Worried about electric

**janis362529** · 08-06-2008, 09:32 PM

right now our 2 bedroom condo costs us $50 a month in electric Which is pretty much just lights. We are moving into a 3 bd room house and will be paying 100% of the electric. Our heat and hot water is oil and everything else is electric includeing a well.

Today I was at the house cleaning and getting everything move in ready and found some fun house electric effects. if I turn on my hall way light I also turn on the attic light. Every wall switch has 3 switches and only 1 works the other 2 are mystery switches. But even with every switch in the off position and no water running I am still drawing power but have no clue as to where it is coming from. (No fridge or stove yet)

I want to switch to the new CFL bulbs but must of the lights are on dimmers so not sure how that will work. Any ideas on how to trace phantom electric and keep the bill down?

**jamie79** · 08-06-2008, 10:25 PM

Is this a rental? Speak with the landlord. If he wont do anything call an electrician so you know whats going on. Let the landlord know your doing this and take it off the rent

**elphie** · 08-06-2008, 11:52 PM

If you own the home call the electric company. Most will do a free energy audit and it can be very eye opening. They helped us see where we were wasting energy, what changes we could safely make and what things weren't really a good idea for us. They also shared with us when peak times were so we could use as little electricity as possible at these times and save even more (not all companies have peak and off peak fees).

We have CFL's on dimmer switches and haven't had any problems with them but again, your energy auditor will be able to tell you what is appropriate for your wiring.

**banana** · 08-07-2008, 10:26 AM

some switches control lamps that you plug in to outlets.

**janis362529** · 08-07-2008, 07:50 PM

The house is a rent to own through hubby's boss so hubby is the " electrician/plumber/construction worker.
I will definitly ask about the energy audit when we go for heat assistance in Sept and hopefully they will help

**cottageliving** · 08-18-2008, 10:08 PM

has hubby's boss ever lived in the house, or rented it out before? Maybe he can give you info on the mystery switches. Glad your hubby is an electrician -- these old houses can be tricky.

a few elec savers I've learned here at FV: Unplug items except when you need to use them. Includes TVs, microwaves, stereos, etc. you can even hook lamps and all electronics onto power strips - turn off the power strips rather than unplugging all your lamps and electronics. This stops phantom elec.

Can you get a discount for running dishwasher/wash machine at night (off-peak hours)?

Using less water will mean using less elec to run the well - I think, but am not sure.

Cold water in washing machine will make big difference.
Hanging clothes to dry will = HUGE savings.

I'll try to think of more for you... enjoy your new home!

**janis362529** · 08-23-2008, 09:51 PM

Hubby's boss has never lived or rented here before they bought it pretty much for us.

I so love having a plumber/electrician/coligan man/solar man as a hubby. This company he works with is great and they strongly believe in cross training their tachs. They training has come in so handy with all the work we have to do.

I am doing the unplug turn off and have power switches for alot of electronics around the house so that should help.

Even though we do not own the house we are applying for heat assistance and with that they do an energy survey of the home and will do alot of energy repairs so that will help out alot.

Right now I am waiting for the well tank to be changed. It is lacking air so it runs every time we use water. Plus the electric updating we have glass fuses and have been blowing them left and right. At least I am learning which outlets we constantly use and which ones we barely use