Question about oil furnace, and thermostat?

Question

does it burn more oil to turn your thermostat down low at night, like 62 and keep it that way till morning then turn it up when you get up to about 70?
or keeping it at 70 all night?
I know it sounds stupid, but the furnace has to run longer to get it warmer in the morning, if I turn it down, as to, if I let it alone (common sence)
It's just that it gets way too warm in my upstairs, and i can't afford to have things switched over to 'zone' heating.

Any answers would be appreciated.

Oh yeah, I mean gradually turn it up to 70 like a few degrees every hour.

Answer 1

Reducing the temperature will always reduce heating cost. If you are considering doing this at night, the time in which the furnace is off during cool down will be exactly the same as when it comes back on to restore the original temperature. The cool down and warm up times essentially cancel. The savings occur during the time at which the house reaches the minimum temperature. Sometimes it will cool down slightly and just residual warmth coming from the fridge, television, and other items will heat the house. At the lower temperature there less heat loss through the walls, so the furnace will not have to replace as much energy.
Would it be feasible for you to install a second thermostat upstairs to control the temperature at night? It would have to be connected via a switch so that when you go upstairs you change to the upstairs thermostat, and switch it to the downstairs thermostat in the morning.
Whichever way you go, consider getting a programmable thermostat to adjust temperature automatically for you, and experiment with how much temperature drop you feel is comfortable at night.

Answer 2

well thats tough without seeing it but u hv 8 degrees diff there so it will take longer hv u tried setting therm were u fill comfortable and then runing a fan on low 4 the upstairs and this will also force some hot air downstaiers sinc heat rises and this may help fuel bill plus warm up donstaiers faster and this in return will shut furnace off sooner

Answer 3

good rule of thumb is to turn it down 2-3 degrees only. Like you said ,the more you turn it down, the longer it takes to get back up to a comfortable temperature. The longer it takes the more fuel is wasted.

Try looking at a programmable thermostat as well, that way it automatically turns down & you don't forget

Answer 4

Seems to me the thermostat is kaput. Nothing lasts for ever. The hot water heater is on it's own system. I also have oil heat and oil fired hot water heater. They are two different things.