Natural Gas use?

[JamMan23]

Sorry if this sort of question has been asked before, I've recently moved into my first house, and I'm curious if I'm using a "normal" amount of natural gas.

My last bill was for Nov 8 - Dec 8. I used 9 GJ of natural gas. This is a 1500 sqft home, keeping the inside temp. around 21C.

I have an electric water heater, so the furnace is the only thing using natural gas.

I realize electricity usage can vary wildly base on usage, so I won't get into that, but I would think that most people keep their home around 21-22C.

[benyl]

There are so many factors that no one can truly tell you what is normal.

What kind of insulation does your place have? Was it cold outside? Do you open the door and leave it open to vent the house? double or triple pane windows? How many windows? Vaulted ceilings? Are you vents open in the basement? Do you run your furnace fan all the time? Do you have an HRV?

I used 26GJ during the same period. Is that normal?

[kenny]

Enmax only lists average usage for water, which is 7 cubic meters per month. Natural gas usage (like electricity use) varies way too much to provide average or normal amounts. One household may have electric water heaters while others have gas which would change the usage patterns.

[thetransporter]

sometimes if they cant get a meter reading over the wireless they estimate
enmax always does this , in a short sense they get a free loan at your expense until meter is read and you get a credit..

[Tik-Tok]

9 GJ sounds pretty good to me, we used 26 in November :rofl:

[ExtraSlow]

I use 10-18 GJ a month all winter. less than 5 GJ/mo in the summer.

[raceman6135]

For Nov 13 to Dec 11, I used 10.6 GJ of natural gas. Eleven hundred square foot house, natural gas water heater, and since I work from home, I have the temperature set at 22C all day, every day, turning it down to 18C each night.

[Cos]

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[sputnik]

Originally posted by Cos
Yeah 9 seems decent. However I bet you'll come to hate your electric hot water tank. Neighbor just replaced his, saved $200 a month in the first month for electricity. He does have 2 kids though.


There is already a decent thread with a lot of us posting in it too for reference.

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?threadid=374771

I call BS on that figure.

My electric hot water tank is 4500W. You would be needing to run the thing at full out 24/7 to see that kind of monthly saving. If I was to switch to natural gas tomorrow I would save about $150/year in utility costs.

However I don't mind paying for the extra power cost since my hot water tank is between two bedrooms and it is nice to have the silence of an electric tank versus hearing the burner/ignition/fan of a power vented natural gas HWT.

[pheoxs]

Originally posted by Cos
Yeah 9 seems decent. However I bet you'll come to hate your electric hot water tank. Neighbor just replaced his, saved $200 a month in the first month for electricity. He does have 2 kids though.


There is already a decent thread with a lot of us posting in it too for reference.

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?threadid=374771

How is he using 200$ a month in electricity for a water heater???

My entire house uses 90-120$ a month on electricity (including an electric water heater) Unless he has something leaking hot water constantly...?

Edit: As for usage mine is:
Dec - 9.5
Nov - 6
Oct - 1.5
Sep - 1

Newer (2010) 1350 sq ft 2 storey house, thermostat never leaves 22C basically

[jacky4566]

Originally posted by thetransporter
sometimes if they cant get a meter reading over the wireless they estimate
enmax always does this , in a short sense they get a free loan at your expense until meter is read and you get a credit..

I always wondered how the wireless meters work? Do they drive a truck down the street and get everyone or do they have to leave the truck? or is it all long range radio?

[codetrap]

Originally posted by Cos
Yeah 9 seems decent. However I bet you'll come to hate your electric hot water tank. Neighbor just replaced his, saved $200 a month in the first month for electricity. He does have 2 kids though.


There is already a decent thread with a lot of us posting in it too for reference.

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?threadid=374771

That's roughly 1300kWh's at a loaded rate. I guess it's possible if his hot water heater was running constantly....

[riander5]

Everyone just turn your damn heat down and grow your chest hair out like men

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by codetrap


That's roughly 1300kWh's at a loaded rate. I guess it's possible if his hot water heater was running constantly....

It's an Airdrie thing..

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by JamMan23


My last bill was for Nov 8 - Dec 8. I used 9 GJ of natural gas.

Lol, I bet my garage heater alone used more than that.

[bjstare]

Originally posted by jacky4566


I always wondered how the wireless meters work? Do they drive a truck down the street and get everyone or do they have to leave the truck? or is it all long range radio?

They still have to leave the truck IIRC. Walk around the house, get close-ish for a scan, then on to the next house.

[Cos]

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[sputnik]

Originally posted by Cos
I have no idea, that is what he told me. I didn't ask for proof. :rofl:

You really don't need proof when common sense will suffice.

[78si]

Originally posted by codetrap


That's roughly 1300kWh's at a loaded rate. I guess it's possible if his hot water heater was running constantly....

My natural gas hot water heat runs full time, but it's also heating the basement floor.

[codetrap]

Originally posted by sputnik
You really don't need proof when common sense will suffice. In Cos's defence, my father in law in Kelowna is getting billed just over $400/month for electricity in his house averaged. It used to be higher until I went to visit him and we changed out every single bulb to LED, and then turned down his malfunctioning hot tub. I think we were able to cut it in half. He's got electric hot water as well, and his primary heat source is NG.

[Cos]

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