Posted: 10/21/2013 6:29:17 PM EDT
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Having moved here from Houston Texas and having no idea about what propane bill will be this winter I thought I'd ask the hive mind. What temp do you keep your house thermostat set at in the winter? Too cold is just uncomfortable, too hot and I'm flushing $$ down the drain. I'm heating with propane so that'll be diffrent. Thin blooded kids and a wife to take care of as well that aren't used to the cold.
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My house is ~5 years old and energy star certified with a fairly efficient furnace. ~2000sq ft ranch house. Basement is not heated or finished. The majority of the house's living space faces south to take advantage of sunny days.
from 5am to 10pm the temp is set at 68f From 10pm to 5am it is set to 67f. I like it cooler at night and yes that 1f makes a difference to me. It seems I get a propane fill about once a month during the winter. So about 4 to 5 a year. I have a 500 gallon tank and fill is between 200-400 gallons with the avg fill being around 320 gallons. Total cost a year seems to be ~$3,000 a year give or take. This is all from memory so take it with a grain of salt. |
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Ours is set at 63 for when the kids are home from school in the morning and after school until 10pm, The rest of the day we keep it at 60. Buy some blankets for the wife, and tell the kids to toughen up  Pretty much the same here. Any one that's cold puts on a sweatshirt. |
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Pretty much the same. 64 in mornings and evenings when kids and wife are home, 60 during the day when I'm home, and at night.
I just wear a sweatshirt or flannel shirt all day, so 60 degrees doesn't bother me usually. If it does for some reason, I'll bump it to 64 for the cycle. |
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I wish I could keep it where you guys do. Obviously we know who wears the pants in their respective households. 
My wife likes it cold cuz she likes to wrap herself in blankets when studying/watching tv. We sleep with the bedroom window open year round(usually only 1/4 open in winter). If I turned the heat up above 62* during the day she'd kill me. At night our place hovers around 54*/56*. |
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Propane can be profane. We live in a ~100 year old farmhouse. We spent over $2k the first winter in propane.
Next year, we insulated the attic, installed a wood stove, and keep the boiler thermostat at 62. When we're home, we fire up the wood stove. Usually, it will continue running most of the heating season (stuff it full of wood at night, close damper..open damper in morning....add wood before leaving for work and close damper, etc). The wood stove paid for itself the first year. We just got our wood for the season...4 cords at $167 delivered a piece. |
| I think the best thing you can do is get a programmable thermostat and have the heat running before anyone gets up. That way someone does not wake up cold and go jack the thermostat to 75 then forget and leave it there all day while at work. Same thing for bed time. You can cut the heat back at least an hour before you turn in. |
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I think the best thing you can do is get a programmable thermostat and have the heat running before anyone gets up. That way someone does not wake up cold and go jack the thermostat to 75 then forget and leave it there all day while at work. Same thing for bed time. You can cut the heat back at least an hour before you turn in. +1. Programmable thermostats are pretty cheap these days. |
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Programmable thermostats are awesome. Usually set to 68 when people are home, 60-65 at night/vacant. Sometimes I'll set it to 72 in the mornings just to make it a little more comfy when getting out of bed/dressing/showering. I'm suburban hard piped natural gas. 2300 sqft 2-story six year old house and my heating bill for the winter usually totals around $600 - $700.
