alot of customers go through the same shock and then when I take a look at there bill it usually is a calculated amount. also try checking your current reading on your meter and see how it compares with the bill. Check your usage for last Dec. and Jan. and see how it compares with December.

[cn]

1. The old bills
2. Gas Meter, and yest My Dec. bill was outrageous.
(I am still blaming mother nature for the Dec. cold spells down to minus 5 deg F consistently in Nebraska)

[ct2]

you can also try complaining to your GAS COMPANY , only they can answer your questions

[beenthere]

Have you ever had a month in the past with the same HDD's that used about the same amount.

At first that sounds like alot, but without knowing the size of the house, or furnaces, that might not be bad for -5 conditions.

We have had customers calling up with same questio, due to the warm winter we have been having.

[dhvac]

if you use double + some then your neighbors should have used a lot more too ask a few people you know in the area and see if yours is abnormal

[deejoe]

The high consumption is more than likely due to ..."TOO MANY BURNER CYCLES PER HOUR.
Re-adjust your T-stat cycle setting and it may help to lower fuel consumption.

[Wirenut]

CN I understand your pain. I live in SE OH and our gas price is at 16.30/mcf. The cost of heating our home this very mild winter has almost doubled. I am employed so with some budget adjustments I will get by just fine. My mother and mother IN law both are elderly & live on fixed incomes. Both own older homes that are costly to heat. They stay there because those houses are their HOMES. I am very worried about them and the countless other's in the same boat. Mother in law actually called and was crying yesterday about her heating bill, she said that she isn't sure she will be able to pay it. Her home is old and does need a lot of work to make it more energy efficient. We have helped her with some repairs but there is only so much that can be done with the large old house. At this point if she can make it through this winter then she may need to move before next heating season! BTW I know how to read a gas meter and her bill appears to be correct.

[Wirenut]

CN I understand your pain. I live in SE OH and our gas price is at 16.30/mcf. The cost of heating our home this very mild winter has almost doubled. I am employed so with some budget adjustments I will get by just fine. My mother and mother IN law both are elderly & live on fixed incomes. Both own older homes that are costly to heat. They stay there because those houses are their HOMES. I am very worried about them and the countless other's in the same boat. Mother in law actually called and was crying yesterday about her heating bill, she said that she isn't sure she will be able to pay it. Her home is old and does need a lot of work to make it more energy efficient. We have helped her with some repairs but there is only so much that can be done with the large old house. At this point if she can make it through this winter then she may need to move before next heating season! BTW I know how to read a gas meter and her bill appears to be correct.

[cn]

Originally posted by deejoe
The high consumption is more than likely due to ..."TOO MANY BURNER CYCLES PER HOUR.
Re-adjust your T-stat cycle setting and it may help to lower fuel consumption.

I have Honeywell Thermostat CT3200 looking like this:

http://www.air-n-water.com/product/CT3200.html

I do not think the you can adjust # burners cycle/hour?
Am I wrong?


Thanks again.

cn

[sigma]

My gas bill for month of December was almost the same
as for November. This is because I started to use my
new heat pump. Now I am waiting for electric bill
to see if I am getting any return on my investment.
I figured that if total of my bills; gas and electric,
matches last year bills, I will be ahead.

[nord 64]

cn

About the cph. I had a Honeywell CT 3400 for the last 14 years. I was able to adjust the CPH slightly switching to the 90+ AFUE setting ( there was an adjustment screw in the back of the T-stat. I was able to get down to 4 CPH an hour but that was it. I switched to a VP8320 and you can choose any cph between 1-12. If the cph are the issue upgrading the T-stat might be a great investment.

[cn]

http://www.honeywellcannon.com/Desig...te%20Paper.pdf

Number of cycles/hour (whether it is 3,6,9, or 12 per hour) determines the temp swing-droop amplitude: see the article.

When you reduce the Number of cycles/hour, It is UNLIKELY to reduce gas consumption, which is my main focus (nat gas prices creeping up!)

(BTX "Lux" brand did not do too well in the test)

cn