i still cant figure out the water bill?
914825
You can use around 50 gallons of water in a single five-minute shower.  You use at least 2 gallons of water every time you flush your toilet.  If you have an old house, it could be 7 gallons per flush.  A dishwasher uses 10 gallons per run.  Double that if you hand-wash your dishes.  Watering your lawn?  Cooking?  etc, etc...\n\nI think you could easily get to 27K gallons, but no way you could get to the high end unless you had major plumbing problems.
337674
Oh! you asked a very good question I wish I could give you 1000 points.\n\nWhen I use shower I never use watch, minimum 45 minutes.  \nMay be that is why my water bill is high?
945879
The first method would be to compare you utility bills to see if there is a drastic change (or any) between last year at this time and the most recent bill with the insulation on.  \n\nFor an exact calculation, you need the following:\n\nThe R value of the insulation\nLength of pipe insulated\nTemperature of the water inside the pipe\n\nThen plug them into this equation:\n\nQ=UA(Tinside - Toutside)\nwhere Q is the amout of Btus \nU is the thermal insulation (or lack there of) expressed as =1/R\nTinside = water temperature\nToutside = air temperature (average) where the pipe is installed\nA = the surface area of the pipe\n\nOnce you get that for the insulation, do it once with out the insulation.  For the second R value without the insulation, use a R-value of 0.5.  The two different Q's you get will be the amount of Btu's you saved.  \n\nTo convert that to $, you need to convert the Btu's (Q) to kW.  Divide the Btu's by 3.412 to get watts.  That will be the amount watts you saved at your hot water heater/boiler or whatever is heating the water (assuming it is electric).  You then look at your electric bill to determine the cost $/W or $/kWh.  Take the number you got for watts and convert to kilo Watts by dividing by 1000.  Then multiply it by the cost off of you utility bill for $/kWh.  \n\nThis is all for a one hour period.  You need to calculate that for a month, day, or year (720, 24, 8765 hours respectively).  You now have what your savings for this project was.
1063500
I am sorry that you are going thur a bad time. And I know there are some places that will help you. However you waited until the last minute to try and find help and these people usually take longer than a few days to help someone. But don't be discouraged. Still go and try and find help. Maybe you could pawn some things to pay the bill. Water bill are usually not that expensive. Or ask a friend or neighbor for help. Keep your head up! Good luck to you and your children. \nPS. And for the people who are leaving nasty replies. Stop it! You don't know this woman's situation. She may have been married and her husband died and she is left to take care of their children all by herself. Or she could have been laid off or fired! Or even if she did have four children with no job or husband she didn't give her children away. She is still trying to take care of them. Never be so quick to judge. You never know what the Lord has in store for you.
1138488
I live in California and I got my first apartment when I was 19.  I had a really good paying job so I didn't really struggle.  By law they have to pay 2 utilities.  Usually it's water and trash. What I thought was kind of weird was that there was a time when my rent was late, and I had to pay a 60 dollar late fee and write a statement as to why my rent was late.  I thought that was a bit much.  Also, If I had someone over for more than 3 days, I had to get permission from the landlord and stuff. It's pretty easy if you are tight with your money for the first couple of months so you can see exactly how much your utilities are
922391
It depends on what the apartment heats with, if you need cable, and a phone, and if the landlord pays the water and sewage.  Take your time looking. I would suggest that you find an apartment where the water is paid. Also, cable really is not a necessity. Make that one of your last priorities. And a phone, use either a cell phone, or a home phone not both. I would suggest a basic home phone. Meaning, no caller ID, and no call waiting. When it comes to a place where you heat with gas, keep your thermostat at on temp. and leave it there. If you keep your thermostat set at 64-65 all winter you will save yourself a lot of money. Invest in some thick socks to run around the house in and a couple of thick blankets to sleep with. You won't freeze and you will adjust to that temperature and become comfortable with it.  As far as electric goes, be careful with it.Just use common sense by not leaving any lights on that you don't need. Remember, not only do you have to worry about your utilities, you are going to have a grocery bill, cleaning/laundry supplies, necessities such as toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, soap. You are doing good now by looking for ways to create a budget by asking for advice.  There are alos efficiency apatments where all utilities are paid. Ofcoarse you won't find one with a washer/dryer hook-up. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you find an apartrment that does not have a washer/dryer hook-up, the laundry mat can rack up a nice bill for you real quick. Good luck!