The house has crappy windows so I shut them up tight. I tape the all the seams to seal them and put that heat shrink plastic on. That stuff makes a huge difference |
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Get a pellet burner my inlaws have one in the living room and the furnace hardly ever turns in in the winter they are just now switching propane they've been on fuel oil. The rest of the house gets cold but u Could turn the furnace on at night to keep the bed rooms comfortable and use the pellet stove the rest of the time. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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+1. Programmable thermostats are pretty cheap these days. Quoted:
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I think the best thing you can do is get a programmable thermostat and have the heat running before anyone gets up. That way someone does not wake up cold and go jack the thermostat to 75 then forget and leave it there all day while at work. Same thing for bed time. You can cut the heat back at least an hour before you turn in. +1. Programmable thermostats are pretty cheap these days. You know, when they first came out they were not bad either and some even had more functionality for the price like daily energy use (god I loved that one). When we were young and living down south we bought one for our apartment so the A/C would not run us in to the poor house and we just took it with us every time we moved and 25 years later I can't imagine life without one. We are renting right now and I need to go buy one because I can't find my spare one since our move this summer. Yeah I kept a spare one but our house was quirky. We should probably do an insulation and heating tricks thread. I recently used a small tube of caulk made by Loktite, that stuff was great and easy to work with in a small tube you squeeze. Same goes for some spray foam made by DAP. It is different from other foams in a few specific ways BUT if you need to spray up, tight angles or have less expansion it is freakin' great. |
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69 night
71 day I like to be comfortable in my own home. I may pay a little more but I don't want to have to wear a parka in my living room. Besides I like to just be in my underwear. HA! Get that image out of your mind now! We seriously need new windows and need to wrap the house. But not going to happen anytime soon. 
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Having moved here from Houston Texas and having no idea about what propane bill will be this winter I thought I'd ask the hive mind. What temp do you keep your house thermostat set at in the winter? Too cold is just uncomfortable, too hot and I'm flushing $$ down the drain. I'm heating with propane so that'll be diffrent. Thin blooded kids and a wife to take care of as well that aren't used to the cold. Perceived temperature is different in each home depending on the location of the thermostat and what part of the home you spend the most time. A 2 story home can have a several degree difference in temperature in a remote 2nd story room vs a central main floor room. Set it at 68 degrees and adjust accordingly. There is no possible way that anyone on this board can tell you at exactly what temperature you will "feel" too cold or too hot. |
| We have a 1000 gallon tank here the first year we were he we put 600 gallons on board in Sept. and had to fill again in Feb. with the thermostat at 68 degrees, spring of 2012 we replaced the 20 year old furnace with a 95% efficiency model and programmable thermostat and only went through 700 gallons in 19 months, just filled up today again it only took 600 for a fill. replacing the old furnace was one of our better ideas. |
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This very thread led to an argument about the thermostat last night...which ultimately resulted in a bedroom door slamming and some time spent on a couch. Thanks. Looking back, I guess it wasn't really "200 other people" I read about who answered a survey that they keep it under 70 let alone 72 or 74 all the f'in time (even with a programmable thermostat). But close enough.  Guess the mistake was saying "when you pay for it, you can do whatever you want"... Start the countdown of how many days I will last standing my ground on this!!
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Quoted: 69 night 71 day I like to be comfortable in my own home. I may pay a little more but I don't want to have to wear a parka in my living room. Besides I like to just be in my underwear. HA! Get that image out of your mind now! We seriously need new windows and need to wrap the house. But not going to happen anytime soon. The purpose of household underwear relaxation time isn't to be in a sauna. Otherwise, why wear the underwear?  Brain bleach! Brain bleach! |
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Things like agreement on house temps and thermostat control are much easier in your second long term relationship.
If you want compromise then you need to let her buy all new comforters and sheets for the bedroom AND 4-5 new sweaters or tops of her choosing. Let's say a 500-$700 budget. You will make that money back in the long run but who cares, you have a bigger problem now......no booty. Your lack of strategic thought and piss poor tactics is costly. |
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What's so hard about compromising (step 1, baby steps on the way to 65) at 70? It's still 72 in here. I think I can lockout/override control. World War III anyone? http://i39.tinypic.com/2j12y4k.jpg http://i40.tinypic.com/14liip2.jpg Dude... the only winning move is to not play.
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What's so hard about compromising (step 1, baby steps on the way to 65) at 70? It's still 72 in here. I think I can lockout/override control. World War III anyone? http://i39.tinypic.com/2j12y4k.jpg http://i40.tinypic.com/14liip2.jpg Really 78 for ac? Just leave your windows open year round. |
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This very thread led to an argument about the thermostat last night...which ultimately resulted in a bedroom door slamming and some time spent on a couch. Thanks. Looking back, I guess it wasn't really "200 other people" I read about who answered a survey that they keep it under 70 let alone 72 or 74 all the f'in time (even with a programmable thermostat). But close enough.
