advice on lowering bill

julesmama3

Hi, We live in a 35 year old rancher that has finished basement and an unfinished laundry room and garage. The laundry room and garage are beneath our bedrooms and get super cold in the winter. Our windows have been updated.



We have central air and electric baseboard heaters. Our BGE bill runs up to $600 in the winter. We have thought about getting a heat pump but being in Maryland and experiencing below freezing temps makes us think other wise.



We have also thought about installing a wood or pellet stove in the living or dining room but we didn't know if that would affect the bedrooms or not. My hubby heard that if we kept the a/c fan running then the return duct, which is in the living room would help the heat circulate throughout the house.



There is gas out in the road but we have no clue as to how much it would cost to get it piped in!



Sorry for writing a book......but I wanted a professional opinion and am not sure else to ask! We've got money to do something now. Does it make more sense to spend it on insulating, a heat pump, a stove or something we've not thought of???



Thanks!!

NH03865

Heat Pump

Look into some of the new mini-split heat pumps.  They are rated to 0 - 5 degrees F for heating operation.

lchmb

estimate

You could look at installing a Rinnai space heater. You could also look at a gas furnace, 90+ efficiency. Have a local contractor come in and do a heat loss and discuss options with you...:)