Winter heating cost 2012/2013

Xringer · 01-02-13, 05:44 PM

Man has it been chilly lately!

Today's Extremes
High Temperature 29.4°F 1:52pm
Low Temperature 7.9°F 5:08am
High Heat Index 29.4°F 1:52pm
Peak Wind Gust 21.0 mph 12:21pm

CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TODAY
Normal High 36°F
Normal Low 18°F
Record High 59°F 1979
Record Low -15°F 1968

During the last 18 hours, we have burned almost 27 kWh. (abt $4.30)
That's 1.5 kW continuously since midnight.
The way the temperature is dropping, we might burn 38 to 40 kWh by midnight.

And the forecast for tonight looks worse!
They are predicting 2°F just before the sun comes up..
Woburn Hourly Weather - AccuWeather Forecast for MA 01801

I'm dusting off the space heaters and hoping we won't need to resort to oil..
It seems like it's going to be at, or under the Sanyos minimum effective operating
range of about 8°F, between midnight tonight and 10AM Thursday.
That's a long time to be running on space heaters!

Xringer · 01-03-13, 11:03 AM

Yep, it got chilly this morning!

Today's Extremes
High Temperature 18.1°F 11:33am
Low Temperature 1.7°F 7:28am
High Heat Index 18.1°F 11:33am
Peak Wind Gust 13.0 mph 12:38am

CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TODAY
Normal High 36°F
Normal Low 17°F
Record High 62°F 2000
Record Low -1°F 1968

I was awake, watching the temperature drop, and the TED display to see how much power the Sanyos would use at lower temps.
Since midnight, we've burned 21.8 kWh. /12 hours=1.816 kWh each hour on ave.
Meaning each unit was using 908 watts on ave.

Amazingly, when it got down into the low single digits, the measured warm air output was still 80 to 100 deg F. The house stayed at 20C (68F) all night.
TED says the Peak power used last night was 3.47 kW. (/2 = 1.735 KW each Sanyo)
No back-up heat was needed..

Daox · 01-03-13, 11:12 AM

Are the Sanyos still more cost effective to run than the boiler despite their high energy usage on these cold days? Do you have a good way of compairing?

Xringer · 01-03-13, 12:41 PM

If you mean comparing to oil, that's not too hard.
Based on the last 10 days, the TED is projecting $139 (836 kWh) this cycle.
That would be about $4.63 (~28 kWh) per day, if it stays petty cold.
In Jan 2012, the Sanyos used 792 kWh (it was warmer) so TED's 836 kWh prediction might be pretty close.

With the improvements we've made (attic insulation & den window films),
I don't know how much oil would actually be used.
IIRC we used to burn about 6 gallons on a cold day.

If we burned 4 to 5 gallons a day during the coldest months,
the cost would be around $16 to $20 a day. $480 to $600 a month maybe.?.
That sounds like, what my some of my neighbors are paying for oil.
Their information might not be too accurate, since the oil man comes
around a lot more during the cold months.

The main problem with using forced hotwater baseboards, they heat un-used rooms.
With the Sanyos, we close the doors on those un-used rooms.
That's one small bedroom and my computer/hobby room (during sleep hours).
The Master bedroom door is also shut about 15 hours a day during the winter.
After supper, we'll crack that door 6", and let in some warm air..

When I come to bed around midnight, I open it all the way.

Daox · 01-04-13, 09:14 AM

Ah, so it really is THAT big of a difference. Nice!

01-02-13, 05:44 PM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Winter heating cost 2012/2013 Man has it been chilly lately! Today's Extremes High Temperature 29.4°F 1:52pm Low Temperature 7.9°F 5:08am High Heat Index 29.4°F 1:52pm Peak Wind Gust 21.0 mph 12:21pm CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TODAY Normal High 36°F Normal Low 18°F Record High 59°F 1979 Record Low -15°F 1968 During the last 18 hours, we have burned almost 27 kWh. (abt $4.30) That's 1.5 kW continuously since midnight. The way the temperature is dropping, we might burn 38 to 40 kWh by midnight. And the forecast for tonight looks worse! They are predicting 2°F just before the sun comes up.. Woburn Hourly Weather - AccuWeather Forecast for MA 01801 I'm dusting off the space heaters and hoping we won't need to resort to oil.. It seems like it's going to be at, or under the Sanyos minimum effective operating range of about 8°F, between midnight tonight and 10AM Thursday. That's a long time to be running on space heaters! Attached Thumbnails __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. Last edited by Xringer; 01-02-13 at 05:48 PM..

01-03-13, 11:03 AM	#2
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Yep, it got chilly this morning! Today's Extremes High Temperature 18.1°F 11:33am Low Temperature 1.7°F 7:28am High Heat Index 18.1°F 11:33am Peak Wind Gust 13.0 mph 12:38am CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TODAY Normal High 36°F Normal Low 17°F Record High 62°F 2000 Record Low -1°F 1968 I was awake, watching the temperature drop, and the TED display to see how much power the Sanyos would use at lower temps. Since midnight, we've burned 21.8 kWh. /12 hours=1.816 kWh each hour on ave. Meaning each unit was using 908 watts on ave. Amazingly, when it got down into the low single digits, the measured warm air output was still 80 to 100 deg F. The house stayed at 20C (68F) all night. TED says the Peak power used last night was 3.47 kW. (/2 = 1.735 KW each Sanyo) No back-up heat was needed.. Attached Thumbnails __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

01-03-13, 11:12 AM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Are the Sanyos still more cost effective to run than the boiler despite their high energy usage on these cold days? Do you have a good way of compairing? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-03-13, 12:41 PM	#4
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	If you mean comparing to oil, that's not too hard. Based on the last 10 days, the TED is projecting $139 (836 kWh) this cycle. That would be about $4.63 (~28 kWh) per day, if it stays petty cold. In Jan 2012, the Sanyos used 792 kWh (it was warmer) so TED's 836 kWh prediction might be pretty close. With the improvements we've made (attic insulation & den window films), I don't know how much oil would actually be used. IIRC we used to burn about 6 gallons on a cold day. If we burned 4 to 5 gallons a day during the coldest months, the cost would be around $16 to $20 a day. $480 to $600 a month maybe.?. That sounds like, what my some of my neighbors are paying for oil. Their information might not be too accurate, since the oil man comes around a lot more during the cold months. The main problem with using forced hotwater baseboards, they heat un-used rooms. With the Sanyos, we close the doors on those un-used rooms. That's one small bedroom and my computer/hobby room (during sleep hours). The Master bedroom door is also shut about 15 hours a day during the winter. After supper, we'll crack that door 6", and let in some warm air.. When I come to bed around midnight, I open it all the way. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

01-04-13, 09:14 AM	#5
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Ah, so it really is THAT big of a difference. Nice! __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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