Cheaper? Keep temp at consistent level or drop it at night?

[Chicago526]

I have a programable digital thermostat. Right now I have it set for 60 durring the day (DH is home sleeping as he works nights) then 68 in the evening, then 60 over night when I'm sleeping, then 68 again for about 2 hours in the morning when I'm up and getting ready for work.

But I was thinking, if the furnace has to work to get the house from the mid to low 60's to 68, doesn't that burn more natural gas then to just keep it 68 all the time, even when we aren't home or are asleep?

Which is cheaper? Keeping it a level temperature 24/7 or droping it when we don't need the heat on?

 

[poohj80]

We also use our programmable thermostat like you do, but we don't make the changes in temp more than 5 degrees or the furnace will kick in the heat strips which REALLY add to the heating costs. I would suggest maybe just dropping your temp to 63-64 instead of 60 so your heat doesn't have to work as hard to warm back up to 68.

 

[donnabc]

I always thought that if you keep your temp at a constant rate, it burned less energy and therefore cost less.
However, last year I went to the power company to complain about my bill and was told the exact opposite. To drop it down 10 or so degrees while I am away at work to save energy.

 

[poohj80]

I think a lot of it depends on how cold your area is. If it's 30 degrees outside and your heater is trying to maintain a house temp of 68 all day long, even when no one is home, it's going to be working hard constantly all day long.

 

[MickeyBabe]

Hmm... A job for the MythBusters perhaps?

 

[jorodopo]

Remember too that the temperature on your thermostat is not necessarily the temperature in your house. Depending on how well insulated the walls and roof are and if your windows leak at all can make a big difference. If all of the warm air is leaving then your furnace is working harder to go 10 degrees but with good insulation/windows the actual temperature change might be a lot less than 10 degrees.

We program our thermostat. Right now it is programmed for 64 but is still reading 68 from our bump up to 70 for the two hour getting dressed time of 5:30 - 7:30 and the thermometer I have upstairs is reading 66 (isn't heat supposed to rise? )
Temperature outside in the shade is 49.

In our last house we had terrible windows and we used to saran wrap them. It really did help a lot. That is until DS who was ~3 at the time decided it was so much fun to put holes in the window. "Look Mom, the glass doesn't break"

Stay warm!

 

[Shagley]

Which is cheaper? Keeping it a level temperature 24/7 or droping it when we don't need the heat on?

I have wondered that also, so I went searching and found this on the internet...

A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings. This misconception has been dispelled by years of research and numerous studies. The fuel required to reheat a building to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature. You save fuel between the time that the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the next time heat is needed. So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12720

 

[becky7953]

Hmm... A job for the MythBusters perhaps?

My DH loves that show! It is kind of interesting....

 

[KarenAylwood]

What about when you have electric heat? (heat pump) I've heard that when you have electric heat, it will work harder and you will use tons of energy trying to warm up the space after the temp has been down for a long time.

My friend told me that when her parents first got their house (or apt I can't remember) they had one of the highest electricity bills in the city because they were turning it way down during the day and up at night.



This is my first winter in my apt where I'm actually keeping track of the energy bills. I'm worried about what to do!

 

[Nicolepa]

Our themostat is on a timer so it is set to 60? (I have no idea what dh has done) at night and 68 during the day. He also wired it into our alarm system so every time the alarm is set to away it turn the thermostat back to 60 as well. The first year he did this all of our consumption went down significantly So I'd say yes turning it down does save money. I am a SAHM so if we are home then the heat needs to be on all day but if we are out and about we aren't paying to heat the house. I would never shut it off if I had to think about it, but because it does it automatically it saves us a bunch of money. Even if I'm out all day it only takes about 30 minutes for the temp to get back to 68

 

[Chicago526]

I have wondered that also, so I went searching and found this on the internet...

.... So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12720

Hmmm...in that case I may make it so the heat won't come on in the morning, either. I'm only up for about an hour in the morning any way. Then I will only have it at 68 from 4 to 10 PM, the rest of the time it will be set at 60 (obviously only durring the work week! Saturday and Sunday I'll have it on! )

Thanks!