Guess the mistake was saying "when you pay for it, you can do whatever you want"... Start the countdown of how many days I will last standing my ground on this!! Dibs on everything |
Thanks to a multi-million dollar condo development a mile away, W.P.S. ran a nat-gas line out past me about 10 yrs ago, and we were able to get on board.  Bye bye propane.
Ours is set at 65, 24/7. 30 yr old house is 2600 sq ft including full finished (walk-out) basement. Hydronic furnace is supplimented by a Vermont Castings wood stove downstairs, fireplace with insert upstairs... which we only use when someone will be home to keep an eye on it (woodburners / chimney fires are the #1 cause of house fires in the northwoods). Wood is free.... as much as I can cut & split is lying all around me, and I have free access to a gas-powered hydraulic splitter.  WPS bills average $300 per month in winter, but that includes electricity. As it's about $100 per month in summer for just electric (rarely use one window-mounted AC, but clothes dryer & kitchen stove are elec), heating costs about an additional $200 per month in winter for the nat gas.
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Plan is now to keep the living areas cold and get some good space heaters for the rooms\bathrooms. Kids can get dressed in warm cloths and wake up warmer in the rooms. Shower and bathrooms don't have heaters so I've already purchased small electric units. 1500 watts a piece adds up quick.
But sometimes it's wiser to only heat the rooms you are in. |
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Plan is now to keep the living areas cold and get some good space heaters for the rooms\bathrooms. Kids can get dressed in warm cloths and wake up warmer in the rooms. Shower and bathrooms don't have heaters so I've already purchased small electric units. Those electric heaters will add up really quick if your not careful with them. |
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Quoted: Dude... the only winning move is to not play. Quoted: Quoted: What's so hard about compromising (step 1, baby steps on the way to 65) at 70? It's still 72 in here. I think I can lockout/override control. World War III anyone? http://i39.tinypic.com/2j12y4k.jpg http://i40.tinypic.com/14liip2.jpg Dude... the only winning move is to not play.  I didn't see that coming...but I should have! |
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Quoted: Really 78 for ac? Just leave your windows open year round. Quoted: Quoted: What's so hard about compromising (step 1, baby steps on the way to 65) at 70? It's still 72 in here. I think I can lockout/override control. World War III anyone? http://i39.tinypic.com/2j12y4k.jpg http://i40.tinypic.com/14liip2.jpg Really 78 for ac? Just leave your windows open year round. Nah. Was just bumped up incorrectly I'm sure, not in that mode. The BS is that the preferred temp in the summer would be in the upper 60's. Around the same temp I'd like now. Logic, they haz none. |
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We set our boiler (natural gas) to 65 24x7. My wife works from home, so there really isn't much time the house isn't occupied usually. If we're going away for more than 12 hours, we'll turn it down.
