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What does it cost to run?

Tank heaters, waterers, block heaters and pumps run more than you think. See what each one costs a month, and where the easy savings are.

Your electric rate ($ per kWh) Divide your bill's total by the kWh used, and include delivery charges. Most farms around here pay 13¢ to 20¢.

What	Watts	Hrs/day	How many	Per month

Watts are typical. Check the nameplate or the box. For anything on a thermostat, guess how many hours a day it's actually on. On a cold night, a de-icer runs more than half the time. Set "How many" to 0 for anything you don't have.

Easy savings

Block heater timer

A diesel only needs 2 to 3 hours of heat before you start it, not all night.

An outdoor-rated timer usually pays for itself in the first month.

VFD on the vacuum pump

A variable-speed drive slows the pump down when it doesn't need full vacuum.

Studies often show it cuts the pump's power use by about half. Power company rebates can help pay for it. Grants & rebates →

Waterers

Insulated waterers on a thermostat use far less than an open tank with a de-icer running flat out.

Check them every fall. A bad element or thermostat can run nonstop, or put voltage in the water so cows quit drinking.

The math

Watts × hours a day × how many ÷ 1,000 = kWh a day.

Multiply by 30.4 days and your rate to get the monthly cost.

Costs are estimates from the numbers you enter. Your actual bill depends on your rate plan, demand charges and the weather.

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