Incubators and my electricity bill!!

Date sort Score sort
Laurelm

Laurelm

Songster
10 Years
Jul 14, 2009
258
8
123
San Diego County
This probably seems like a dumb question but………..I run five incubators and have at least 5 heat lamps going lately 24/7. I would expect my bill to go some but a couple hundred dollars is completely ridiculous!
barnie.gif


Does running the incubators and heat lamps really take that much electricity??

Anyone out there going through the same pain??

Just checking before I call SDG& E and complain (for what good it’ll do!)

Thank you!
 
If you are really using that many heat lamps I would suggest that you take a look at buying a rack of commercial brooders. They still aren't terribly efficient but they are much better than heat lamps. If you don't like that idea, try the "infrared bulbs". They are really little radiant heaters instead of bulbs, but they are more efficient in getting the heat where it needs to be and not wasting energy creating light.

I'm not sure where you are at but the price you pay for electricity is nuts. I run two Sportsman incubators, four old commercial brooders and a 800 CFM blower in my barn and it costs me $15 to $20 a month.

Edited for a typo.
big_smile.png
 
Last edited:
I use every bit that many if not more, 5 full blown incubators, and tons of heat lamp brooders, turned them all off 2 bills ago, only a $25 difference and havent hardly used the a/c either since then, and still just $25 difference.. A few heat lamps dont equal $200 a month, dont care how many watts it is. I'd check into all you appliances and stuff and be sure they are running properly, a deep well running all the time will jack it way up....I have 4 salt water aquariums, 2 are reefs and we run like 1,000 watts of lights on them 12 hours a day to simulate the sun for the corals, again, the bill was only about a $25 or so increase......
 
I use a HUGE incubator and 4 heat bulbs and my electric bill has not gone up...I have been doin this since the end of Aug. It is always under $200. Has your light company gone up on the price per kilowatt? I'd check to make sure.
 
Quote:
since i too live in California i would suggest the same i know here in the bay area we have had our prices go up and not jus tthta but the electrical companies have installed new meters, which calculate a different way so you might want to check into that
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Worm94
Questions about DIY incubator and current incubator
Replies
3
Views
977
gimmie birdies
gimmie birdies
D
    • Love
    • Like
First time hatching from my own flock
4 5 6
Replies
54
Views
3K
Slothinc
Slothinc
Ilovechickens2525
    • Like
First time hatching chicks
23 24 25
Replies
247
Views
10K
wrathsfarm
wrathsfarm
Noy
    • Love
Hatching and brooding chicks in winter
2
Replies
10
Views
1K
Noy
Noy
Ilovechickens2525
    • Like
Brooder plate vs heat lamp
Replies
5
Views
4K
MapleLaurelFarms
MapleLaurelFarms

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom