| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Rob12
Joined: 14 Sep 2011
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:45 am Post subject: 200,000 won gas bill? I know it's cold but... |
 |
|
Is this normal for this time of year? It's my second month here. I've been keeping the temperature at about 23-24 degrees in the apartment. Showering regularly and doing laundry about twice a week.
I've looked at some other posts and it seems that other people have had similar bills but what are some tips on lowering the costs? Thank you. And sorry for the repetitive questions but I'm new to the country and any help is appreciated |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:22 am Post subject: Re: 200,000 won gas bill? I know it's cold but... |
|
|
| Rob12 wrote: |
Is this normal for this time of year? It's my second month here. I've been keeping the temperature at about 23-24 degrees in the apartment. Showering regularly and doing laundry about twice a week.
I've looked at some other posts and it seems that other people have had similar bills but what are some tips on lowering the costs? Thank you. And sorry for the repetitive questions but I'm new to the country and any help is appreciated |
I don't know what's going on. I'm considering getting a much smaller place. I just got a bill for 133,000 won, and for at least 15 of the days I was on vacation, and the heater was on automatic and two of the valves were shut off. I don't know why the bills are so high. Plus, this is one of the colder winters I've experienced over here. Even Busan, from what I hear, got pretty cold. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
The key point if if you heating panel is on, it is likely burning gas. The ondal/heating system is not the best for warming up a place. So my advice is turn it off FULLY when not using. Turn it ON when you need to heat water or want to heat up the room. Avoid leaving it on when you go out. Also learn to us the timers if you do want to turn on for a time.
In the end if you want a well heated room avoid using the ondal system. Consider the electric heaters, but be careful as then electricity bill will rise. I would consider getting on of those propane heater on wheels. Those will heat up a room well. But I would stock up on a carbon monoxide detector.
Be aware that temp on the system will vary. Meaning if the system means 21c, that might just be the general floor temp not the actual room temp. Might want to use a extra external thermometer.
This month I am taking my grandma's and mother's advice and just put on a sweater.
My bill was 144,000, was a bit of a shock for me. But my apartment is weird and inefficient with the hot water tanks.
As a side not if you are really paranoid you are being cheated consider finding your meter and recording it yourself. Plus make sure you have the right bill. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Skippy wrote: |
The key point if if you heating panel is on, it is likely burning gas. The ondal/heating system is not the best for warming up a place. So my advice is turn it off FULLY when not using. Turn it ON when you need to heat water or want to heat up the room. Avoid leaving it on when you go out. Also learn to us the timers if you do want to turn on for a time.
In the end if you want a well heated room avoid using the ondal system. Consider the electric heaters, but be careful as then electricity bill will rise. I would consider getting on of those propane heater on wheels. Those will heat up a room well. But I would stock up on a carbon monoxide detector.
Be aware that temp on the system will vary. Meaning if the system means 21c, that might just be the general floor temp not the actual room temp. Might want to use a extra external thermometer.
This month I am taking my grandma's and mother's advice and just put on a sweater.
My bill was 144,000, was a bit of a shock for me. But my apartment is weird and inefficient with the hot water tanks.
As a side not if you are really paranoid you are being cheated consider finding your meter and recording it yourself. Plus make sure you have the right bill. |
I had huge bills before, but I expected a lower one since I shut off two out of four of the valves, and I was on vacation for two weeks of the pay period. I was kind of dumb-founded to have 144,000 won bill. I owed 180,000 previously, but I took more precautions this past month, and the heater was left to only come on if it got extremely cold while I was away, so the pipes wouldn't burst. I hope it doesn't get so cold next winter, so I don't have to pay so much. I may consider getting a smaller apartment. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| How big is your apartment? Ours is about 49 pyeong. My wife, our son, and I live there (so lots of hot water being used for showers), and the last gas bill was 209000 won. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chris.Quigley
Joined: 20 Apr 2009
Location: Belfast. N Ireland
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
A few years ago I went to Thailand for most of a month. When I got back I had the highest bill of the entire winter for that month.
I turned everything off... even though I was told not to because the pipes could freeze.
I think that it's possible that my bill was basically just an average of all the people on my floor. The temperature dropped to -20 while I was in Thailand which explains why it got so high. I think that I basically just subsidized my neighbours... I heard that this is possible because usually there is only 1 gas metre per floor. What they do is just take the total gas used and divide it by the number of apartments on that floor. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seoultee
Joined: 11 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I had the same shock factor with my first 2 cold month bills. Not quite 200k won but around 130k. This month I rarely used the ondul floor heater. I resorted to wearing warmer clothes and using my electric blanket instead. I will know in a day or two if this will help, but I'm sure it will. The floor heaters really use a lot of electricity from what I understand. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seoultee
Joined: 11 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Chris.Quigley wrote: |
| I think that I basically just subsidized my neighbours... I heard that this is possible because usually there is only 1 gas metre per floor. What they do is just take the total gas used and divide it by the number of apartments on that floor. |
Wow, I wish that was the case with me. I'd be nice and warm all the time. No more cold toes! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
zoeksk
Joined: 21 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Is it getting warmer in Korea atm? Today was 19 Degrees in England and I thinking it would be sweltering cycled 45 mins to work in 3 layers plus a wind-proof jacket. Not fun.
I move to Seoul in 15 days though 
Is it normal to have the gas split over the entire floor then? As that seems like a really good idea for gas companies to rake it in. As what's the point in economizing when you know that you'll be paying for everyone else to stay warm? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
swinewho
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
