How to Use a Very Expensive Toaster

Out and about again today, visit a smaller two bedroom, one bath home. The resident is complaining of $300 power bills. The problem is they can’t pay the rent and the power bill. Can this small, newer apartment really be that energy inefficient? Maybe the problem is the very expensive toaster.

The apartment is heated with thermal radiant floor heat from a gas water heater. Clear indication that a high electric bill is not caused by heating or hot water. A well installed thermal floor heating system is usually very energy efficient.

This apartment has four adults, two toddlers and two dogs. Clothes drying, cooking, dish washing, and curling irons come to mind as possible appliances that may be contributing to high electrical use. I notice that the microwave is sitting on top of the refrigerator so it probably does not get used as much as it should.

Speaking to the resident, I discuss dryer use and cleaning the dryer filter regularly and then ask about cooking and the lofty microwave. I am told that the range and oven is used frequently and the microwave was placed on the refrigerator because the counter lacked space.

Further discussion disclosed that it was not unusual to brown a couple of pieces of bread in the oven to make toast. Bingo, the old electric meter is heading north. The oven maybe handy for browning toast, but it is a very expensive toaster.

A toaster typical wattage is about 1,400. The range is about 2,600 watts. When you include the oven preheat, you have one expensive piece of toast. Toasters are a bargain at a purchase price of $12 dollars. After making a few pieces of toast in a toaster instead of an oven, the toaster has paid for itself in energy savings.

I also discussed power benefits of using the microwave oven as much a possible. Cheapest way to heat a cup of water for coffee is the microwave. The microwave oven needs to find a spot on the kitchen counter so it will be ready and handy to use. What ever you do, don’t turn your oven into a very expensive toaster.

Lifestyle and power knowledge is important in controlling power bills, have a good day and come back to detectenergy.com real soon….Don Ames