In Search of Options

Barb

Hey. I know it's been awhile, but I've just been so busy. I guess that happens. Anyway, hello.

I just got my gas bill, and it's got me hoppin' mad. I'm usually so peaceful, so before this gets me down, I thought I'd come here and see what my options are.

I live in Jersey, and my gas company is PSE&G. I have radiant heat.
1)Is it possible for me to switch companies?
2)Does anyone know how much the price has increased, over say the last two or three years?
3)Does anyone know if there is a reason, besides greed, why this is happening?
4)Is it possible that because I have a boiler that's much bigger than I need, that it's part of the problem?

Thanks.

Timco

1) no 2)call the local gas company or compare last year's bill 3)they claim it is the changing composition of the gas here, but greed is also an obvious factor...likely still claim 9-11 and Katrina...4)YES!!!Have a pro look into downfiring it or maybe a buffer tank. Does it short cycle?

Tim

clammy

gas bills

I to live in n jersey an havve pse&g and yes i have seen my gas bill increase over the past 3 years but here'sanother question ,how many square feet is your home ,is your whole home radiant heat,how old is the home and last but not least when was the last time a true pro came to check your system out?i looked at one on sunday said they had to shut down the garage heat because of there gas bills (master bed above 3 car garage ) and that it did not seem to help well i took a look and found no zone valve on the unit heaters but 2 zone valves 1 for the basement and 1 for a domestic indirect water heater no zone valve on the unit heatre so when ever the tank or basement called they wasted 1/2 the heat on the garage no t/stat on the garage ,so there's thereason behind there gas bill plus 4100 sq ft hause without basement and gargae as my dad had told me many years ago small house small bill big house big bills sorry peace and good luck clammy

Leo

Oil

There would be a lot more options if it were oil heat.

Leo

Barb

Tim - You asked me if it short-cycles. I'm assuming that means - does it kick on all the time, and I think the answer is no. I love your idea of downsizing, I think you called it, and will look into that.

Thanks for your help.
Barb

Barb

Clammy - to answer your questions, my home is three floors that have roughly 700 square feet each, plus a basement. My whole home is radiant, and was just installed a few years ago. I'm quite certain there are zone valves for each floor, down on the panel. There are thermostats for each floor and a place on each floor where the coils come into some other valves, all the names of which escape me right now. All except the basement, that is.

It seems to me that the boiler is heating a lot of water, only to get a call from one floor. It cools down and then has to heat up again, to handle another floor. When it's colder I guess this doesn't happen as much, cuz more than one zone is probably running at a time. I was just shocked at how much the bill was, given how warm it's been.

Y'all are so kind to take the time to be helpful.
Barb




> I to live in n jersey an havve pse&g and yes i

> have seen my gas bill increase over the past 3

> years but here'sanother question ,how many square

> feet is your home ,is your whole home radiant

> heat,how old is the home and last but not least

> when was the last time a true pro came to check

> your system out?i looked at one on sunday said

> they had to shut down the garage heat because of

> there gas bills (master bed above 3 car garage )

> and that it did not seem to help well i took a

> look and found no zone valve on the unit heaters

> but 2 zone valves 1 for the basement and 1 for a

> domestic indirect water heater no zone valve on

> the unit heatre so when ever the tank or basement

> called they wasted 1/2 the heat on the garage no

> t/stat on the garage ,so there's thereason behind

> there gas bill plus 4100 sq ft hause without

> basement and gargae as my dad had told me many

> years ago small house small bill big house big

> bills sorry peace and good luck clammy