In winter is it best to turn down thermostat a small amount or large amount while away from home?

Question

When we turn the temperature down to say, 40 degrees F, while away in winter the furnace has to run less. Someone told us it is better to just turn it down a few degrees ( ie. 65 or max 62 Fahrenheit), as it costs twice as much to heat the house back up to room temperature as we save by lowering it. The suggestion was that if we are away for quite a while, like a month, the much lower temperature would save money, but if only gone for a few days it costs too much to get the house warmed up again. Is it true that it costs much more to heat a house back up to room temperature, than we save by lowering the thermostat to a low temperature, and for what length of time would one have to leave it at the lower temperature for it to be a cost saving?

Answer 1

Here's the basic rule I always tell my customers:

If you are going to be gone about 8 hours, don't reduce the temperature more than 5 degrees during the heating season. You will spend more energy bringing the temp back up than had you not changed it.

For extended periods, a bigger temperature drop is acceptable. 40 degrees sounds a little extreme but as long as the pipes don't freeze and the houseplants can tolerate it, go for it. 40 degrees at the thermostat may be well below freezing where the pipes are so be careful.

As a general rule, thermostats have a 2 degree plus or minus tolerance and the human body cannot detect a change in temperature less than 3 degrees so gradually reducing the setting by a degree or two a week, the body will acclimate. You can over the course of a winter, save quite a bit of energy in that manner.

If you have a night setback thermostat, drop the temp back a little after your regular "go to bed" time and leave it there until an hour before your regular "back from work" time. If you leave the blower on "constant fan" you will also have better comfort with less air stratification (hot on ceilings and cold at the floor) as well as better air filtration. Some newer stats have a 30% fan timer setting which is a compromise of energy use versus comfort.

Adding a humidifier to your system or a freestanding unit in the house will also improve both health and comfort. Winter air is less humid. Humidity holds heat longer and actually feels warmer than dry air of the same temperature. It's better for the skin and respiratory system and wood furniture as well.

Answer 2

YUP, conspiracy therories at work again Plenty of people have given legitimate reasons for carrying large amounts of concealed cash overseas.. I'll just add my story I haven't gone to another country to adopt (yet.. planning to adopt but don't know which route). But I did go to Colombia, South America, to teach ENglish for 3 months at a school in the jungle.. pretty much a mission post, if you will.. This was during the time when the guerillas were a MAJOR problem and being an American in the Jungle was risky. I absolutely bought a fanny pack and kept all my important documents, money, etc, in it. THe theory is that it's much less easy for a pick pocket to succeed in picking from your front, rather than a purse swinging at your side. To make it even more secure, I zipped my jacket OVER the fanny pack. So, a pickpocket would have to unzip my jacket without me noticing, AND my fanny pack.. But really, it wasn't even obvious I was wearing a fanny pack. Looked like I was preggo.. LOL.. I thought it was pretty good concealment.. Never thought of sewing money into my clothing, but I could see that. When I went to Bangkok with a choir we were told that due to theft, our purses should have a zipper and we should walk with our hand resting on the zipper of the purse. I still have that habit I developed for my first travel into a 3rd world country. AWW... once again we greedy infertiles have shot holes in the "Everything with adoption and all APs are corrupt" theory... I'm sure I speak for Kristy, Jen, L and others when I say we're sorry we didn't mean to burst anyone's bubble... I can also back up what Randy says about his friend. When I asked my INdian friend about adopting from INdia she said from what she knew it was all scams.. agencies (and first families!!) just asking for more and more money, never intending to actually allow you to adopt.. OH.. but the APs can't be victims!! They're the bad guys, right??

Answer 3

I would say if you have no animals at home, turn it down to about 50. Nothing will freeze and the heat in the home with no one home will stay pretty consistent. So the heater will not come on much. But the length of time would matter and I am not sure of how long turning the thermostat down would count. Call your utility company and ask them. They should know.

Answer 4

If you are just out for the day, & return each night, turn it down slightly to say 60F for the day.
If away longer, like a week, returning on weekends, 50F.
If away for a month, try 40F to prevent pipes freezing.

Answer 5

If you are going to be gone for more than three days, lower it really low unless you have pets that need the warmth.

The advice you received seems sound. I live by it.

Answer 6

leave it high enough to keep the water pipes from freezing. 12 to 14 degrees is a good value.

Answer 7

It's this simple. If you are not at home, and if you do not have a sensitive aquarium that requires your home to be at a certain temperature, you should turn it offcompletely. It's as simple as that. Don't use more energy than you absolutely have to.

Answer 8

5% is the rule! Unless you're talking about days or weeks... then just keep it warm enpough so the plumbing doesn't freeze.

Answer 9

well leave the tempature low to save money. the heat is on it will cost more money