How much will my gas bill go up if I raise the thermostat????

[nicki.momof3]

I just cannot image setting it a 55. We do set ours lower at night. I would sweat to death with the covers if I didn't.

Denise in MI

Another MI resident here. I 100% agree keeping a house at 50 or 55 is CRAZY. I would freeze and I can not imagine how my 3 little kids would feel. I also have some cover tossers and they wouldwake up frozen if the temp was 55.

We keep ours at 60 while we are at work and 68 when we are at home. Set at 60 makes it freezing when we get home from work but luckly it warms up fast.

We pay $210 year round but we also have a pretty good size inground pool that we keep very warm in the summer so that is factored into our year round bill.

 

[dzorn]

Another MI resident here. I 100% agree keeping a house at 50 or 55 is CRAZY. I would freeze and I can not imagine how my 3 little kids would feel. I also have some cover tossers and they wouldwake up frozen if the temp was 55.

We keep ours at 60 while we are at work and 68 when we are at home. Set at 60 makes it freezing when we get home from work but luckly it warms up fast.

We pay $210 year round but we also have a pretty good size inground pool that we keep very warm in the summer so that is factored into our year round bill.

Ours goes down at night but is programable to kick up to 70 about 20 minutes before we wake and goes back down when the kids leave for school.

Denise in MI

 

[Shelby5514]

Holy Cow! 55? No way.

I agree, try turning it up a few degrees for one billing cycle and see if you like the warmth vs. the added cost. I personally would prefer a nice toasty 78, but we keep it at 72 and wear warmer clothes. We just moved back to Indiana after living in Florida for 11 months and we have become weather wimps. It's snowy and 19, and it just plain sucks!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

BTW - are people's houses really 6800 and 5800 sf? That's a HUGE house!

Sllight exageration, the actual square footage is 6792. That is why we have two systems.

 

[sherabby]

We keep ours on 74 all day and night long. I have Raynauds Syndrom and even with the high temp my hands and feet are like ice.

 

[bdcp]

And, yes our house is 5800 sq feet. Our basement is unfinished so that's about 1900 sq feet unused currently except for storage. We also have a 3 car garage. This is why we have 3 units to heat/cool the house. But considering the size, our gas and electric combined on budget plans are around $420/month which isn't bad. Our previous house was 2700 sq feet including basement and it was one of the smaller homes in our community. This area was rural until about 20 years ago so the homes are all larger than what you'd find in an older community.

 

[QVCshopper]

OK, I wasn't think that the square feet included the basements. That makes sense. My home is bigger than 1800 sf, then; I guess add on another 900 sf, but only part of it is finished.

I'm not on budget billing, but my gas/electric bills can range from under $50 spring to close to $300 in winter. I should try to calculate what I spend on average each month, but we don't want budget billing b/c we like to just pay for what we spend each month.

 

[ChiCat]

I was reading all of these posts about keeping your temps in the 70's with your bill being so much cheaper than mine but then I reread them and saw you are all on the budget plan. I'm worried about our gas bill this winter because he didn't live with me last winter and I would turn my heat down to 60 when I was at work (for 14 hours a night) and then keep it at 65 when I was home alone. Now we are running it 24/7 at 65 so I'm guessing it's going to be bad (about $200+ for a 2 bedroom apartment). But I can stand the cold more than I can stand the heat and I've always figured the budget plan is essentially the same thing when I run my ac at 68 in the summer my electric bill goes up but my gas gets cheaper. 65 in our drafty apartment is cold but we were fleece pjs and sweatshirts and it's fine. I honestly would like it at 70 because of it being so drafty it doesn't feel 70 at all but I'm scared of these next few gas bills.

 

[Halbleib1]

We have a gas heat pump and we keep it between 65-67 in the winter and 68-69 in the summer. Summer is all electric though. Our gas bill last winter was not higher than 50.00 a month. Our electric over the summer was not over 125.00. We also live in a center townhome that is just under 2000 sq ft. which makes a difference in not having windows on either side of us. However we have three stories to heat/cool that do not have individual controls.

FYI we are not on any type of budget plan for either gas or electric. Also we are home most of the time as I am a stay at home mom and currently my dh is unemployed. When we do go out I turn the heat down to around 60.

