| Author | |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Sept 21 2013 at 8:54pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I'm sure you ladies will have some great tips for us!
How do you save on heating costs when you're home all day? When you're NOT home all day?
I am especially interested in any tips from members who have oil/radiator heated homes, and out-of-the-box tips.
Thanks!
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: Sept 23 2013 at 9:48am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have read conflicting reports on what is more cost efficient- using a thermoset timer (for keeping the house colder at night and when you are not home) or sticking with a constant, slightly cooler setting.
I have a heat pump at my house, which is not a very warm hear source, IMO.
I use a rice bag to help keep myself warm... very easy to make. Two minutes in the microwave makes it toasty warm, and I can have it on my lap or behind my back in a chair and feel instantly warmer. I often use this instead of being tempted to bump up the thermostat.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mom2mpr
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
|
| Posted: Sept 23 2013 at 10:12am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We leave the thermastat at 68 all winter. We tried 65 and just could not do it. We have old windows and are currently saving for new ones. And a new furnace-praying it makes it another winter, last service guy warned us it has limited life 
We have a programmable thermostat but are home so much it just didn't seem to work to bump it up and down. We have a small space heater we use in the basement to take some chill off when we go down to work. It has a thermostat so turns off when it gets to temp.
Lots of sweaters and blankets all over the place. Those polar tech type sheets are winners for bedtime-hard to get out of bed  . The dog is a pretty good heater, too.
When the sun shines  we open blinds and curtains and it makes it seem warmer.
We bought the insulation rectangles for outlets and think that helps. Our outside wall outlets got SO cold. Since we have done that they seem warmer. Don't know if it was a major heat loss area but it makes me feel better 
Ugh, not ready for winter.....thanks for thinking of this now, hoping to get some good hints for a warmer winter in here....
__________________
Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
pumpkinmom
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1028
|
| Posted: Sept 23 2013 at 10:31am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't think it saves much to turn the heat down when no one is home. I just can't imagine having the heat run for a good hour when you get home to warm it back up is efficient. Our electric company told us if we turn out heat down three degrees in the winter and turn it up three degrees in the summer we would save $50 a year! Wow! Not worth it at all. Especially since we keep it at 68 in the winter and 78 in the summer.
I do know good windows make a difference! This is one of our biggest problems. I left the curtains open in our living room yesterday afternoon (it was in the upper 70's outside) and when I got home it was at least 5 degrees warmer in our living room compared to the rest of the house. Block out curtains help a little in the summer. They may help some in keeping the heat in during the winter.
__________________
Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Kristie 4
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 20 2006
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1508
|
| Posted: Sept 23 2013 at 10:33am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We end up turning the thermostat down about 7 degrees at night- probably not the most efficient, but since we blew insulation into our old house the heat stays upstairs while the downstairs is drafty, so it heats up alot where the bedrooms are if we don't turn it down to sleep...
I am not ready for winter- it is almost half the year here! I am hoping my dh puts a wood stove in this winter because I think that would give us a warm magnet during the day to read around
__________________
Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Sept 23 2013 at 11:06am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My sister had a oil furnace and they found that electric space heaters can fairly efficently warm a space and the extra electric generally is way cheaper than the oil heater. So they'd use the heater to keep the heat at a set low temp (I forget what.. but too cool by itself) and then heat the spaces people were in with the electric space heaters.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: Sept 23 2013 at 11:27am | IP Logged
|
|
|
There are some really nifty space heaters out there, now, also, to choose from.
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
setonmom
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 25 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 134
|
| Posted: Sept 24 2013 at 11:19am | IP Logged
|
|
|
If your heat and hot water are on the same bill, it may help to keep track of how long teenagers are taking in the shower.
AS far as the house, we keep it warm in winter-otherwise we're just too miserable- and do our money saving in the summer by running the a/c as little as possible.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Sept 24 2013 at 1:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh and speaking of hot water.. how well insulated is your hot water tank? if it's in an unheated area just keeping hot water around may be costing you more than you think.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
herdingkittens
Forum Pro
Joined: May 28 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 210
|
| Posted: Sept 24 2013 at 9:26pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Our old house had a heat insert in the fireplace. It burned wood, but the insert pumped the heat into the house, rather than out the chimney. It was AMAZING. When I was able, I kept that thing burning and it traveled upstairs, even, cutting down on the chill up there. So many fond memories of the kiddos sitting next the fireplace with a good book... I miss that fireplace.  We are looking into seeing how much it would cost to do that to our current home - I have not clue if it is feasible financially, but it was great.
Also, for Christmas one year, everyone found nice cozy slippers in their stockings. Not very creative, but we tried to stay dressed in warm layers during the day.
__________________
my peeps: girl('02), boy('03), girl('05), twin boys ('07), boy ('11) and sweet baby boy ('13)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Sept 24 2013 at 11:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Depending on how much wood costs there.. we paid for having a wood stove (glass door  ) added in about 3 years. But we had very expensive-to-use baseboard heaters so the amount we saved was huge. But be sure that where you are doesn't have a lot of air quality control issues where you can't burn wood a lot of the time.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: Sept 25 2013 at 6:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We keep our heat around 67 all winter. We don't use space heaters or anything extra, just lots of warm clothes, even thermal underwear if needed.
The worst part about this, I think, is that our body eventually adjusts to cooler temperatures. Then, you go to someone's house for dinner, or even Mass and your sweltering because you're not used to having a thermostat set for 72 degrees! 
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Saving Money on Heat
