Electrical problem.. off topic

[The Dougster]

Okay folks... Let me explain... in the country, we have two houses. The main house is pretty big with all the electrical gizmo's one could want.. central air and heat, two water heaters... all electric utilities... we spend almost every weekend there. Average electric bill runs maybe $50-75 American dollars..

Second house is tiny, maybe 850-900 sq. feet. No central air or heat. This house is used by our deer hunters and is in use maybe one, sometimes two weekends a month. Nothing is running when vacant except the fridge. For the past few months, the electric bill for this house has been $130 plus or minus. Any guesses as to where I might start looking for a problem? We are calling the power company today to see if they can check the meter... beyond that, I don't have a clue. Help!

 

[kenstrac]

Check to see that your well pump is not running all the timer or cycling on and off,Is the fridge running allot it might be a bad defrost timer.

 

[kenmac]

unplug the fridge & see if the power meter still turns..

 

[billbill1]

Do not tell the power company how cheap electric rates are at your big house, that's where they will look into the problem and get your rates to go higher.

 

[Tig]

How many KWs are used? Is it an actual reading or is it an estimate, possibly based on the previous owners use.
Take a reading Friday night when you get there, Saturday night at the same time and again Sunday. Repeat the next weekend, this time turn the main breaker off before you leave. There should be no usage that week. See if the numbers tell a story about usage during the week or if they add up for the month.
Almost sounds like someone is living there during the week. I would expect a portable electric heater to cost about that much to run.

 

[MossRoad]

Do not tell the power company how cheap electric rates are at your big house, that's where they will look into the problem and get your rates to go higher.

That's what I was thinking!

 

[hr3]

What was your bill for this location before it went up.. and are the utilities overhead or underground???

 

[dave1949]

You are a long way from the border, so you probably aren't footing the bill for a drug cartel tunnel HVAC, lights, elevators, etc. But who knows?
Dave.

 

[SPIKER]

I have to live somewhere closer to work through the week

I might suspect the BIG house is having a problem meter, with all the STUFF the cost should be a LOT higher...

Mark

 

[The Dougster]

Some of you guys are too funny... I love it!

The power lines are all above ground... I checked the well last weekend and the pump seems to be operating as it should... first thing I suspected was the well pump. <sigh>

 

[techman]

Fridge could be going south. If it is frostfree, could be a problem with the timer for the defrost heaters.

Paul

 

[Steve C]

Okay folks... Let me explain... in the country, we have two houses. The main house is pretty big with all the electrical gizmo's one could want.. central air and heat, two water heaters... all electric utilities... we spend almost every weekend there. Average electric bill runs maybe $50-75 American dollars..

Second house is tiny, maybe 850-900 sq. feet. No central air or heat. This house is used by our deer hunters and is in use maybe one, sometimes two weekends a month. Nothing is running when vacant except the fridge. For the past few months, the electric bill for this house has been $130 plus or minus. Any guesses as to where I might start looking for a problem? We are calling the power company today to see if they can check the meter... beyond that, I don't have a clue. Help!

You have someone living there when nobody is around. They bring a couple electric heaters with them and take them away when they leave. When they hear you coming they take a hike out the back door.

 

[coobie]

Do not tell the power company how cheap electric rates are at your big house, that's where they will look into the problem and get your rates to go higher.

Thats funny !! Being a electric lineman for many years(33) that is what we do in a daily basis.GET REAL !! coobie

 

[coobie]

Some of you guys are too funny... I love it!

The power lines are all above ground... I checked the well last weekend and the pump seems to be operating as it should... first thing I suspected was the well pump. <sigh>

Dougster I agree,from my experience usally a high bill will be related to a bad breaker to a well pump.Good luck.coobie

 

[Steve C]

Dougster I agree,from my experience usally a high bill will be related to a bad breaker to a well pump.Good luck.coobie

if you have access to an infared camera or non contact instant reading thermometer, use it to investigate your breaker box. Many fire departments have equipment for looking for hot spots. Perhaps you could borrow it for a few minutes if you are in good terms with the local fire fighters.

 

[coobie]

if you have access to an infared camera or non contact instant reading thermometer, use it to investigate your breaker box. Many fire departments have equipment for looking for hot spots. Perhaps you could borrow it for a few minutes if you are in good terms with the local fire fighters.

We have our own heat dectors to check for bad connections.We also use a mega beast to check for bad connections.coobie

 

[Kfbeal]

Have someone watch the disk on electro-mechanical meter or the worm on a digital meter. Then start cutting breakers off until the meter slows down. When it does slow down a great deal, find out what's on that breaker. If it doesn't slow down, it's something ahead of those breakers, possibly the main?

Normally, we look at any meter around when we visit locations and write down readings for verification so I won't say don't tell them. That meter is the cash register of a electric utility.

Empty freezers will also cause high bills. Best to fill with water jugs to freeze and keep it cool. Bad breakers can cause heat and dissipate power also.

 

[geneP]

IF you have an electric water heater, check for a hot water leak

 

[The Dougster]

I really appreciate all the advice/suggestions... The only thing running when the hunters are not there is the fridge and the well pump.... I have checked the well pump to make certain it isn't cycling off and on and it seems to be operating right, which leaves the fridge and a possible problem with the meter... beginning this weekend we will be spending most of our time at the ranch until after New year's, which should give me plenty of time to check it out... Gotta say, I am puzzled.

 

[Kfbeal]

Make sure to read the meter to compare the reading to your bill. Like mentioned earlier, they may be estimating it, or reading it wrong.