Older windows - use the plastic to seal them up. Makes a huge difference with our ancient wood windows. Electric blankets FTW. We have a dual temp one for our bedroom, and a throw sized one for the living room. Wife can stay as toasty as she likes, and it cuts the complaints down significantly. Decent pair of slippers also makes life much better. I personally don't like wearing sweat shirts/etc at home, but toss on a set of slippers, and I'm pretty darn comfortable, and it helps the wife-unit as well. This year's project is to build some decorative/functional covers for our cast iron radiators. Right now they have no covers, so I'm going to make some oak covers, with the interiors covered with a metal wrap (self adhesive stainless) to reflect the infared on itself, and a set of low voltage fans at the top to draw air through once it reaches a certain temp and blow it into the room (avoid some of the heat radiating to the walls). Don't know how much it'll help, but should hopefully make it a bit more comfortable. |
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I guess lots of people dont understand:
If its 10 degrees outside and you have your thermostat set at 70 all day its going to run the same amount of time than if its set at 60 all day, and it will be off for the same amount of time. Your house is going to drop temp the same speed no matter what your thermostat is set at. Now for all you guys that turn it down at night then raise it in the am, your wasting fuel as you are running it more to warm it up every morning or when you get home from work. I have tested my theory on 4 different houses and the data adds up. |
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I guess lots of people dont understand: If its 10 degrees outside and you have your thermostat set at 70 all day its going to run the same amount of time than if its set at 60 all day, and it will be off for the same amount of time. Your house is going to drop temp the same speed no matter what your thermostat is set at. Now for all you guys that turn it down at night then raise it in the am, your wasting fuel as you are running it more to warm it up every morning or when you get home from work. I have tested my theory on 4 different houses and the data adds up. I've found the same thing, and agree 100%. That's why we just set ours at 65, and leave it there. Once you establish that base temp, be it 60 or 70, it'll drop below that equally as fast (and be brought back up equally as fast), no matter what it is. The key to efficiency is being well insulated so it doesn't drop off as fast as a poorly insulated home, not what you set your thermostat at. If poorly insulated, it drops quicker so it'll run more to keep it stable, simple as that. Typical furnaces don't have variable heat output... it's either on or it's off. The more it's off, the more efficient it is. |
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Electric blankets FTW. We have a dual temp one for our bedroom, and a throw sized one for the living room. Wife can stay as toasty as she likes, and it cuts the complaints down significantly. Decent pair of slippers also makes life much better. I personally don't like wearing sweat shirts/etc at home, but toss on a set of slippers, and I'm pretty darn comfortable, and it helps the wife-unit as well. This, and I would recommend a mattress warmer, wife unit loves it and I can still keep cool in bed. Lots of "coils" by the feet keeps her nice and toasty at night. |
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Electric blankets FTW. We have a dual temp one for our bedroom, and a throw sized one for the living room. Wife can stay as toasty as she likes, and it cuts the complaints down significantly. We used to have one, threw it away. Why? Our neighbors, two houses down, had one on a bed in a spare bedroom in their finished basement. Grand-kids were over playing downstairs, plugged it in & turned it on, nobody knew. It overheated the bed 2 days later, while they were at work. Started a fire that burned the house to the ground. 
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Quoted: Those electric heaters will add up really quick if your not careful with them. Quoted: Quoted: Plan is now to keep the living areas cold and get some good space heaters for the rooms\bathrooms. Kids can get dressed in warm cloths and wake up warmer in the rooms. Shower and bathrooms don't have heaters so I've already purchased small electric units. Those electric heaters will add up really quick if your not careful with them. and if you're not careful they will also burn your fucking house down. |
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Quoted: We used to have one, threw it away. Why? Our neighbors, two houses down, had one on a bed in a spare bedroom in their finished basement. Grand-kids were over playing downstairs, plugged it in & turned it on, nobody knew. It overheated the bed 2 days later, while they were at work. Started a fire that burned the house to the ground. Quoted: Quoted: Electric blankets FTW. We have a dual temp one for our bedroom, and a throw sized one for the living room. Wife can stay as toasty as she likes, and it cuts the complaints down significantly. We used to have one, threw it away. Why? Our neighbors, two houses down, had one on a bed in a spare bedroom in their finished basement. Grand-kids were over playing downstairs, plugged it in & turned it on, nobody knew. It overheated the bed 2 days later, while they were at work. Started a fire that burned the house to the ground. That one must have been oooooooold. The new ones (at least ours) turn off after ~12 hours. |
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That one must have been oooooooold. The new ones (at least ours) turn off after ~12 hours. Quoted:
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Electric blankets FTW. We have a dual temp one for our bedroom, and a throw sized one for the living room. Wife can stay as toasty as she likes, and it cuts the complaints down significantly. We used to have one, threw it away. Why? Our neighbors, two houses down, had one on a bed in a spare bedroom in their finished basement. Grand-kids were over playing downstairs, plugged it in & turned it on, nobody knew. It overheated the bed 2 days later, while they were at work. Started a fire that burned the house to the ground.
That one must have been oooooooold. The new ones (at least ours) turn off after ~12 hours. Almost 20 yrs ago.... but one of those things you never forget. 
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