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using natural gas to heat a home, which option is cheaper in the long run (long run being one months billing cycle) turning the heat off and on each day, or keeping the heat on but moving the thermostat up and down

2007-01-23 10:19:55 · 10 answers · asked by big_poppa_pumpkin 1 in Home & Garden Maintenance & Repairs

10 answers

If you turn the heat off your gas bill will be zero. The house will be very cold and you risk freezing pipes, with associated repair expense.

The best approach is to reduce the temperature at night and while you are away, and return to what you feel is comfortable while at home. When the thermostat is set to a lower temperature the heat energy of the house is lost to the environment. The furnace or heaters do not have to work harder to restore the higher temperature, but they will have to operate for a longer period of time. This longer operating time is offset by a longer period of rest while the house cools. An equal amount of heat is required to return the house to the original temperature. These two parts are equal and you will have no net savings.

The savings occur while the house is at the lower temperature. Heat loss through the walls will be reduced and the furnace will have to replace less energy. The longer time period you have the thermostats set to the lower temperature the greater will be the savings. In some cases the house will never reach the lower set point due to inherent heat generation in appliances such as the refridgerator or televisions left in standby mode and during the day there will also be heat delivered by sunlight through windows.

2007-01-23 11:12:18 · answer #1 · answered by Warren914 6 · 0 1

Get a programmable thermostat and turn the heat down at least 10 degrees when you are not home.

2007-01-23 10:23:15 · answer #2 · answered by CctbOh 5 · 1 0

It would be cheaper in the long run to keep the heat on but turn it down (maybe 5 degrees, not more than 10) when you are gone during the day. It takes more energy to keep warming up a cold house than to maintain a constant temperature. If you are gone for a few days or more, it would be cheaper to turn it way down (but not so low your pipes freeze).

2007-01-23 10:26:40 · answer #3 · answered by Jdogg1508 3 · 1 2

if you turn your heat off and on constantly it's going to cost you more. the heater has to work harder and longer to heat your place to what you want it at for a temperature. if you just leave it at a certain setting, it will cost you less, because the minute the temperature goes below the heat setting, it will turn on, but only for a minute to heat it to the setting you have it at. if you go out and don't want the heat the same while you are gone, just turn it down some. trust me, I've experimented with this.

2007-01-23 10:25:24 · answer #4 · answered by Jamie Lynn 3 · 1 1

Get a programmable thermostat, and setting it to a lower temp when you're not home would be better than turning it off, because it would have to work harder and longer to get the temp up to what you set it to.

2007-01-23 12:52:32 · answer #5 · answered by David 1 · 0 0

You never want to turn your heat off completely it takes much more to heat up a cold room than it does to maintain a low even temp.

2007-01-23 10:24:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3 2

Set it at an acceptable temp and leave it there.

Its the fluctuations in temp up and down that cost you.

Miketyson26

2007-01-23 10:27:28 · answer #7 · answered by miketyson26 5 · 1 1

turning it down....it's easier to heat a few degrees.

2007-01-23 10:25:31 · answer #8 · answered by The Emperor of Ecstasy 5 · 1 0

you risk pipes freezing and BURSTing. just turn down.

2007-01-23 10:31:50 · answer #9 · answered by angel b 1 · 0 0

cctboh has the answer.

2007-01-23 11:04:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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