When heating a 2 story home, how can I save money on the heating bill?

Question

I live in a 4,000 sq. ft. home with 3 bed rooms upstairs that are not used. Is it better to shut the vents & doors and lower the upstairs temp or keep the upstairs temp the same as downstairs, since heat rises?

Answer 1

I assume that you have different thermostats for upstairs and downstairs. If your upstairs is not being used, by all means shut the upstairs vents and lower the thermostat setting. You can reduce the downstairs heat loss by putting a curtain in your stairwell.

Answer 2

Thats a touchy question. Many factors are relevant here. If it was improperly installed then YOU cannot fix it. Ideally a two story home should either be zoned or a second system should do the 2nd fl. Again... you cannot stop the principle of heat transfer. The more evenly you maintain the temperature of each room the less your system will operate. Professionally... properly installed equipment and regular maintenance by a professional is really the only thing that will save you money in the end.

Answer 3

I have the same problem.My home is 3400 Sq.Ft.I can not afford to Heat it either.This Winter my Wife,Our 6 Children and Myself have invested in 8 Hot Water Bottles,which we carry around with us to keep warm.The water for these costs me nothing,because I source from a local Creek.I then use my Wood Burning Outside Stove to heat this Water.At night I light up a wood Burning stove inside all Bedrooms,alongside a Fresh Hot Water Bottle.It may seem excessive but at least my 401k is now maxed out.I shall be able to retire 16 Years early through this and other cost cutting steps I have undertaken.We have no Phone,Gas,Or Electricity.I have also sold our Car.Did I mention that I feed us all for only $180 per Month? That is for 8 of us,all good eating too.To any intellectuals out there,I write from my Work Pc.

Answer 4

there is two traits of concept right here. Turning it down will keep money, yet once you turn it decrease back on, if it runs longer to warmth or cool, you extremely have not kept some thing, and your furnace operating for longer classes of time isn't good for the unit. try a pair such issues as lowering it evening a pair tiers (2-3) and study your utilization. The dollar quantity will selection in accordance to temperature outdoors and expenditures fluctuate (and they don't provide you with a warning of that, they basically strengthen it). verify for acceptable insulation interior the attic 10-12". Do you've sufficient ventialtion on your attic. In 2-tale houses alot of circumstances human beings locate the 2d floor isn't as warmth/chilly then the first. that is straight away concerning to ventilation interior the attic. Do you've a vented soffit? if so can the air get away the attic with the help of ridge vents or air hawks or attic followers. Seal/caulk all of your outdoors doors and residing house windows. make confident your weatherstripping is sealing your doors. verify to work out once you've air coming in lower than your doors. maximum more recent doors have an adjustable threshold. some power businesses furnish power performance service (for a tax credit). once you've rooms the are not often used, close the registers in them (somewhat to usually) see if that is affecting it. Are your residing house windows insulated glass? Insulation is the major, alongside with air infiltration. desire this facilitates some

Answer 5

if the house is zoned, turn the upstairs stat off and shut all the doors. if not, just close down the registers and shut the doors on the rooms that are not in use. heavy, dark curtains that are kept pulled will slow the heat loss through radiation during the night, and keep your carpets from fading.

Possum, hvac guy.

Answer 6

Close the doors and the vents in those unused rooms- some heat goes there but not too much.

Programmable theremostat - lower in day when your at work and at nite when sleeping

Check insulation in attic - add more if not 6 inches

Answer 7

Your doing the most effective thing to minimize wasted heat by shutting the vents and closing the doors.

Answer 8

no close the rooms that arent used and open the shades to use the sun as heat and also place throw rugs under doors of unheated rooms to stop drafts you are right its all simply useing less by simple methods

Answer 9

u probably have zoned heating turn down the upstairs

Answer 10

Geothermal Heating & Cooling check in to it ASAP

set your thermostat where ever you want, because it isn't costing you anything to heat or cool 4,00 sq' home IF INSTALLED RIGHT!!