I need some help finding some facts about how it saves money to turn the heat down in the house when you are not home during the day my husband thinks that doing this would just make the furnace have to work just that much harder when you do turn the heat up at a certain time
2007-01-31 03:53:38 · 18 answers · asked by M JOHNS 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Look up "programmable thermostat".
We saved a load of money this way. Furnaces are either on or off - they don't work "harder" to catch up.
The rate of heat lost to the outside of a house is determined by the difference in temperature between the outside and inside. If it's 50 degrees outside but 70 inside, you will lose heat much much faster (hence, have to run the furnace more) than if it is 60 degrees in your house.
We used to have it set to go down to 60 at 9 pm (it wouldn't actually get to 60 until maybe 11), come on to 68 at 5 am, go down to 60 at 6 am, come back to 68 at 3 pm. Cut our gas bill by about 40%.
A good programmable thermostat is about $60-100. You will recoup that money in only a couple of months.
Not to mention, most people like me sleep better when it's a little colder in the house.
EDIT keep in mind that you're not exactly turning the temperature down, just the point at which the furnace kicks on. Fine, it runs longer when it does, but then it stays off much longer.
Also, if you are using a heat pump instead of a gas furnace, the savings are reduced. It is explained in the fact sheet below.
2007-01-31 04:06:35 · answer #1 · answered by fucose_man 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't have facts to prove this but I have bills as proof. My Ex always thought the same thing until I proved to him he was wrong. When you turn the heat down everything in the house cools down, not just the air but wall and floors and furniture and bedding, when you turn the heat up everything has to reheat along with the air. If the heat is kept at a constant temperature throughout the day the furnace is less likely to kick on and off.
2007-01-31 12:03:43 · answer #2 · answered by sassywv 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My husband is a master plumber and he agrees with your husband also. He explains it to me like this; if your house is set at 60degrees during the day and night the furnace just maintains that. If you turn it back to 60 and turn it up to 70 when you get home the whole house has to heat up including walls, floors etc. If you just leave it set at 70 the furnace will maintain the entire house temp at 70. It's not going to come on any more then if you left it at 60 all the time. It takes longer and more fuel to bring it back up to temp. but not to maintain a constant temp.
2007-01-31 12:39:24 · answer #3 · answered by justme 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call you utilities company and they will send you info.
I know we were told to turn it down. If it has to start back up again and run then the bill goes up.
Ours actually jumped over a $100 dollars during the summer when we turned our air on and off!!! It was BAD. With our heat right now we just keep it at a even temperature. So far it has not been to bad.
Even temp seems to work :)
2007-01-31 13:52:30 · answer #4 · answered by Ann 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your utility company states that fact. The furnace is only going to heat the house to what you have the temp set to. It works harder to keep a higher temp.
2007-01-31 12:01:14 · answer #5 · answered by jude 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should look into some automatic timer device to turn it on just before he gets home. I don't know how a furnace works since I live in Florida but there has to be something for this.
2007-01-31 12:00:21 · answer #6 · answered by Michelle M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hubby and I had this same discussion, we called our local heating company and were told that the best solution is to install a digital, programmable thermostat. That was 2 years ago and we have noticed a remarkable difference in our heating bill.
2007-01-31 12:00:57 · answer #7 · answered by Bridgette B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand a constant temp in a house is ideal.This means the furnace will not have to work as hard to maintain a temp.Just tell your hubby hes right.It sucks eating crow.
2007-01-31 12:14:11 · answer #8 · answered by plumcouch30 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I looked into this for our self and found a wireless thermostat that could save us a lot of money. So you might want to google digital programmable thermostat or wireless thermostat and buy online. Good luck.
2007-01-31 12:24:33 · answer #9 · answered by kati 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just set the thermostat and leave it, as your furnace will just have to work harder to get warm again. if u just leave it alone it will cycle and use less energy than if u turn it down. it won't run anymore than it has to to maintain that temperature.
2007-01-31 12:04:06 · answer #10 · answered by jude 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