how much electricity does boiler/circulators use???

recent high electric prices causing me to look at watt usage in my house. last night i looked at my meter outside before i went to bed at 11pm, at 8am i had changed 12kwatt!
now i did run a 1500 watt space heater for 2 hrs in bathroom so thats 3kwatt of it. only other things running are my econoburn 150, 2 zones of heat (2 small red grunfods circulators 9 years old), and i have 2 talco green 007-f5 running one on return and other supply i think near my boiler in garage. i'm just shocked to think my boiler with a few circulators running is chewing up nearly 1kwatt/hr all night.
if i have to switch out some circulators to ones that are more effecient i will. my electric bill was 1400 kwatt for usage last month with 0.04 for delivery, and 0.25 for usuage 0.29 total per killwatt, huge bill

i've already added up the usuage for dryer, dishwasher, tv, and most other appliances and i still don't know how i'm using so much electric, i'm pinning it on the 2 talco 007-f5 circualtorys maybe??

jeffesonm said:

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thanks for post!, i just looked at my grundfos and on side it has p(w) labeld and 60/80/87 listed it is 3 speed so i'm guessing that my be the watt usage for each speed.

it so then my 2 talco (80.5 each) for 161watt/hr plus 2 grundfos at lets say highest watt of 87, so 174watt/hr. thats 161 plus 174 is 335watt/hr plus what ever it is to run the econoburn 150 which ihave to figure out. 335watt x 9 hrs last night is 3015 watt or 3kwatt during that time thats if they are running constant. 12- 3(space heater), - 3 (4 circulators) = 6 kwatt left seems like alot for just boiler running and no other lighs/tv/computer on at all.

i'm figuring the 2 talco i have at 80.5watt each run 24/7 as they are by boiler supply and return to my primary loop in basement. so replacing just those two with an alpha1 could save me 120-140 watt/hr/24/7, adds up to like approx 100 kwatt/month!! might help some it looks like.

maple1 said:

They will use power, but I can't see your boiler & circs using that much. You're saying 1400 kwh/month? I'm at about 600 for whole house. Maybe get an electricity monitor and go from there. I'd get a Kill-a-watt meter (sp?) too, the whole house ones, or at least the one I have, is more of a general guide & not overly precise/accurate. After using mine ('Ematic') for a couple months, I think it is over-reporting what I'm using, by 10-20% or so. But it is still a handy tool when it comes to this stuff.

My loading unit has a Grundfos 15-58 on it, I think it specs about 60w. But it only runs when I'm burning, which is usually around 6 hours a day. My load circ is an Alpha on low, it only draws about 20 watts with half my zones calling. It's a honey. I have no boiler fan - so that's it for heating electrics. Besides zone valves, that is.

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my last month was 1400 kwatt whole house. i add most things up and i just can't get to 1400, so i/m figuring out now must be boiler and circulators making up difference. i am getting a whole house monitor to start checking this out. and yeah sounds like my 2 load circ switch them from talco to alpha should make a sign. difference. i just checked again last night 11pm-8am used 11kwatt. all that was really on was space heater for 2 hrs (3kwatt), and boiler, 2 load circs, and 3-4 zone circs. seems like a sig. amount of power to use for just that.

thanks for post.

i don't have storage yet that is plan for summer to do, this may help me as well since right now when cold is running alot, no real down time just idle time some.

maple1 said:

Do you have a well? What kind of pump?

Fridges & freezers?

Those are the kinds of things that run all the time. Or can.

If you've got a well with a submerged pump - those can quietly churn the juice if there's a problem in the well that you don't know about.

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i do have a well so i/m sure thats eating some electric as well. soon i'll be turning all heat off and i'll know exactly the difference at night from heat to no heat, then whats left will be things like well pump, etc. i have one freezer garage and i/m going to see how much that is drawing. i have a fridge that i checked and it really isn't using much at all only 11watt when motor running then when no motor running its basically zero, 80 watts when doors open due to lights come on. so fridge using some but not the culprit.

i'll have to check on what kind of pump for well

BoilerMan said:

I actually borrowed a Kill-A-Watt from a friend..........I'm wicked cheap! I found out that it is total HYPE about older appliances, my aforementioned circa 1996 refrigerator that I bought for $150 at a yard sale cost $10/month to run, side by side with frequently used ice maker.

As for your well pump, just pay attention to how often it cycles by listening to the pressure switch. Close off the valve going from the tank to the house and turn off the breaker overnight, in the morning turn on the breaker w/o opening the valve yet. If the pump comes on, then there is a leak somewhere between the tank and the pump, most likely the pitless adapter or foot valve.

TS

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OK I'LL TRY THAT, THANKS!