Heating costs

[Marrissa]

You and me both Crazymonkee. I upped our bill an extra 40 bucks by running the heat set at 75 (which gives the shelf the boa is on 79-81 temp). And that was only two weeks. I was hoping for 40 bucks a month not 80 for just the snakes. I upped us from tier 1 of PG&E to almost tier 4 with only two weeks of heating the room. Got my C Serpants rack set to ship any day now so I'll be moving the ball girls into my room and move the boa out to the T8. I just can't keep doing T8s for ball pythons. Way too expensive and too much room for snakes that aren't good display animals. I think I'll get that foam insulation sheets and put them around the rack so I can run the temps cooler.

I found a nicer apartment with good insulation, I've mapped my numbers out to demonstrate to the roomies that it isn't much more a month for a nice apartment instead of this dump (way too old and everything is falling apart, super drafty, and too small. I just need to go take a tour to make sure the master bedroom will be big enough for them.

[ashley2534]

Hey everyone,

So I'm new to owning a Ball and currently only heating one tank with UTH and heat light (Since my Ring Neck has been freed). In your experience does only heating one tank make a big difference on the electric bill? I have PG&E and my boyfriend, who is in charge of that bill, is a bit concerned about any increases.

- Ash

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

My power bill is normally $120- $150/month. This will be the first month I will have to see how much full room heating will cost me. I got a radiant oil heater from Lowes for $69 and it keeps 300sq/ft at 75F no problem. I am sure the cost of the heater and increase in my power bill will well more than offset even one RI due to cold temps had I not gone for the heater, as temps in the room got to 65F during a cold snap one night even with insulation. Finishing the drywall inside will help, but that is a spring project for now.

[Marrissa]

Hey everyone,

So I'm new to owning a Ball and currently only heating one tank with UTH and heat light (Since my Ring Neck has been freed). In your experience does only heating one tank make a big difference on the electric bill? I have PG&E and my boyfriend, who is in charge of that bill, is a bit concerned about any increases.

- Ash

For one tank nope. I've never noticed a real difference when I just add an UTH or heat lamp or both. Even my T8s with two RHPs each don't take much.

[GeekAndDestroy]

Hey everyone,

So I'm new to owning a Ball and currently only heating one tank with UTH and heat light (Since my Ring Neck has been freed). In your experience does only heating one tank make a big difference on the electric bill? I have PG&E and my boyfriend, who is in charge of that bill, is a bit concerned about any increases.

- Ash

With the setup you mentioned in your thread, you're running about the same wattage as a couple light bulbs. At most, you're adding a few bucks a year to your electricity bill.

[ashley2534]

Thanks, that's really good to know. It took me awhile to convince him to let me get one (once he realized it wasn't going to be 10 feet long), so I definitely don't want to have electricty being a problem. That's great to know that having one tank (maybe two in the future won't be to much. Thanks!

- Ash

[Marrissa]

Thanks, that's really good to know. It took me awhile to convince him to let me get one (once he realized it wasn't going to be 10 feet long), so I definitely don't want to have electricty being a problem. That's great to know that having one tank (maybe two in the future won't be to much. Thanks!

- Ash

Oh plan on having more than two tanks rather quickly.

[Badgemash]

Geez, I'd take you guys heating bills any day!! My landlord just switched our apt building over to electric this year.... $585 was this months bill. My usual is $96 and that running filters and lights for 3 turtle tanks, filter and light for fish tank, and the snake room at 75-76, heat tape at 90.
There are sooo many drafts in this place it's ridiculous, can't wait for spring!

That is insane!!! I will remember this in six months when I want to whine about the A/C bill, because it's bad, but no where near that bad!

I should have caveated that I can't tell much difference because I never actually turn the house heater on here, and the ambient temp is never more than 4-6 degress off the room heater's target temp anyway.

[gardenfiend138]

You can always find out what you payer Kwh, and factor in how many watts you are pulling. Heating a room will be much more variable though--it really comes down to doing what you need to do. I have found that the plastic shrink wrap type window insulators work wonders for drafty single pane windows.

[Wamba681]

That is insane!!! I will remember this in six months when I want to whine about the A/C bill, because it's bad, but no where near that bad!

I should have caveated that I can't tell much difference because I never actually turn the house heater on here, and the ambient temp is never more than 4-6 degress off the room heater's target temp anyway.

Hey Badge! Another Phoenician here. Ah, yes.. Soon it will be AC time, when my bill goes >200 a month for my apartment just to keep it at 78. Lol.

I have my heater set to 72-74, that way my ambient temps in my tubs stay ~76-78. A little cool, but it'll be plenty warm soon.