Comments on: One Unplanned Consequence of Our Kitchen Renovation

By: Foobarista

Foobarista — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:54:06 +0000

Will this be offset with lower heating costs?

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:01:05 +0000

JLP, while every month is slightly higher … May and June have spiked quite a bit. Any idea what’s going on in these two months?

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:50:03 +0000

Obviously the largest effect has been in May-June, but I don’t understand how that would cause higher usage in the winter months???

By: JLP

JLP — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:24:57 +0000

Tom said:

“Speaking of unplanned consequences… what transpired from your dishwasher fiasco?”

Nothing yet. I’m still not convinced that the dishwasher isn’t leaking. I really don’t want to lay a new floor until I’m certain there’s not a leak.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:18:24 +0000

Speaking of unplanned consequences… what transpired from your dishwasher fiasco?

By: Preston

Preston — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:00:50 +0000

Not the same issue but along the lines of efficiency:

We replaced our 45 year old oil furnace with gas conversion last November. I looked long and hard at simply getting 95+% efficiency furnace, without AC (since the Pacific Northwest is pretty mild year round) but settled on a heat pump due to the favorable electric rates in my area. At twice the cost of just a furnace (and about $1000 more than furnace + AC unit) it has been more than worth it already. If the winter and spring energy saving trend holds true, I’ll pay for the difference between the furnace and heat pump (about $4500) in about 3 years 9 months. Not to mention we also get air conditioning. I realize we haven’t had a full summer yet but the June bill was still lower than last year as well.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:34:19 +0000

In our house we avoid using the oven during the time that the A/C runs, moving our cooking to the stove top, microwave, or grill outdoors. Of course, here in Salt Lake the A/C usually runs only for 3 to 4 months a year. Not quite the same as southeastern Texas.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:17:08 +0000

Or maybe this is a sign you should get a higher-efficiency AC unit? (I’m typing this right as the AC contractor is putting in a new system.)

By: JLP

JLP — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:41:08 +0000

Don,

Good points, both. However, the thermostat is located on the family room wall. If it detects more heat, the unit will run more often. Right?

Although I’m not sure, I don’t think weather is the factor as this year has been rather mild.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:25:13 +0000

Call me a skeptic, but with the wall there, where do you think the heat went before? Heat is heat, whether the air conditioning system disposes of it quickly or slowly.

You’re only talking from year to year. Are you sure you aren’t just measuring a difference in the weather? A little more hot weather (and air conditioning) seems like a more plausible explanation.