from Patrick in Milwaukee, WI:
#304
My May therm usage is 464 for water heater & boiler. My utility says this is not excessive. How can this be?
Therm usage can vary by home size and energy usage.
The first thing to do is to compare the May therm use and the calculated heating degree days (HDD’s) from the previous year. Heating degree days are calculated as a measurement of how cold the weather is for any particular period (i.e. the utility billing period). HDD’s are simply the difference between the average temperature for any given day (24 hours), subtracted from a base temperature of 65° F. They are accumulated on a day-by-day basis and reported on your monthly utility bill.
It is possible that the May bill was an estimated bill or the April reading was a (low) estimated bill and the May reading is reflecting a (catch up) portion of the estimated April use.
Another possibility is a gas leak on the customer side of the meter. Obviously, safety is of the utmost concern here, with therm use a secondary concern. If you suspect a gas leak, contact your utility immediately. Normally, they will inspect your premises for gas leaks at no charge. They will, of course, charge you to make repairs if needed. An alternative would be for you to have a competent heating contractor inspect/repair as needed.
Consider having a home energy evaluation by a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® consultant. One of the tools that consultants use to determine fuel use in homes is a computer software program. Based on the results of the rating, the consultant can better advise you about current therm use and potential upgrades.
Published Friday, June 26, 2009