 

[aero99]

We have an electric heat pump (our whole house is electric) and we do put the temp down during the day and when we sleep. We also have a newer unit (3 years old) but we only pay $133/month (budget plan) for all our electricity use (~1590 sqft house). We paid more before we went to the programable thermostat. BTW, I hate being too cold or too hot so when we are home, the temp is beween 69-74 depending on the season.

Melissa

 

[KarenAylwood]

We have an electric heat pump (our whole house is electric) and we do put the temp down during the day and when we sleep. We also have a newer unit (3 years old) but we only pay $133/month (budget plan) for all our electricity use (~1590 sqft house). We paid more before we went to the programable thermostat. BTW, I hate being too cold or too hot so when we are home, the temp is beween 69-74 depending on the season.

Melissa

Melissa- when you say you put it "down" during the day and at night- what temperature difference are we talking? (I know you said 69-74 but I'm assuming thats the temp you have when you're home). I have a heat pump as well and am going into my first winter with it.

And btw- I see you live in Hampton Roads. I just moved to Norfolk, VA from Williamsburg in August!

 

[aero99]

Melissa- when you say you put it "down" during the day and at night- what temperature difference are we talking? (I know you said 69-74 but I'm assuming thats the temp you have when you're home). I have a heat pump as well and am going into my first winter with it.

And btw- I see you live in Hampton Roads. I just moved to Norfolk, VA from Williamsburg in August!

Well HI! neighbor. We live in Hampton Roads. I can check the setting for the air now but we won't be turning the heat on till Monday. We are having our unit serviced that morning and we are determined not to use it till it is served. (right now the house is 69 and not bad at all). We did 75 when we were here and 78 when we were away or asleep.

Melissa

 

[DisneyKT]

I live in Mass and I have to say this 60 degrees brrrrr Man that's way to cold for me. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I was thinking bumping it all the way up to 68 just to get ready for work was a bit of a waste.

One experiment we are trying is using a space heater in the room where my mom is most of the day. Why keep the whole house warm when you are only using one room where you actually want it warm? What I haven't told her is since the thermometer is so close to that room the furnace is staying off even longer than she might expect.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

LOL, I have not turned my heat on yet. I live in Mass and I will admit it is a little chilly but I have a 15 rm old Victorian so need I say more? My son was watching a show on government subsidised housing and the tennents were complaining that their heat was on 60 and then he found out that it was illegal for the temp to be so low in subsidised homes. He now drives me crazy and says, "Even the people in the projects have more heat than we do." In turn I reply with a quote from a Christmas Carol which I have adapted , "Heat is costly and heat is momentary. What are these (as I point to my sweater, and sox)? Garments and when purchased may be used indefinately to keep you warm." Drives him NUTS!! AHH the joys of being a parent.

 

[rantnnravin]

I live in Mass and I have to say this 60 degrees brrrrr Man that's way to cold for me. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

I agree. But, i also think that temp is a relative thing if you live in a coastal area. The dampness makes the cold seem colder.
just my .02
if i had my druthers, the thermostat'd be set at 80!!

 

[bicker]

As indicated earlier:

The fuel required to reheat a building to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature. You save fuel between the time that the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the next time heat is needed. So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save.

The confusion, I think, comes from the fact that this is not true of re-air-conditioning a building to a comfortable temperature. In that case, prolonged stress on the system to cool a space that has been allowed to get exceedingly warm (and humid) does waste energy. For that reason, while you may want to spread your home and away temperature settings on your programmable themostat during the winter, you will want to keep them very close together during the summer.

 

[Shelby5514]

I live in Mass and I have to say this 60 degrees brrrrr Man that's way to cold for me.

I agree. Thankfully the back of our house is all windows and around 2:30 the sun starts to come in and warms the house to a nice and toasty 77-80. I can't function when its cold, I end up sitting on the couch with a blanket and the cat to keep me warm.