Turning Down Thermostat. Is it Worth it?

[crazysounds]

OK,

Which is better:

1. Turn down thermostat to 65 degrees, while my family is not at home all
day, and then have it come on (I have an timer on my thermostat) about an
hour before we get home to heat the house to 70 degrees.

2. Turn down thermostat to 55 degrees, while my family is not at home all
day, and then have it come on (I have an timer on my thermostat) about an
hour and a half before we get home to heat the house to 70 degrees.

Which scenario would save more dollars?

Thanks

 

[wayne]

depending on how long you are gone probably 55

here is a story that brings up good points about usage

http://www.achrnews.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/coverstory/BNPCoverStoryItem/0,6152,16691,00.html
another story here mentions 55

http://www.energy.ca.gov/releases/1999_releases/features/1999-feature-08.html

Wayne

 

[Phisherman]

OK,

Which is better:

1. Turn down thermostat to 65 degrees, while my family is not at home all
day, and then have it come on (I have an timer on my thermostat) about an
hour before we get home to heat the house to 70 degrees.

2. Turn down thermostat to 55 degrees, while my family is not at home all
day, and then have it come on (I have an timer on my thermostat) about an
hour and a half before we get home to heat the house to 70 degrees.

Which scenario would save more dollars?

Thanks

It should not take 1.5 hrs to raise the temperature 15 degrees, unless
your furnace is underpowered. It is also a good idea to turn the
temperature down at bedtime.

 

[crazysounds]

I actually never timed how long it takes to bring my house up to temperature
I was just estimating. I have a large colonial that is not well insulated.
I have insulated the attics and did what I could. My scenario is on a
typical winter day in the Northeast when temps are around 20-30 degrees. It
seems like the best method, to save fuel, is to turn down the thermostat
while we are not at home. I just filled my tank and paid over 150.00 a
gallon for heating oil. Two years ago I was paying 50-60 cents a gallon.
So that is why I so interested in saving fuel. I installed a new Reillo
retention head too. It runs much cleaner then my old Beckett but I didn't
see a savings last year when it was installed. My furnace is 30 years old
but is cast iron is works well. I don't want to spend 5,000 for a new
furnace to be installed. A new unit is maybe 10-15% more efficient.