Korean Job Discussion Forums

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

I just received my gas bill for the month of January, 91,000won. I can hardly believe it. that is so high. I rarely keep the heat on, yet when I come home it is SO hot in here. I sked my boss to call the landlady to check it, and she did, She said it is my bill.

I come home from work and have to open the window. THe floor is hot. I look at my dial for the heat, and I have it set on 10, and yet the heat registers 21.

She asked if I use a lot of hot water. How much hot water does one person use? I only turn the hot water of if I take a shower, or wash the ishes. I turn the hot water on 10 minutes before I tahe a shower, and then turn it off after. Same with washing the dishes,

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

The thermostats are notoriously inaccurate. Most places it's either on or off. My system has a screw gate retrofitted to the system where the water enters the floor. I made the mistake of leaving it open full-bore in November and my bill was 300 000.

Last year I was living on my boat, so in NOvember I was getting a kick out of such a warm, dry environment. I'll pay for that little piece of ignorance. Now I know, having the the thing barely on is just as warm as having it cranked - and a third the price.

I'm pretty careful with it now, but it seems to hover around 90 000 no matter what I do. If 91 000 is a huge jump from your previous bill it's inexplicable. At least to me it is.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

This is my first bill at this new apartment.

I have never had such a high bill, and I have had my heat on high in other places.

Where on earth are/were you that you are living/lived on a boat? Not in Korea I assume.

This apartment is new. There is a beauty shop on the ground floor that is super hot all the time. But I was told I do not share heat. That is the reason I do not have to put on the heat.

This morning I took a shower, and turned the heat/water on to 20, and then shut it back to 10. I was told not to shut it lower cause the pipes may freeze. It was on for less then one hour.

Hey, this apartment is new, so very clean, and the landlady is a dream. Only thing I do not like is the tiny bathroom with that hole in the floor, and the floor never seems to dry. But at least the hot water stays on in the shower.

When I lived in Gangneung 2 years ago I had freezing showers even when the heat was cranked up to 30. I had to buy oil by the barrel and that cost about 70,000 per month in the winter. it is not even very cold now. I am at work all day, and at night I have put the heat on only perhaps 5 times,and that was not even for the entire night.

And I do know tht the thermostats here are inaccurate.

I dread what the air conditioning bill is.

But I get great free lunches in school, and tht saves money. Still does not explain this gas bill.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

At our place (a villa), we can cut off the water to the floor. Look near your boiler. there should be a few handles you can turn (look kind of like on a water spicket on teh outside of a house). We have two that control the heat to different rooms. Play around with them, closing one at at time and see if you can notice a difference in the floor temp. This might help. We close them all the way, when we don't need the heat, but still get hot water in the faucets and shower and everything. Good Luck!

saybanana · Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Location: LA

I keep my gas boiler at the most minimal setting available. If I kept it off, it would possibly freeze during the minus degrees nights.

My LCD screen hovers between 18-22. That is the room temperature. I have a thermometer on my alarm clock which has nearly the same temp.

I only turn it on when I need a quick shower or when its cold (lately its been mild so no need), I also use the gas when I cook, which is rare.

My bill last month was 35,000. And I was gone for 2 weeks on holiday. I did use the ondol a bit more but for 2 weeks worth, thats a lot of money.

I wonder what this month is like. I dont think i used as much gas as last month, but it is a full month I did use it. I will probably go around 70,000/ won.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

Our gas bill has been pretty high the last couple of months (although not as high as yours) at 54,000 and 67,000 respectively. I would think because you live alone and you probably don't use it much it would be lower. My wife and I try not to use the heat too much. Make sure you shut the heat off when you leave though. If you are unsure of the controls in your house, get someone to check it for you.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Is your washing machine hooked up to only the hot water tap? Personally I turn my heat on for an hour in the morning and then turn the thermostat down to 17 c so it won't come on during the day.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

Thank you for the tips. I will play with the controlls.

I only use cold water to wash. If some thing is really dirty I soak it in bleach, but that is rare.

Hey, at least I can take long hot showers with out freezing.

I just have to figure out why the bill is so high.

I will have my boss come over this week and act as the go-between with the landlady, then thigs can be explained.

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

venus · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: Near Seoul

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

Hubba bubba - I love it the consistent inconsistencies in Korea sorta make sense - you're freezing, but your bill is low. I'm on the 15th floor and it's usually pretty warm even without the heat on. But my bill is always higher than I think it should be. Arg.

And tld2004 - I was living aboard back home on Vancouver Island. But there is a yacht club in either Pusan or Mokpo (I can't remember now, it's been a while) with a J24 racing fleet if anyone needs a sailing fix (The clubhouse is hilarious, it looks like an outhouse).

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

My boss and the landlady came in today.

Seems I have had left the thermostat on 10. Yes, ten. I am supposed to turn it completely off, so that there is no light on at all.

I never figured that if I left the thermostat on 10 that the bill would be so high. I had been told by a friend that if I shut the heat off completely that the pipes would freeze. She told me to leave it on at 15. I am glad I only had it at 10. If it was 15 who knows how high the bill would have been.

Now I have to make sure that there is no light on at all.

I dread the next bill.

uofagirl · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Location: Central Seoul

My bill for January is 134 000Won. My landlady wants me to keep the temp at 20 for fear the pipes will freeze. I do it because it'd be pretty chilly otherwise.

venus · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: Near Seoul

lulu144 · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Location: Gwangju!

I just got back from a month in thailand.... and to my surprise my heat was cut off. it was swell. It was soooooooo cold in place. I found out i didn't pay my bill. it was 256,000. great. for 2 months

i think I had some crazy setting on wrong also. I have friends same size appt and it's 20,000 a month. I don't have my ondol on during the day and when it's on it's set to 20, and only hot water when i shower.

so i figure something has got to be wrong with mine to. I'm trying some alternative setting shits month in an effort to bring it down... and i'm going to close the valves by the bioled a bit...
hmmmm good luck