 

[Halbleib1]

I would try the 5 degree increase at the start of a billing cycle, see what your bill is and then decide if you want to pay for the 10 degree increase.

If you were to raise the temperature 5 degrees all the time, I'd budget for a 20% increase. If you're just doing the 5 degree increase when you're home and awake, then budget for 10%. It should be less, but at least you'll be on the safe side.

Also, our monthly service charge is $10 and has nothing to do with the amount we use. Then we pay for actual gas used on top of that. If this is the case for you, you'll only need to figure the 10 or 20% increase on the energy cost. Example: if your service charge is $10 and your energy currently costs an additional $30, you're paying $40 total. If we do a 10% increase on the $30 energy portion, it adds $3 to your bill, making the total $43.

And it does make sense to have the temp lower at night and when you're not home, as you've been doing.

From the US Dept of Energy website:
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. In fact, as soon as your house drops below its normal temperature, it will lose energy to the surrounding environment more slowly. The lower the interior temperature, the slower the heat loss. So the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save, because your house has lost less energy than it would have at the higher temperature. The same concept applies to raising your thermostat setting in the summer; a higher interior temperature will slow the flow of heat into your house, saving energy on air conditioning.

This is true unless you have an electric heat pump than they say it is actually cheaper to just set the thermostat and leave it.

 

[herdtoDisney]

Hi all. We have a gas furnace that is less than four years old. I'm trying to figure out if it will cost a lot more money to raise the temperature in my house 5 or 10 degrees. Our home is VERY costly to heat and cool...walls of windows on two full sides of the house, facing south and east, etc. I've looked online for information and am coming up with nothing. All I have basically seen was to turn the heat down at night, keep the thermostat at or near 68, etc. That much I already know. What I'm wondering is:

Currently we have the thermostat set at 50 overnight and when no one is home. In the evening when we are here it is set at 55. We have a parabolic heater in the family room when we are in there for extra heat if needed. If I turn up the thermostat to 60, or maybe 65, how much might that increase the gas bill? I know no one can give me a dollar amount, and there are many factors with each house to be considered, but there has to be some kind of percentage/formula that can be used to figure this out. Like, for example, if I increase the heat 5 degrees, will it figure to be a 20% increase to the bill, etc. Is there any kind of formula that anyone knows of? Or, even better is there a heating/cooling professional that knows how much a bill might go up.

TIA

I'm not certain about this-but I think maybe, setting your thermostat higher when you are home and not using the parabolic heater at all, might be cheaper than running that heater. I always thought space heater type units use a lot of energy (is it electric?). With you having a newer furnace, it's probably very efficient. Does your house have zoned heat, which is separate thermostats for different areas? If so, maybe you can turn up the temp for the one with the family room, and see how it goes.

I have a gas furnace (it's 25 or so years old but was apparently very efficient for it's time) and the house has three zones. We put in three programmable thermostats when we got here 2 years ago. Our bill runs around $70 ish in summer and $200-$300 in winter. House is 2800 sf (low ceilings though, it's a 50's split level with an addition), gas includes hot water, but not cooking or dryer. Thermostat is 68 morning and evening, and 62 otherwise, heat only (no ac).

 

[Pwarro]

Hi all. We have a gas furnace that is less than four years old. I'm trying to figure out if it will cost a lot more money to raise the temperature in my house 5 or 10 degrees. Our home is VERY costly to heat and cool...walls of windows on two full sides of the house, facing south and east, etc. I've looked online for information and am coming up with nothing. All I have basically seen was to turn the heat down at night, keep the thermostat at or near 68, etc. That much I already know. What I'm wondering is:

Currently we have the thermostat set at 50 overnight and when no one is home. In the evening when we are here it is set at 55. We have a parabolic heater in the family room when we are in there for extra heat if needed. If I turn up the thermostat to 60, or maybe 65, how much might that increase the gas bill? I know no one can give me a dollar amount, and there are many factors with each house to be considered, but there has to be some kind of percentage/formula that can be used to figure this out. Like, for example, if I increase the heat 5 degrees, will it figure to be a 20% increase to the bill, etc. Is there any kind of formula that anyone knows of? Or, even better is there a heating/cooling professional that knows how much a bill might go up.

