Energy Sleepers

These often forgotten appliances can have a significant impact on your power bill

What gets the blame for high power bills?   Often it's the electric meter, the "messenger" of power use.   Rarely are electric meters at fault.

Here's how some common devices can affect your electric bill:

Pool Pump

Typical Cost: $30 to $80/month

Comments:  "A pool pump uses about the same amount of electricity as a light bulb," is the unfortunate phrase many consumers hear when shopping for a swimming pool.   The truth is that a pool pump could make up more than half of your electric bill depending on the time of the year and the way the pump is run.

A one horsepower pool pump motor that runs continuously can rack up large energy costs.   And most pool owners have an automatic cleaner, which adds more to energy bills because of it's separate pump motor.   "A pool pump is at the top of the list for electricity users that surprise consumers," says WEMC's Linda Brock.

Use a timer and keep pool chemicals in balance to reduce pool operating time and reduce electricity costs.

A simple and economical on-off timer

can cut swimming pool and hot tub

operating costs significantly.

Hot Tub

Typical Cost: $25 to $80/month

Comments: Have a hot tub on the deck?   It takes a lot of energy to keep 100 gallons of water steaming hot when the outside temperature is below freezing.

An insulated cover is a must for hot tub owners. If the cover is over five years old, it may be time for a replacement.   Waterlogged covers lose much of their insulating value and don't stop heat loss as well as a new, dry cover.

Locating the tub out of windy spots will also help reduce heat loss and improve comfort when getting in and out of the tub.   A timer that cuts the tub off when it's not in use is another way to reduce hot tub operating costs.

Space Heater

Typical Cost: $20 to $30/month

Comments: Despite marketing hype, all space heaters, whether radiant, forced air or passive, probably use the same amount of energy.   A 120-volt space heater that plugs in to a standard outlet probably draws 1,500 watts of power.   Some models may have a low-power setting that reduces the consumption to 1,200 watts.

At 10 cents an hour, a small space heater could easily use $30 in electricity during a cold month.   The real shock comes when the consumer has three or four of these heaters throughout their home, adding $100 to their monthly bill.

Space heaters can be fire hazards.   Thoroughly read the manufacturer's manual that comes with your heater.

Dehumidifier

Typical Cost: $25 to $50/month

Comments: If your dehumidifier is piped to a drain and set to maximum dryness, chances are it runs continuously.   Try to experiment with the dial and only run the unit enough to achieve the desired dryness.

You can also try to reduce the moisture load in the home through other methods, like running vent fans in high-humidity areas like kitchens and baths.   "Many consumer calls about increasing electric bills, especially in the summer, are traced to dehumidifiers," says David Foster, WEMC Member Services Representative.

Water Bed Heater

Typical Cost: $10 to $20/month

Comments: A waterbed heater is a small resistance heater that operates on the same principle as a water heater.   Covering the bed with a thick comforter will help save energy.

Refrigerator, Freezer

Typical Cost: $5 to $20/month

Comments: A refrigerator by itself doesn't add much to a typical electric bill.   But three or four little used refrigerators or freezers can add $25 a month or $300 a year to your electric bill.

If the refrigerator is an older model, you can easily spend more in electricity in one year than the unit is worth.   Be sure to childproof any unused refrigerators or freezers.

Leaking Water Heater

Typical Cost: $10 to $200/month

Comments: Your money is literally going down the drain if there's a hot water leak.   Only one drop a second from a leaking faucet adds up to 200 gallons of wasted hot water a month.   Multiply that many times if it's a busted pipe.   A severely leaking water heater can add hundreds of dollars to your power bill.   Attend to hot water leaks promptly.

You can also save money on hot water by installing low-flow showerheads, pipe insulation and a water heater insulation jacket.

Common Incandescent Light Bulb

Typical Cost: $50/10,000 hours of light

Comments:  It's a no-brainer.   A compact fluorescent (CF) light bulb uses one-third to one-fourth the energy of a common incandescent bulb.   You'll probably save 75 percent on lighting costs.   On top of that, it puts off much less heat.

The life of a CF bulb is ten times as long as an incandescent, too.   That means less aggravation of changing blown bulbs.

Read other articles in this month's Realite:

• Holiday Cooking Tips
  With the hollidays right around the corner, try these tips to make your family celebrations more enjoyable.
  
  
• Rolling in the Dough
  $3 million coming back to WEMC customer-owners next month.
  
  
• Current Cooking
  Grated Sweet Potato Pudding, just right for the holidays.
  
  
• Night Watchman
  Now that dark's coming early, light up the night with our worry-free outdoor lighting.
  
  
• Winners Again
  Walton EMC employees have come out on top again in the Walton County Relay for Life.