262235
This is very serious for you. Here is how I interpret the situation. I am taking all the information you gave in your question:\n\n1) one building\n\n2) one electric meter\n \n3) five tenants\n\n4) tenant # 1 lease agreement says the electric is included in rent payment.\n\n5) tenant #2 lease agreement says the electric is divided equally by the five tenants.\n\n6) tenant # 3 (which is you) lease agreement says you will pay 65% of the electric. \n\nYou don't say anything about the other 2 apartments. They must be vacant?\n\nNone of you have received a bill or note from the landlord in at least three months.(Jan. Feb. Mar.). You ask repeatedly and no response from the landlord. THEN you are presented a bill of $2647.00, which you are expected to pay within five days from the date you received it.\n\nYou then called the utility company and they said the bill for $2647.00 was for the entire, total building. You need a copy of the bill showing the specific addresses.\n\nIf I have all this straight it sounds to me like your landlord does not have a clue as to what he does. I will assume all of you have your copy of the leases stating what you signed and agreed to pay, right? Again, if I am correct, you have three choices here.\n1) Go to the landlord and state exactly what you did in your letter above. Ask if he thinks this is a fair deal and why did he do this to you?\n\n2) If you and the other two tenants have the signed leases you really have it made. Here's how: #1 is safe. Take the bill and divide it by five. #2 pays his portion. Since the bill is divided by the five tenants it must be assumed the other four (according to #2s lease) will pay in equal parts the remaining balance of the bill. It is not your fault #1 has his electric included in the rent. It is not your fault that there are two vacant units. SOOOOOOOOOOOO, Divide the$2647.00 by 5 = $529.40 per unit. Right? Now, you do your part and pay 65% of  $529.40= $344.11.  Makes sense, huh?\n\n3) This is the last one, get an attorney.\n\nActually I like my #2 the best. Think about that. I cannot believe I have spent all this time on one answer. I was really angry at the damn landlord. You had better let us know what happens.(me, at least)     MUCH LUCK!!!!
1184205
Sweetie?  Go ahead and buy that ac unit and tell your landlord you have taken it off your rent.  Provide him with a receipt and voila, you have what you need.  I have been doing that to my owner of my condo for two years now.  Anything that needs to be replaced, I take care of myself, and include a letter with the rent money minus the cost of the new air conditioner, garbage disposal, dishwasher, etc.  It worked for me but actually, only you know your landlord well enough to know if he will have a hissy fit if you take this approach or what not.  Know what I mean?  I have lived in West Virginia and I know that life can be unbearable due to the humidity in the Summer months.\n\nYou have to have your rent money to pay, so go ahead and get it yourself.  It will cost you nothing and there isn't much he can do about it, because believe it or not, West Virginia is not considered prime real estate and most owners are just happy to be able to rent their property out to a steady, good tenant.  Good luck on your cool adventure.  LOL!
637031
yes they can do this... they should really wait until your lease is up to make any kind of changes... make sure that they give you written notification of this... you may want to ask the new landlords to keep it the same... where you still pay for the water...
130798
ask your electricity provider if they have a budget program. That is what I did with my gas bill.
90056
I wasn't sure of what level of detail you were looking for.\n\nEasier to understand:\nhttp://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wwvisit.html\n\nhttp://www.humboldt.edu/~ere_dept/marsh/flow1.html\n\nMore difficult to understand:\nhttp://waterhome.brc.tamus.edu/texasyst/household.html\n\nhttp://www.knovel.com/knovel2/Toc.jsp?SpaceID=10086&BookID=290
677564
It will be very difficult to get a plumber to finance $30,000.   You should request repairs on one unit at a time.  But make sure to tell the plumber your plans of eventually replacing all of the pipes because he can pull out at any time. You've seen those signs that say "We reserve the right to refuse service."  Well ......Don't try to be tricky.  You will still be billed.  And you may be over-charged! AND you will be EXPECTED TO PAY IN FULL.  AND THEY CAN REPORT TO CREDIT BURREAUS.  \n\n\nAlso, try a government grant.
217943
I'd call the power company and ask for a reread.  Usually they will explain to you how to read a meter and hold while you check the reading.\n\nYour bill has almost doubled, so that means heavy usage or a raise in rates.  Sometimes a bill will be higher if the meter is normally read every 29 days and the company goes a month and reads it on the 34th day, but it wouldn't be that high.\n\nPossibilities are more baking, using more heat with central air or floor heaters (wattage gobblers), an actual raise in rates (Progress Energy was allowed to hike its rates to cover all the money it lost restoring power from the '04 hurricanes.  The raise just went into effect this year, and I saw a dramatic raise in my bill.  The usage is the same, it just costs almost twice as much for it.  I'm going to be broke this summer, if I can stand the heat, the humidity will still need to be reduced.)\n\nAnother possibility is someone is tapping into your electric line.  If you cannot trace the increase by checking for rate increases or usage, I'd ask them to send an electrician out to check there isn't "unauthorized usage."\n\nMake sure there isn't a charge for this.
47487
1 $50 bill\n1 $5 bill\n4 $2 bills\n\nI just said that.
63927
Your security deposit is what you pay when you move into your rental it is there for when you move out to cover expenses for cleaning and/or repairing the premises... As for the water I don't quite understand, though if you are receiving the water bill in your name then you pay it otherwise he does. \n All the laws are different depending on where you live. Read your lease carefully. Contact your tenants union for your area. If you can't find one in the phone book call your city hall, they should be able to direct to correct place... Good Luck
364448
not sure how they do it but tampa usally sends me a bill in early june
791187
I had the same thing happen in August.  We went camping, had no cell service and had to use a pay phone to call home and check-in with the house sitter.  We made 1 collect call and had my brother in law call us right back.  That phone call cost me $23.  When I got the bill in Sept. I almost fell over, I couldn't believe it.\n\nI just paid it and chalked it up to a lesson learned.\n\nAnd the lesson learned is always carry change, or a credit card you can charge the call to.  Sounds stupid to charge a phone call, but I doubt it would have been $23 that way.\n\nHope this helps, and it doesn't sound stupid, it happened to my dad also.