Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Newbie]

Hey,

Last month I had an insanely high gas bill, 100,000.Seems a bit high considering I use my ondol for only about 3 or 4 hours a day.

This is my first non officetel place, so I'm not used to this heating system. Any advice on how to lower my bill?

I would appreciate some help

[itaewonguy]

[JZer]

I have heard that living in a big apartment building is usually easier on heat. Sometimes you don't even need to turn the heat on, if the people around you have their heat jacked up.

[huck]

sometimes the apartment buildings take everybody's gas usage, average them out, and then everyone pays the same in each apartment, regardless of how much gas you actually used....

[BigBlackEquus]

I am lucky like JZer mentioned. My total bill for gas, water, oil, management, etc., was under 150,000 last month.

[stumptown]

Everyone in the apartments around me keep their heat blasting. I have only turned my ondol on once this year. And that was that cold azz day before it snowed.

[schwa]

A hundred bucks is hardly an insane amount to keep warm for a month.

You'll scrimp & shiver to save a dollar a day?

[stumptown]

No, I meant that because the surrounding apartments are blasting, my apartment feels like the heat is on. Everyday when I came home I had to check to see if I had turned the heat on and forgot about it. A few times I had to open a window because it was too much.

[JongnoGuru]

[schwa]

Sorry stumptown -- I was addressing newbie.

I lived in a tall bldg for a couple years & never turned on my heat, in fact had to open windows in winter. The always-on hot water was nice too. But my monthly general maintenance bills were eye-openers. I like having a bit of control, but comfort first!

[snehulak]

I live in what is quite possibly the smallest apartment in Korea, keep my thermostat below 18c, and still paid 150,000 last month. To combat this, I just bought one of those little 25,000 won electric heaters. Since my employer pays the electric bill, this should drastically cut my heating bill. I know, it's a bit dishonest, but they refused to pay me overtime for my winter camps so all's fair to me.

[C.M.]

Wondering the same thing as OP. I got my gas bill today and it came in at 85,000. I asked my employer about this and he suggested that many people in larger places pay upwards of 200,000 and that 80,000-100,000 for an aprtment this size was about average.....no advice on bringing cost down...although Spring is right around the corner

[cruisemonkey]

Sorry to burst your bubble... but spring is not just around the corner. Be prepared to spend a lot more won.