[skylergirl]

Ok, sorry for this silly question. I am currently running a GAS dryer. But I am debating changing over to an electric dryer.

The reason is that the cost of residential gas has really skyrocketed in the last couple years. For instance, I am looking at my DTE gas bill.

The statement says I used 8.4 CCF in the billing month of January.

8.4 CCF cost $186.95

On the same bill, it states that I used 8% LESS this year, than I did last year during the same billing cycle. Last year I used 9.2 CCF.

So I look through my Quicken to see what my bill was last year.

9.2 CCF cost $122.30

So I am using 8% LESS gas, but I am paying $64.65 MORE!!![-banghead]

So the breakdown is last year, 1 ccf = $13.29
This year, 1 ccf = $22.25

That is a 65% price increase.

----------------------------------------------

When I look at my electric bill. It has not changed as drastically.

This year 26.6 KWH = $76.43
Last year 26.1 KWH = $67.59

Or 1 KWH = $2.87 vs. $2.58 last year. For a difference of $0.29 or a 10% increase.
----------------------------------------------

So what I am trying to figure out is if it would behoove me to buy an ELECTRIC dryer versus keeping the current gas dryer. The gas dryer is older and will most likely need replacing sometime in the near future.

This house is not even 4 years old. So as far as energy efficient insulation, windows, furnace, water heater and what not, it has all that stuff.

It is rediculous to pay almost $300 in gas and electric for 2 people in a modest house.

So what else can I do to keep the gas use at bay???

 

[gpep419]

Sunny-just for comparision purposes-you've been to my home and can kinda gauge the size difference between the two-my average electric bill is roughly 300-400 monthly(this is highier in the summer pool,ponds, air,ect.)whereas my gas portion is between 100-200 for the winter months. Granted we have more bodies occupying our space but 90% of the house has fairly decent installation (blown in celluose(spelling?)energy efficeient furnance yadayada. As per switching to a electric dyrer versus the gas-I personnaly wouldn't-especially for 2 soon to be 3 peoples needs-whereas I wash and dry roughly 3-4 loads a day with my gas dryer you probably do the same on a weekly bais. I don't believe that the savings that your looking for on your gas bill would amount to very much if you changed to electric-But thats just my opinion and good luck with whatever you decide-

 

[PaintGuru]

I still believe gas is cheaper than electric in general, and to be honest I haven't noticed the change in prices much. You could always hang dry your laundry.

 

[reef120]

skylergirl,

I now exacly how you are feeling and it is ver frustrating everytime I get my DTE Bill.

Here are some tips that I will pass to you which helped bring my bill down..


1. Purchase a digital programable thermostat
2. Set your thermostat to a low setting of like 67-68 degree's at the times no one is home
This helps tons because instead of your furnace running 24/7 at the same temperature by
setting it at a low point the time you are at work this reduces the gas cunsumption from
your furnace.

3. Have your thermostat kick back on the temperature about 45 minutes before you arrive home
each day. So if you wake up at 600am have your thermostate kick on at 530am that way it
a confortable temperture when you wake up. If the last person leaving the home leaves at 730am
Have your thermostat kick back down to (67-68) at 730am. If you know the last person goes to bed
around a certain time let's say 1100pm then have the thermostat turn down to (67-68) at night
while asleep. The weekends you will have to adjust different times according to your best settings.

4. Change your furnace filter every 30 days and dont use the high end filters because they block too
much air flow.

5. Clean your dryer dust trap every time you dry closths. Restricting this causes the dryer to work
harder and use more gas.

6. When washing closths in your washer, try and use cold water instead of hot water. Most of the time
average washes will clean just as good as using warm/hot water. Only use Hot water washes if washing closths with stains.


Hope this helps..

 

[bstruebing]

Tell me about high bills. I live alone in an upper flat in the clem. My house was built in 1882 or something stupid like that. It has single pane windows, pretty much no insulation, and a furnace from the 50's in the freezing attic. January was 236 for gas. After my king size water bed being at 100 deg all winter to make up for the house being 68, my electric shot up to 120. Ouch, 1 person, 350$ for utilities, I feel your pain!!!

 

[Sylock]

Gas will be much cheaper than electric even if gas prices doubled from where they are. Gas is so much more efficient than electricity. Electricity is much more versatile though.

 

[Russ K]

electric dryers are too much to run stay with the gas one. DTE is electric where I am not gas I have semco energy which use to be consumer powers..

 

[Skippy_electrician]

I would also stick with gas, and like reef120 said the programable therm is a great way to save money, although his temp that he drops his to at night are my comfort temp lol buuuurrrrr.. I have had an electric dryer and gas and hands down gas IMO is far better and cheaper to run.

 

[Guest]

Im used to it now!

 

[skylergirl]

I already have the pragrammable therm. It goes down to 64 at night...burrr...but that is what electric blankets are for [D] During the day, it stays at 66, unless I'm feeling really chilled, then it gets bumped to 68-69. But most of the day is 66. I open the blinds to let the sun come in. Although it also blasts the tank in the mornings. I don't mind some of the fine green algae that grows on the glass. I just use the magnetic scraper and it becomes more food for the corals.

As for the furnace filter, we spent a huge wad of cash and upgraded to an electrostatic filter. It is very fancy. It does not seem to impede flow whatsoever. Whether it was worth the added expense is highly debateable though.

About clothes washing...last year, we bought one of the Whirlpool Duet HT washer. Holy cow you guys, this washer really rocks! My old washer which was middle of the road, high capacity was only about 3 years old ($400) before we wanted the new washer just cause "we wanted it."

