Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

Valentinegirl Posted: Oct 12, 2004 01:39 PM

Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

than to turn it down lower and then turn it up when we get home? DH leaves it at 70-72 all day. Is this normal?

CherylBooch Posted: Oct 12, 2004 01:46 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

This is a VERY controversial question in my family if you can believe it!
My dad says you should change it for the time of day... my uncle SWEARS that you should keep it just at one temp.
It gets very heated! you would think what they were discussing!!

I'd love to know what others think! This is our first winter in our house... not sure what we are doing yet.

jmarshall Posted: Oct 12, 2004 01:50 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

I'd like to know the answer too. This is my first winter away from home in our house.

Valentinegirl Posted: Oct 12, 2004 01:50 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

DH doesn't want me turn it down to like 65 when I leave. I don't know if this will make a big difference. I hope our bill isn't alot!

franksbride Posted: Oct 12, 2004 01:50 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

I wish I knew the answer to this question...

This is a very heated topic for me and DH...he wants to keep changing it (just like he did with our central air)...when I say it should be kept at one temp...

Valentinegirl Posted: Oct 12, 2004 01:52 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

Posted by franksbride

I wish I knew the answer to this question...

This is a very heated topic for me and DH...he wants to keep changing it (just like he did with our central air)...when I say it should be kept at one temp...

You are opposite of me and Joe. Whats the temp you say to leave it at?

Anniegrl Posted: Oct 12, 2004 02:42 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

I thought I had heard that if you keep changing it it's more expensive. But I found this so I guess I was wrong: In cold climes, turn the temperature down to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day when you're home and 55 degrees at night and during days when no one is home. For every degree you turn your home's thermostat down you take about 2 percent off your energy bill. So if you lower your thermostat 5 degrees at night and 10 degrees during the day when you're out and about, you can cut as much as 20 percent of your heating costs.

Valentinegirl Posted: Oct 12, 2004 02:47 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

Posted by Anniegrl

I thought I had heard that if you keep changing it it's more expensive. But I found this so I guess I was wrong: In cold climes, turn the temperature down to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day when you're home and 55 degrees at night and during days when no one is home. For every degree you turn your home's thermostat down you take about 2 percent off your energy bill. So if you lower your thermostat 5 degrees at night and 10 degrees during the day when you're out and about, you can cut as much as 20 percent of your heating costs.

Thanks for the info. I guess for us it wouldn't matter cause I wouldn't change it drastically cause I have to keep Chewie warm while I'm at work. I guess I'll leave it at the same temperature except at night.

soon2bMrs Posted: Oct 12, 2004 03:52 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

My dad always says it is better to leave it at one temp because the heat will have to run a long time to bring the house back up to temp. Maybe, the best thing to do is while at work just lowerer the temp 2 to 5 degrees from what you normally want it at, to try and conserve some energy.

StepherG Posted: Oct 12, 2004 04:02 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

We have ours on a timer. It's 67 degrees when we're not home and sleeping and then goes up to 70 degrees when we get up and then again when we get home from work.

I think the key is to not change the temp too drastically because it costs more to keep bringing back up to temp.

skew Posted: Oct 12, 2004 04:07 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

55 degrees at night? where are these people living, alaska?

Jmg11 Posted: Oct 12, 2004 04:26 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

I agree with this 100%

Posted by StepherG

We have ours on a timer. It's 67 degrees when we're not home and sleeping and then goes up to 70 degrees when we get up and then again when we get home from work.

I think the key is to not change the temp too drastically because it costs more to keep bringing back up to temp.

jessnjoey Posted: Oct 12, 2004 09:14 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

I'm hystercial becasue we have yet to turn on our heat!!!!
We're trying to save the oil...sweatshirts and cuddling conserve energy best!!!! LOL

swags1016 Posted: Oct 12, 2004 09:40 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

We haven't either. Frankie asked me this morning whether or not I wanted him to start turning the heat on. I told him as long as I can throw a lap blanket on and be comfy who cares. So this hasn't been an issue for us ---yet!

allaboutthecake Posted: Oct 12, 2004 09:54 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

my FI is so annoying with the heat. He cranks it up so he can walk around in shorts and no shirt. I am always pushing it down. I am so scared to get big oil bills. I hate it when I hear the oil burner go on. I know I sound like a cheapo .

Kate Posted: Oct 12, 2004 10:30 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

Ours is 60 when not home, 63 at night, and 68 when home. Its set on a timer for day, night, weekday, weekend but we adjust it accordingly outside of those parameters. And when we have guests we keep it a little warmer.

We definitely noticed our bill was less when we got the timed thermostat as opposed to the one with just one temp setting. You tend to leave it higher all the time.

I guess it depends on the house too, ours is big and can be drafty so if we left it 68 while not home it would be working all day to keep it at that for nothing.

Valentinegirl Posted: Oct 13, 2004 06:59 AM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

Posted by allaboutthecake

my FI is so annoying with the heat. He cranks it up so he can walk around in shorts and no shirt. I am always pushing it down. I am so scared to get big oil bills. I hate it when I hear the oil burner go on. I know I sound like a cheapo .

Are you married to my DH? He has had it at 72 degrees and leaves it there. I am so hot in the morning getting ready for work. I turned it down and he calls me a cheapo! Wait until he gets the oil bill.

allaboutthecake Posted: Oct 13, 2004 10:06 PM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

OMG I know!!! I just got home tonight and it was at 70. Hello it was 68 today, not 40 degrees. He doesn't want the puppies to be cold. I hate it when he says that....he just doesn't want to have to warmer clothes. I know that FI will definitely be shocked when we get two oil bills in one month because he cranks it up like there's no tomorrow. I told him that if he gets to have the A/C blasting all summer I should be able to control how much heat we use in the winter....he can't have both seasons!!! I love our crazy fights over utilities

Valentinegirl Posted: Oct 14, 2004 07:11 AM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

I have decided to leave it at the temperature DH puts it at to avoid conflict and hand DH the oil bill to pay it.

jms100303 Posted: Oct 14, 2004 08:01 AM

Re: Does it cost more to leave thermostat at 70 all day...

We have yet to turn on our heat this season? Have you all been turning it on already?

This is our first winter in the house, so I am curious to see what our bill will be. The interesting thing is now that I work from home, it will likely be higher. Since this week has already been chilly I just added a fleece and a pair of socks during the day.