Can you settle a debate?

[MaureensAvon]

Can you help settle a debate? Hubby says that it's more energy efficient (and cheaper) to leave the heat set at a certain temp (he likes 70) 24/7. He says that it takes MORE energy to re-heat the room if it has gotten cool.

I like to leave it set as low as is comfy for me all day, then turn it up when he is ready to come home, since he doesn't like it cold.

Anyone know which way uses less energy? We have natural gas heat.

Thanks!

[ren]

My apologies to your hubby.

[PRICEPLUS]

Thank you ren!

[MaureensAvon]

Thanks for the info! I think one of my next purchases is going to be a programmable thermostat. That way, the heat can go up early morning before he rises, and I can't forget to turn it up before he comes home! I sometimes find it oppressively hot in the house, and he's bundled under a blanket!! LOL

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by MaureensAvon

Hubby says that it's more energy efficient (and cheaper) to leave the heat set at a certain temp (he likes 70) 24/7. He says that it takes MORE energy to re-heat the room if it has gotten cool.

This is absolutely, uneqivocally false. And when you really take a moment and think about it, it just doesn't make sense.

Anytime your heater is on and running, you are using energy. Anytime your heater is off and not running, you are not using energy. How could it possibly be cheaper and more energy efficient to run your heater MORE rather than LESS?

Another way to look at it is this. Do you keep your oven turned on to 350 degrees all day long or do you just turn it on when you need to cook something? Of course, you don't leave it on. Why not? Because you would be wasting all that energy.

Sorry, but your hubby has bought in to a very common myth.

[crazyBMB]

Thank you

[fultron]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Another way to look at it is this. Do you keep your oven turned on to 350 degrees all day long or do you just turn it on when you need to cook something? Of course, you don't leave it on. Why not? Because you would be wasting all that energy.

well said steve...

[Ima saver]

I agree, keep the heat set as low as you want, then turn it up when the husband comes home. that is what I do.

[sparkysgirl]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I agree, keep the heat set as low as you want, then turn it up when the husband comes home. that is what I do.

me too

[kv968]

Originally Posted by MaureensAvon

Can you help settle a debate? Hubby says that it's more energy efficient (and cheaper) to leave the heat set at a certain temp (he likes 70) 24/7. He says that it takes MORE energy to re-heat the room if it has gotten cool.

You're hubby's right in the fact that if you turned the heat OFF and it dropped to like 50 degrees in your house then it would cost more money to re-heat it. Leaving it set at a slightly lower temp than you would normally have it, like you do, then turning it up is the most energy efficient.

Get that programmable thermostat!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by kv968

You're hubby's right in the fact that if you turned the heat OFF and it dropped to like 50 degrees in your house then it would cost more money to re-heat it. Leaving it set at a slightly lower temp than you would normally have it, like you do, then turning it up is the most energy efficient.

Again, this is false. See my answer above. The longer your heater is off, the more energy you save, no matter what the temperature.

[kv968]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Again, this is false. See my answer above. The longer your heater is off, the more energy you save, no matter what the temperature.

I'm not so sure about that. If you try heating a house from 50 degrees to 70, your heater may run for an hour or two or more before you reach that temp. However if your heater runs in 10 minute spurts 3-4 times a day to keep a lower temp and then another 20 minutes to achieve the desireable temp you'd save money. Although this will be getting into the efficiency of the heater, the climate outside, the insulation of the house, etc. and I don't think we need to get that deep.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by kv968

I'm not so sure about that. If you try heating a house from 50 degrees to 70, your heater may run for an hour or two or more before you reach that temp. However if your heater runs in 10 minute spurts 3-4 times a day to keep a lower temp and then another 20 minutes to achieve the desireable temp you'd save money.

The problem with your example is that it doesn't work that way. The heater would have to run more than 3-4 times a day. It would more likely run 4-5 times per hour. The total energy needed to maintain, for example, 60 degrees for 8 hours and then increase to 68 degrees, would exceed the energy needed to raise the house temp from 50 to 68.

The benefit of a programmable thermostat is that you can automatically have the system turn down in the morning before you leave for work and come on 30-60 minutes before you get home, so the house is comfortable when you return.

[kv968]

You may be right but then the logical thing to do would be to shut it off completely during the day (assuming no pets or anything) and having it turn on at a reasonable time before you get home. Does anyone do that?

I think good insulation would be the best way to go.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by kv968

You may be right but then the logical thing to do would be to shut it off completely during the day (assuming no pets or anything) and having it turn on at a reasonable time before you get home. Does anyone do that?

That's basically what I do. I have the thermostat programmed to drop to 60 during the day. That's essentially the same as being totally off, since the house temp never actually drops to 60 thanks to the house being insulated. Then it is set to go up to 68 at 3:30 pm. So it doesn't run at all from 8 am until about 2:30 pm when it starts rewarming the house.

[boefixepa]

Mine is progammed to be at 50 - basicall off except on really cold snaps - during the day when no one is home - 55 at night - and 62 when I am home. I know this runs cold for most people, but I don't mind wearing a sweat shirt and fluffy socks at home, and I sleep with a down comforter and am fine. Guests don't always feel so lucky so I reprogram if they are going to be around for a while.

The science backs this up....the myth still seams to get most people though.

Same goes for air conditioning in the summer by the way.

[Broken Arrow]

I am *cough* erm trying something different. I've only done it for a few days so far, but I've been able to maintain central heating at 50 but my closet space is still at a warm 65.

[Ima saver]

Oh, B.A. that is so funny. Hey, it works for you. I keep my house at 60 all day, then turn it up to about 64 for my husband's shower, then back down to 62. My little poodle is cold, but she sleeps on a heating pad.

[disneysteve]

BA - That's great! Oh, how very much cheaper I could live if I was single. I never slept in the closet, but in one apartment, I used to turn off the heat at night, seal off my bedroom (padding under the door, plastic over the window) and sleep in thermal underwear under a couple of blankets with a small space heater on the lowest setting. There's no way that would work now.

[naturalwoman]

someone once told me you should keep it on 68 all the time and then raise it as you need it. well i can't be cold, so i'll turn it up as high as it has to go or leave the stove on, which seems to be cheaper than gas.