Author Topic: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.  (Read 9923 times)

CowboyAndIndian

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #50 on: February 07, 2022, 02:57:43 PM »
@CowboyAndIndian - have you found anything? Waiting until the summer when base load is only load?
I've decided to give this a rest until I finish some other projects. I'm hoping that not thinking about it (obsessively) will give my brain some time to relax and maybe give me more insights.

StashingAway

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #51 on: February 11, 2022, 11:30:17 AM »
PTF.

My vote is on HVAC system. You mentioned more windows in east/west than the old house; this can have heat gain problems in shoulder seasons

OP, what is your gas usage in both houses? Are you seeing a similar 1/3 increase or is it the same?


CowboyAndIndian

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #52 on: February 12, 2022, 07:29:01 AM »
PTF.

My vote is on HVAC system. You mentioned more windows in east/west than the old house; this can have heat gain problems in shoulder seasons

OP, what is your gas usage in both houses? Are you seeing a similar 1/3 increase or is it the same?

Gas usage is about the same. Electric is the problem. I am also wondering if the fan/filter/HVAC is the issue. It is a relatively new unit, installed about a year before i bought the house.

NaN

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #53 on: May 27, 2022, 09:30:59 PM »
Ever figure this out?

NorCal

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #54 on: May 27, 2022, 09:47:09 PM »
I'll give a contrary positive review for Sense.  Mine has found enough household items that I have a good idea of where my energy is going.  There are some items that need to be used in conjunction with Kasa smart plugs to be valuable though.  For example, Sense isn't good at detecting modern refrigerators, dishwashers or washing machines.

I'd still recommend the Emporia if all of your breakers are in a single panel.  It's much cheaper and would give you results much faster.  Sense does better if you have multiple panels.

CowboyAndIndian

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #55 on: May 31, 2022, 06:01:58 AM »
Ever figure this out?

No, I have not.

In the age-old tradition of burying my head in the sand, I have ignored it, hoping it will magically disappear.

In the summer, I have a lot of projects outside so I can easily ignore the issue. But come winter, I will go another round with figuring out the issue.
« Last Edit: May 31, 2022, 06:09:59 AM by CowboyAndIndian »

BudgetSlasher

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #56 on: June 01, 2022, 01:30:42 PM »
Ever figure this out?

No, I have not.

In the age-old tradition of burying my head in the sand, I have ignored it, hoping it will magically disappear.

In the summer, I have a lot of projects outside so I can easily ignore the issue. But come winter, I will go another round with figuring out the issue.

If you are going to spend time tracking it down in the future, it might be worth taking a moment our two over the course of the year to make sure it is still there. Just it case it turns out to be seasonal.

CowboyAndIndian

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #57 on: June 01, 2022, 08:09:07 PM »

If you are going to spend time tracking it down in the future, it might be worth taking a moment our two over the course of the year to make sure it is still there. Just it case it turns out to be seasonal.

Good point.

In that case, I might approach the problem later in summer since my previous tests were all done in winter.

Just Joe

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Re: What is using the electricity? How to track it down.
« Reply #58 on: March 10, 2023, 02:03:31 PM »
Don't forget to look at invisible things like old-school transformers (that hummm found in some low tech appliances or perhaps your doorbell).