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Brraaap t1_jamsdzp wrote

I installed some mini split heat exchangers a few years ago and use them instead of the boiler when the temp stays over 35-40 overnight. It cut my gas bill dramatically and I don't have to mess with window ACs in the summer

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radiatordrip t1_jamsqpf wrote

I lived in an 1100 sq ft house with radiators and a boiler from the 80s until last year, and it was about 150 a month in the winter. I didn't run it 24 hrs. But I kept it at 68-69, so 245 for 15 days seems high. Try to turn it down when you're sleeping or not home. Maybe try bleeding the radiators? 5 years ago I lived in a 700 sq ft house with radiators and 0 insulation, and it was about the same price. I bought those plastic sheets to put over the window to reduce the draft, which worked reasonably well.

There's also plans with PGW to make your bill more consistent throughout the year rather than spikes in the winter. Of course, the downside is you're paying for it in the summer when you're not using it.

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Scumandvillany t1_jamt8uk wrote

That's a big house, and not much insulation. My 1800 sq ft row with zero insulation costs 50$ without the boiler running. During deep winter coldest months it can go as high as 400.

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Dryheavemorning t1_jamtaol wrote

$162 last month for two furnaces and the gas stove. 3000sq ft new construction. Wild how much more expensive it can be to heat old homes.

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halfdeserted t1_jamtlad wrote

I live in an ~1100 square foot rowhome with hot water radiators. To save on utilities, I keep the thermostat at 63 and wear tons of layers in the house. My most recent bill was $140.

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Brahette t1_jamune3 wrote

Sign up for the budget billing, called Easy Way. Spreads it out so you don't get hit with giant bills.

My approx 1000SF 1920s rowhome is around $80 per month on budget billing. I keep the therm at 65 during the day and 60 overnight.

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nemesisinphilly t1_jamveeq wrote

Is your house detached or on a corner? That seems very high. I have a 1800 sqft mid block rowhome with hot water radiators. I keep the thermostat between 66-70, but this winter it's mostly been on 66.

My highest bill this season has been $110. I'll usually have one winter month slightly over $100 but usually it's between $90-100 for gas in winter.

My house does run warm so my electric bills are higher in summer for AC.

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CinematicHeart t1_jamxtdz wrote

My house is 1300 sqft and in the colder months it's over $400, last month it was less than $300.

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porkchameleon t1_jamykpe wrote

Replying to halfdeserted (#2,145,048)

> To save on utilities, I keep the thermostat at 63 and wear tons of layers in the house. My most recent bill was $140.

Suffering through all that to may be save an extra $100 a month during colder months?

Nope from this corner.

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porkchameleon t1_jamyyr0 wrote

Same kind of a setup (radiators), about 900 square feet one bedroom on a topper floor of a walk-up - $0, everything but electricity ($40/month) and Internet.

A house with central air, about 1100 sq ft on 71F year round, - may be $250 when it's really cold out.

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JasonKelcesBreard t1_jan63is wrote

We have an 1100 sq foot house with radiators set at 68 and our bills has been ~$360 a month.

It's much cheaper to run heat through our mini splits but that radiator heat is the GOAT

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Desperate-Stop-42 t1_jan702w wrote

Grandparents home is 1600 sq and bill was $366 Home built in the 70’s.

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CroatianSensation79 t1_janfyhj wrote

I pay about $130 a month during winter and my house is about 1300 soft. Summer it drops to about $40

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TheAdamist t1_janhajj wrote

Is it actually through pgw or a 3rd party "supplier"? That will affect things greatly. Id check all the charges in detail.

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lapeirousia t1_janisl7 wrote

I own an 1,800 square foot house built in the 1890s. We're almost always home, so the heat is constantly running. About 73-74 in the daytime and 68 at night.

Our most expensive bill so far (January 2023) was $410. $300-400 is typical for the winter months.

We replaced some of our (very old) windows last year, which has decreased our gas usage by at least 10% year on year... but our bills have nonetheless gone up this year, since the price of gas has increased.

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Vexithan t1_janpizm wrote

Row home a little under 1100 square feet. Winter it’s been between $150 and $200 each month when it’s been really cold. We keep it set to 69 (nice) when we’re home and 65 when we’re out or asleep. We also have some nice electric space heaters that we use in the living room, bedroom, and our sons room that have helped keep costs low all winter. Thankfully the houses next to ours crank the heat so we only lose a lot of heat through the floor above our porch that isn’t insulated well.

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Mother_Show8790 t1_jans7vz wrote

Replying to eapocalypse (#2,146,582)

Yikes, my fiancé would kill me, and isn’t it less efficient to change the thermostat than leave it at a constant rate? Sure it would use less fuel but then it would burn more to bring the house back up to temp.

