Thread: Headed for Scooter country

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Due mostly to the fact that heating oil prices have hardly dropped at all,I'll be shutting up my house and heading to Coeur d Alene Idaho to spend the winter with my daughter and her family. At least I have the choice,I can't imagine what's going to happen to other working class people who'll have to grin and bear it. Enough said, Hank

Have a good time. The farmers almanac says the Virginia is in for a very cold winter. I thought that I would be safe using baseboard electric heaters. Apparently not. Our light bill just went up $40.00 per month for a fuel charge. I called them on it and they said that it was always there they just did not show it. That is without the winter electric price jump that always happens. So our light bill should be around $200.00 per month for a 900 sq. ft. house instead of the $124.00 it usually is. Does not sound like much but every little bit hurts. looks like sweater in the house this winter. I do not know how the people that use gas or oil up north can afford it.

Sounds good, got snow tires on the scooter?

Originally Posted by jyardgirl

Have a good time. The farmers almanac says the Virginia is in for a very cold winter. I thought that I would be safe using baseboard electric heaters. Apparently not. Our light bill just went up $40.00 per month for a fuel charge. I called them on it and they said that it was always there they just did not show it. That is without the winter electric price jump that always happens. So our light bill should be around $200.00 per month for a 900 sq. ft. house instead of the $124.00 it usually is. Does not sound like much but every little bit hurts. looks like sweater in the house this winter. I do not know how the people that use gas or oil up north can afford it.

Barb, those baseboard heaters sounded like a good idea to my wife, and I last winter until we saw the increase in the electrical bill. We thought if we had a couple they would take the chill off, and not have the propane furnace running so much. It turned out it was way more expensive then to keep the furnace going to reach the temp we could live with. We had one in a 15x17 room that can be closed off from the other rooms. We would have to have the heater pretty close since they were oil filled radiant heat. The other heater would be in the bedroom used the same way to take the chill off. They are now lying under the bed incase we would loose power. We could run them off from a generator until I figure out how to hook the generator up to the electrical circuit. So if you could have a 220-baseboard heater it should be cheaper to operate. We used the 110 units.

Good luck

We have the heavy sweatshirts.

Richard

they are 220 Richard. had them in the house for 15 years. Winter light bill was pretty reasonable until lately. that is when the state legislature decided the Virginia dominion power could use a increase in rates. Why they need to add a fuel charge for nuclear power i have yet to understand.

well hey hank we'll have to meet up and have some coffee and do some bench racin!........scooter

I'm on wood heat, so the high prices don't affect me!

dont forget to remind me to bolt the studded slicks on and go make a pass down lake CDA, on the heat and lights dont feel bad, it was 450 bucks per month last winter here for 3 months straight OUCH

not much better in the deep south...i have to run my air condition all winter long...well...almost all winter...

I have an all electric house and so far (last 20 years) it hasn't been terrible in winter or summer. I have heat contollers in every room, so I can shut down any area not in use. In two years when the rate caps come off, the increase cost in electricity is estimated to be about 60%. Not looking forward to that. A couple of years ago I put in a propane fueled fireplace as auxilliary heat for when the power failed, as it always seem to do during ice and snow storms. The fireplace will run you out of the house in minutes with heat. Last I read they were predicting that electricity would only be going up about 10% over last year. NG is supposed to be up at least 20% and oil at least 40%.

Best bet is you have wood heat and a good size wooded lot. Something I got neither of. Not sure about Idaho though, I think I would prefer Ft Myers. Especially between December and the end of April (no his and her acaines).

The reason for going to Idaho is because my daughters live there,and it certainly won't hurt to get to know my grandchildren better. There's a lot of factors involved,but it comes down to heat or eat if I stay here. I could use my woodstove, but firewood here is now $200.00 and up per cord. I'm trying to look at this as a new adventure,not an act of desperation. Hank

Hank wrote:

I'm trying to look at this as a new adventure,not an act of desperation

As well you should. Most of the time being anywhere with family regardless of the weather, is better than most anything. I hope you have a great time out there and while you are enjoying the grandkids, give them a few memories that will last their lifetime too.

Yes I've always wanted to know them better and them me. They tell me for the most part winters are milder there than here. Even though the predominate source of my income was from fixing snow removal equipment, I really hate winter,so getting less of that white crap is just fine by me. I am also told there's lot of nice old tin around the area,with far less rust than I'm used to dealing with. Too bad I have to leave my tools and equipment here. Hank

Don't be too sure about the tin. I grew up in Idaho Falls, not too, too far from Cour de'laine. They salt the roads in winter, the fools. Eats up steel quick. Your best bet is to find something which has been sitting in a field or barn for 30 years.

Your winters must be very harsh indeed to say that Idaho winters are milder. I've never thought of -20 degrees as mild!

i can take you tin hunting haha