our heating bill.

**homemaker66** · 01-04-2008, 02:17 PM

We just had our propane delieverd today and he put in 130 gallons. so far we have used 180.60 gallons since Dec and Jan we have used 90 gallons per month. Our house is 28 x 58 and I was wondering if you think that we are doing good with the fuel. Thanks for your input

**banana** · 01-04-2008, 02:47 PM

Does that also include your hotwater and your cooking?

I'm a little confused is that for November and December (since it is only early January now)?

**sdrjeolsen** · 01-04-2008, 03:03 PM

Beware, this is long! Depends a lot on your house and how well insulated it is. I didn't crunch your #s, but I can tell you about ours and you can compare for yourself. Its a lot of info here, but it will help compare apples to apples.

We are a family of 5, 3 of which are teens, 2 girls who take looooong showers. We only use propane for hot water and heat. Our house is 4100 sq feet, is new (so new, efficient furnace), very well insulated and is built on the solar gain, and we have several large south facing windows. We are located in Colorado at about 7000 ft elevation (I'm saying it is cold here -low single digits at night, but we do get lots of intense sunshine at this elevation during the day, so my heat often doesn't run during the day at all). I do keep my thermostat at 55 constantly. It usually runs at night, but during the day it is about 62 or 63 in here, so it doens't kick on. We keep the hot water heater just above uncomfotable; there is just enough hot water for 2 showers. The girls however run it out of hot water when they shower. Also, I have a woodburner with a blower in my fireplace that we use a lot in the evenings.

I just got a propane fill on 12/23 it was for 175 gallons. The last refill we had before that was 6/22. So we used 175 gallons in 6 months.

I figured we used about 15 gal/mo in the summer for hot water alone. I didn't turn on my heat till December, so in December I figure we used about 85 gallons for heating.

But like I said earlier, it really depends on your home and a lot of other factors. If you are happy with what you are spending then great, if not, then try to find some ways to cut. I will say I tend to be a bit black belt when it comes to frugality...probably to a fault....pushed by the fear factor of an enormous mortgage payment. So, go with what you are comfortable with. I personally don't think you are very out of line.

sorry for the typos, my fingers are quite dyslexic on the keyboard.

**homemaker66** · 01-04-2008, 08:50 PM

one fill up was 50 gal and that was from summer - December. then 130. gal was december - jan. we cook and heat with it. thanks for the help.

**banana** · 01-05-2008, 11:15 AM

I agree with Denise, you need to take a lot into consideration.

Have you been in the house for a few years? If so look back at your prior usage and see if you have cut it down any.

That is what I do. Our first year here we used 789 gallons of oil for heat and hotwater. We slowly tried different things and our best year so far was for 537 gallons that is a big difference for us.

I set up a challenge for myself every year to see if I can do better.

**homemaker66** · 01-06-2008, 07:06 AM

Thank you for the response and we are happy so far on the heating bill. We prepaid for our fuel this summer and bought 300 gallons and have used 180.60 gallons so far. I like prepaying for our fuel durning the summer because the price is cheaper and there is no bills in the winter months when times are tough.