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eapocalypse t1_jansj64 wrote

Replying to Mother_Show8790 (#2,146,640)

I have forced air but it's definitely much cheaper to let it go down to 62 at night and come up to 68 again in the morning.

I believe PGW will also give similar advice

You can also call PGW and have them do average billing for you to spread the cost across the whole year keeps your bill mostly flat. Pay more in summer than you currently do but less in winter to make budgeting easier.

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Devin1405 t1_jansupu wrote

1800 sqft, new construction build last year. Was like $20 in summer (gas cooking) but the last few months it was around 110-120/mo, keeping the house around 67-69 most of the time.

Also I only share a wall with one neighbor, fwiw.

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wovenloafzap t1_janvyd2 wrote

About $380 in the winter months 😩 2,000 Sq ft house, gas furnace set at 68.

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AbsentEmpire t1_jao1lak wrote

$70 last month.

I'm in a 10 year old 1600sqft row house with a modern HVAC and smart thermostat. Keep the temp around 65 during day and 62 at night.

Could probably get it lower if I replaced the builders grade windows with something super insulated.

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throw_away_antimlm t1_jao1s3p wrote

Replying to Mother_Show8790 (#2,145,149)

Yeah that will affect it. Are all your walls plastered (like no exposed stone)? Heavy window treatments and keeping doors closed helps. If you have a kitchen addition on the back of the house without a door, hang a curtain between it and the rest of the house (this can be applied to any additions or sunporches). Some folks go the extra mile and do that by their front door if they don't have a vestibule. We do not because the sun hits the front of our house for a decent part of the day.

Granted, I live mid-row in a much smaller house(896 sq ft), but just hanging a curtain between the kitchen addition and the rest of the house helps - our kitchen can be COLD. The bill I'll be paying this month is $90, 24% lower than last year's (it's been so warm!). My summer PGW is around $45 (gas stove).

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DRMS_7888 t1_jaoh52m wrote

Around $150 per month max in 1900 sqft. New construction much more energy efficient

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JesusOfBeer t1_jaowok9 wrote

Damnnnn my house is also +100 years old but we don’t have hot water radiators… during the winter we spend $16-50 if we use the gas heavy

0

beaucoupblueskies t1_jaox619 wrote

1000 sq ft row home with radiators. I keep my thermostat at 68 and my bill was $135 for last month.

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Fourlec t1_jaoy7ic wrote

1000 sq ft. Row home. Heat rarely on. Maybe a total of 2 weeks all winter total. 85 bucks.

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Flaky-South t1_jaozewn wrote

I have 2k sq ft new construction 3 floors and it’s been about 150-200 over last few months

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Soleil-3 t1_jaqpojr wrote

Replying to halfdeserted (#2,145,048)

My home is 1200 sq ft row home and my bill is usually $240-$260 a month. I have my thermostat on a schedule between temps of 65 and 70, my bills lately have been about $300- Radiator heat

2

regcrusher t1_jaqq7kh wrote

South Philly rowhome with a gas furnace and stove. Water heater is electric. I’m on budget billing for about $55/month. Actual usage is about $100 in winter and $20 in spring/summer months.

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loxonrye t1_jaqx16n wrote

I live in a 1500 or 1600 sq ft trinity with hot water radiators. We keep the heat at 68 and I cook a lot. Our bills have been around $250-$300 the last few months.

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markskull t1_jar72zo wrote

Here's myself:

Semi-detached twin house, about 1100 square feet (more likely 1700 when you include the basement):

  • 1700 Square feet
  • 73° 24/7
  • Central Air unit, so no radiators just pushed heat
  • $289 at the highest for a month

That's about the average for me, too. I don't lower it at night since it just forces the heater to worker harder when you push it up, and I try to keep it fairly stable over the day. The back of the house needs more insulation overall, though.

I don't have any solid tips, but I decided to see if PGW offers any energy audit services. It looks like they do for low-income residents, but I would also say check out this company, ECA, and see how it goes when you ask for additional help.

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citycat215 t1_jas9v71 wrote

1200sf, midblock rowhouse, old radiators with a tankless hot water system - about $100, massive improvement (at least $100 less with similar weather) from our old standard tank + boiler with legit visible flames. Keep the house at 67 during the day and just turn them off at night... ymmv if you don't like a chilly room with good blankets! They're programmed to turn on shortly before we get up and so no issue with a freezing breakfast.

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SgtKetchup t1_javwu62 wrote

$145 in fees and taxes is very high, what are the items there? Unless you are including the Distribution charge there.

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GALACTON t1_jaw0u6u wrote

Yeah what thermostat are you going to replace it with? Mines been 115 to like 130 or 160? Can't remember for sure. Couldn't tell you the size of the house but it's relatively tiny. Definitely lots of air gaps. Not as much as the big ass gaps in my girls back door

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