TIA

Hello TIA,
I have always looked up for an answer to this question but no success. Thanks to site, I can read some opinions on it. However it appears like folks are distracted by what temp you set your thermostat at instead of addressing your concerns which is what I am looking for.
I also live in a 3 story town house like you in Chicago, IL. The second floor is somewhat warm but the third floor is cooking while the ground/first floor is always cold. I have kept my heat at 75-77 during the day and 71-73 @ night. However I want to raise my thermostat to 80deg during the day but then am not sure what my bill will be like. I have young kids who are home all day and wanna play up and down the house. Otherwise I may install a gas wall heater on the first floor since extending the duct work might be more expensive.
My home is about 3000sqft with a 5ton unit and my highest gas bill so far was $95 including a gas stove and water tank. I have only lived here for a year and the home is 17yrs old.
Can someone help us with the math on what my gas bill will look like in case I was to set my daily temp at 80deg or higher this winter season?
I know what is good for me when it comes to optimum temp but an idea on what my bill will look like if I bump up my thermostat will be very welcome.
Cheers

 

[Judique]

Hello TIA,
I have always looked up for an answer to this question but no success. Thanks to site, I can read some opinions on it. However it appears like folks are distracted by what temp you set your thermostat at instead of addressing your concerns which is what I am looking for.
I also live in a 3 story town house like you in Chicago, IL. The second floor is somewhat warm but the third floor is cooking while the ground/first floor is always cold. I have kept my heat at 75-77 during the day and 71-73 @ night. However I want to raise my thermostat to 80deg during the day but then am not sure what my bill will be like. I have young kids who are home all day and wanna play up and down the house. Otherwise I may install a gas wall heater on the first floor since extending the duct work might be more expensive.
My home is about 3000sqft with a 5ton unit and my highest gas bill so far was $95 including a gas stove and water tank. I have only lived here for a year and the home is 17yrs old.
Can someone help us with the math on what my gas bill will look like in case I was to set my daily temp at 80deg or higher this winter season?
I know what is good for me when it comes to optimum temp but an idea on what my bill will look like if I bump up my thermostat will be very welcome.
Cheers

Unfortunately you bumped a 10 year old thread.

You may get more help by calling your gas/or energy company and asking them to come to your home and do an energy audit.

 

[tvguy]

Hello TIA,
I have always looked up for an answer to this question but no success. Thanks to site, I can read some opinions on it. However it appears like folks are distracted by what temp you set your thermostat at instead of addressing your concerns which is what I am looking for.
I also live in a 3 story town house like you in Chicago, IL. The second floor is somewhat warm but the third floor is cooking while the ground/first floor is always cold. I have kept my heat at 75-77 during the day and 71-73 @ night. However I want to raise my thermostat to 80deg during the day but then am not sure what my bill will be like. I have young kids who are home all day and wanna play up and down the house. Otherwise I may install a gas wall heater on the first floor since extending the duct work might be more expensive.
My home is about 3000sqft with a 5ton unit and my highest gas bill so far was $95 including a gas stove and water tank. I have only lived here for a year and the home is 17yrs old.
Can someone help us with the math on what my gas bill will look like in case I was to set my daily temp at 80deg or higher this winter season?
I know what is good for me when it comes to optimum temp but an idea on what my bill will look like if I bump up my thermostat will be very welcome.
Cheers

Yup, 10 year old thread but just as current today as it was 10 years ago I think checking with your utility provider is a good start.

I can't help as I live in an all electric house in what was built as an all electric subdivision. But in 1991 our electric rates soared due to the cost of paying to close our nuclear power plant. I think the December 1990 electric bills were $250 to $300. So some of the neighbors paid to have a gas line pulled in, and replaced their furnaces, stoves and water heaters to the tune of about $10,000 per household. Then electric rates went back to normal and natural gas rates soared, so December 1991 they were looking at $400-$500 natural gas bills.
I'm in California, and 40 cities here have banned natural gas in new homes and businesses (Oakland did yesterday https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea...tural-gas-in-new-residential-and-15768549.php) because of a move away from fossil fuels, and apparently fumes from natural gas cooking are a huge trigger for those with asthma. So electric it the future here. Just as well, I can't cook on a gas stove. The place I lived for 3 years in college had a gas stove I no matter how low the flame was, I burned my food. I am better able to regulate the heat on an electric stove.

