Comments on: Winter Thermostat Setting: How Low Can You Go?

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:16:17 +0000

We keep our thermostat at 55 degrees day and night. We live in the midwest and the temperature as I am writing is 21 degrees. Layering our clothing and using wool blankets at night helps. Our home is heated with propane and we think we are saving a considerable amount of money each month. Requiring one less tank of propane a season saves us hundreds of dollars. Just can’t wait for that warm summer sun!

By: Pete S

Pete S — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:16:13 +0000

For the record, this is not true. Some explanations of this are provided here:
http://askville.amazon.com/lowering-home-thermostat-night-save-fuel-degree-matter-temperature/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=6242918
The bottom line is that keeping your home warmer for longer will take more energy.

By: Dale

Dale — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:36:02 +0000

My house is set to 55 and only goes up to 66 from 300pm until 930pm then back down. But I question if that is really worth it. In the worst part of winter oustside temps in the teens and twenties, the furnace turns on to get to 66 it takes at least 2-3 hours. Is that really saving anything? Its an older house. I read all these different rules about at least 8 -10 degress for at least 8 hours. But nobody gives any instight on how long a furnace shoudl run to bring it back to t eh warmer temp. There has to be some kind of break point where your just wasting time, energya nd most of all money. Not to mention freezing at the lower temp

By: howard

howard — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:34:59 +0000

how big is your house, what region of the country do you live in?
We wanted to insulate and it seemed about 1000 to 3000$, ( noting: ours is a, depending on what you count: a 5500 s.f. home if you count all three levels, just under 4000 just the upper two. We also were concerned about preserving the eave vents, you don’t want to block those or the attic doesn’t have any ‘makeup’ air flow in summer to let heat out the ridge or gable end vents, whichever your house has.
Did the insulation job include doing that? (“tru-vents” i believe they’re referred to as, in the bays at the intersection of each rafter to wall connection )
also, then you can’t walk around up there to add lighting, electrical, cable, internet features as your home and family needs evolve very easily. did you install catwalks? or do you intend to just move the insulation around to find joist to walk on?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:03:21 +0000

We just bought a house and at first kept it at 68 in the day for the 2 little ones (an infant and a toddler). After seeing our gas bill, I used the programmable thermostat and set the day temp to 65 and night temp to 62 and this is amazing for me since I’m the type who gets cold all the time. However, i think this is actually a good thing because now my body is better at regulating my own temp and my kids have adjusted fairly well. When it gets really cold at night we just use the small electric heater for the bedroom. Also shaved off like 20 dollars on my gas bill…nice.

By: Prepare Your Home for Winter | Frugal Dad

Prepare Your Home for Winter | Frugal Dad — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:41:40 +0000

[...] during the day, but warm things up before you arrive home from work. Here are some thoughts on the ideal thermostat setting for [...]

By: Tyrill

Tyrill — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:27:44 +0000

does droping your temp’s at night save more than keeping it the same all 24 hrs? i was told something about bringing all the walls back up to temp takes more energy than just keeping it the same. house it properly insulated and windows and doors are new.

By: Wife of Money-thrifty Man

Wife of Money-thrifty Man — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:52:19 +0000

If you have a heat pump system, it is best to find a temperature that you feel comfortable around 68 degrees, two up or to down, and leave it there. (In todays economy, every two degrees costs you around $20 per month) You will spend more money adjusting your thermastat or setting it automatically at variable settings throughout the day. It takes a greater effort and more electricity to increase the temperature even by two degrees. Oil/gas furnaces do not. If you are going out of town and will be gone longer than a couple days, it is then more economical to reduce the temp to around 60 and schedule it to increase for your return.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:32 +0000

Old topic, I know, but I thought I’d add to it.

I’m glad I found this topic. I thought I was a freak of nature! Over the years living in Alaska, I’ve gotten used to keeping the house cooler. During the day, I’m usually happy with 64-66, though sometimes I get a chill and crank it up to 68 or 70, but never higher. At night, I’ll turn it down to 58, though in the winter, we keep it at 62 to help keep pipes from freezing. Any higher than 62, though, and I wake up in the middle of the night sweating!

I travel frequently, and I now always have to crank the hotel’s air conditioner up to maximum before going to bed just so I can sleep.

Maybe it’s that I’ve really gotten used to the feeling of being chilly but buried under several nice, warm blankets. It’s a cozy feeling. Sleeping in a warmer room with fewer/thinner blankets just isn’t the same.

By: Computerman

Computerman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:10:03 +0000

Hi we live in Middlebug, Fl jus 30 minutes outside Jacksoville, Fl this morning the temp drop to about 43 here I set the thermostat to about 75 and my wifesaid she still feels cold What temp should I set it to.