I can put TWICE the load into the Duet that I could into the older washer. Also, it spins at about 1000rpms when drying. It sounds like helicopter hovering and the floor shakes! It's not in the basement. LOL!!!

But the clothes come out barely damp compared to the old washer which came out damp. Drying time is cut in HALF. I can fit a king sized comfortor in it EASILY. It only uses HALF the amount of detergent needed compared to the top loaders. Plus, I think our old washer used about 35 gallons of water per wash and this one uses something on the order 15 gallons per wash. But remember now, I can fit TWO loads worth of wash into one run time.

We wash ALOT of blankets. Dog blankets and our own to be exact. Three dogs with muddy feet all over our bed. I get to do ALOT of laundry! LOL

This washer is truely amazing and the energy conservation is tremendous! I HIGHLY recommend this washer to anybody looking for a new one. It is expensive and it is top of the line, but it will pay off in the long run.

So for now, I guess I'll stick with the gas dryer afterall.

 

[Russ K]

what also helps is a high efficiency hot water heater. I also have a recirculator on my my hot water heater. It runs constantly so there is an added cost, but there is a savings because whenever I use hot water it is there in about 5 seconds anywhere in the house. The saving of having to heat all the pipes up when I need hot water is pretty much saved by having the recirculator So pretty much a wash. I will insulate the hot water pipes next in order to cut some heat loss out. Maybe a insulation blanket for the hot water heater might also help, if they still have them.

 

[skylergirl]

I was told by the hot water heater installer that the insulation blankets on new units is a waste of money. Something about it doing more harm than good. I don't know? We had one on there, but recently took it off.

 

[Russ K]

I think I heard that also you might be correct, I have to check with my plumber friend.

 

[Specialk]

About 2 weeks or so I watched on the news that Consumers was raising the cost $45.00 and DTE offers Gas also they were going to raise it $25.00. You can call DTE and see if they offer Gas in your area.

Kaye

 

[wingsfan]

In my opinion all the utility companies are a big rip off they know you have to have thier product so they all raise the prices, you either live with it or suffer.

 

[ofblong]

quote

Originally posted by reef120

skylergirl,

I now exacly how you are feeling and it is ver frustrating everytime I get my DTE Bill.

Here are some tips that I will pass to you which helped bring my bill down..

1. Purchase a digital programable thermostat
2. Set your thermostat to a low setting of like 67-68 degree's at the times no one is home
This helps tons because instead of your furnace running 24/7 at the same temperature by
setting it at a low point the time you are at work this reduces the gas cunsumption from
your furnace.

3. Have your thermostat kick back on the temperature about 45 minutes before you arrive home
each day. So if you wake up at 600am have your thermostate kick on at 530am that way it
a confortable temperture when you wake up. If the last person leaving the home leaves at 730am
Have your thermostat kick back down to (67-68) at 730am. If you know the last person goes to bed
around a certain time let's say 1100pm then have the thermostat turn down to (67-68) at night
while asleep. The weekends you will have to adjust different times according to your best settings.

4. Change your furnace filter every 30 days and dont use the high end filters because they block too
much air flow.

5. Clean your dryer dust trap every time you dry closths. Restricting this causes the dryer to work
harder and use more gas.

6. When washing closths in your washer, try and use cold water instead of hot water. Most of the time
average washes will clean just as good as using warm/hot water. Only use Hot water washes if washing closths with stains.

Hope this helps..

</blockquote id="quote">

those are nice options but my problem is my wife dont have a job and lives at home so turning the heat down is not an option. my gas bill went from 150 to 220.

 

[Jimbob]

Wow... when we turn our heat UP, it is only to 67 or 68 degrees... anything hotter than that and it's too hot to do anything in the house. You know... I heard that some stores sell warmer clothes like sweatshirts and sweatpants that can be worn during the colder months to help keep a body warm. -) Of course, there are other ways of staying warm too! ;-) Truthfully, ours is set to go up to 67 during the day and it goes down to 61 at night.

 

[dupont24]

We had the same problem. The gas is with Consumers Powers $150-$200 in the winter, about $50 in the summer. I like to be warm when it's -1 degrees out there. Our electric is $75 or so in the winter but $180-$200 in the summer. Hal likes to be able to hang meat in the living room in the summer. (you can just about see your breath Brrrr!!)LOL His shop is hotter than hell in the summer, and he doesn't want to be hot when he comes home!

I finally got fed up and called both DTE & Con Pow. We got on the "budget plan". My gas is $75 a month and electric is $113 a month for 11 months. They adverage 12 months and thats what you pay. On the 12th month I either get a credit or have to pay the balance. For 2 years I've got a credit. The only catch is that if you have had any shut off notices, you may not qualify for the plan. You would have to call them to see.

I pay more on the off months but to me it's worth knowing how much you're paying every month and that its going to be the same amount. Makes it easier to budget.

Robin[-angel]

 

[tszetela]

Man you all like it cold!!
I keep mine around 80.
I have to wear shorts, but the wife and the cats like it!
And the gas part of our bill hit a high of $90 in the winter. (I don't want to talk about the electric, but it is less than when I had MH!!)

 

[Russ K]

61 one at night talk about shrinkage. I have it set at 66 when we're not home and 70 when we're there. It goes down to 68 at night. I was also planning on going on the budgeted payment plan. I get two really high gas bill in the winter 275 and two high electric in the summer about 275 as well. I probably would average 100/ mth for each. It definetly would help to know what it will be every month rather than guessing.