 

[mjkacmom]

Our 1800 square foot house (3 floors plus a basement) is set at 68.it’s 100 years old, radiator gas heat, so that means the dining room (where the thermostat is) is 68. Our downstairs bathroom is probably 60 at best, our bedroom (with the radiator turned off as much as possible) is probably 75. Our gas/electric bill is $450 every o th.

 

[HeatherC]

Wa

We installed a new gas furnace three years ago. At the time the tech told us to pick a temperature we were comfortable with and leave it there. By varying your temperature a lot he said you make your furnace work harder (thereby reducing its life span) and you actually use more gas brining your house up in temperature. We picked 68 (although on really cold days I've been known to bump it to 70). We have 3,300 square feet and three levels. We live in Southern NH. My gas bill is $154/mo (budget plan). This also includes the gas hot water heater, gas stove and gas dryer.

Was going to say the same thing. Better to just keep it where you want it...won’t use as much energy heating up to temperature.

 

[fluffykalie]

So if your 3 floors have an unbalanced heat load you might want to think about dampers. One thought is they may already be there and in the wrong position. Another thought is you can add them and close them partly to the areas getting to warm. That would force the heat load to the other areas of your house which would balance your heat load. I did this in my house and I am happy with it. But there are factors that I don’t know about your house so it’s just and idea. Like if your ducts are easy to get to. I am assuming not since it’s a three story. Also your furnace. if it puts out high CFMs (airflow) your duct could become noisy or it could cause issues with negative and positive pressures. Also duct work can be hard to pull apart and put back together and it’s sharp.

 

[focusondisney]

Hello TIA,
I have always looked up for an answer to this question but no success. Thanks to site, I can read some opinions on it. However it appears like folks are distracted by what temp you set your thermostat at instead of addressing your concerns which is what I am looking for.
I also live in a 3 story town house like you in Chicago, IL. The second floor is somewhat warm but the third floor is cooking while the ground/first floor is always cold. I have kept my heat at 75-77 during the day and 71-73 @ night. However I want to raise my thermostat to 80deg during the day but then am not sure what my bill will be like. I have young kids who are home all day and wanna play up and down the house. Otherwise I may install a gas wall heater on the first floor since extending the duct work might be more expensive.
My home is about 3000sqft with a 5ton unit and my highest gas bill so far was $95 including a gas stove and water tank. I have only lived here for a year and the home is 17yrs old.
Can someone help us with the math on what my gas bill will look like in case I was to set my daily temp at 80deg or higher this winter season?
I know what is good for me when it comes to optimum temp but an idea on what my bill will look like if I bump up my thermostat will be very welcome.
Cheers

We have a small 2 story (1600 sq feet) + basement. We had a new furnace & AC put in about 18 months ago. Normally, the fan runs intermittently, when the heat or AC kick on. There are options for the fan to run continuously at different speeds. The salesman suggested we run the fan continuously to help distribute the heat or AC more evenly. I do run it continuously during the summer & it does seem to help the 2nd floor cool down. I don’t do it a lot during the winter because sometimes it makes it feel like it’s blowing cool air. However, we have a gas fireplace in our family room. That room is small & gets very warm pretty quickly. When that happens I turn the furnace fan on high & the heat from the family room gets moved around the downstairs pretty quickly.

So maybe try running the fan more & see if that helps with the heat distribution.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I am shivering just thinking of some of these temperatures. I am always cold so in the winter I set the thermostat at 74 to be toasty.
Sitting at work with a space heater!

 

[ford91exploder]

Basically independent of fuel type increasing temperature by 1 degree will increase heating cost by 3%.

Now if you use a 'smart' thermostat like a Nest you can save by dialing down the heat while away and sleeping and the nest computes the time necessary to restore temperature to your preferred levels.