Quote:
Originally Posted by DickR
In crude terms, 1/2 HP is 0.37 KW. If you run it on a timer for say 25% of the time, that's 2.24 KWH per 24 hour period, or 69 KWH in a 31 day month. If your marginal electric rate is 14 cents/KWH, you add just under $10 to the electric bill. If you ran it continuously, you'd pay almost $40 a month, gain nothing in terms of dock protection, and annoy your neighbors who want to get out on the ice in winter.
|
Or you could run it responsibly a few hours a day and spend only a few bucks preventing thousands of dollars in damage to your dock. You could allow ice to lock in around your posts and go years without ice damage or it could happen often. Before our aquatherm we had two episodes of ice damage from heaving. Aquatherms can be a nuisance when used without consideration for neighbors. It can also be a good piece of preventive maintenance if used with common sense.