What temperature do you keep your house in the winter?

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by poleikleng

We keep the temperature around 65 degrees, our 3-Fujitsu's air source heat pumps (two 1-ton units and one 1.5 ton unit) have been able to provide us with all of our heat. -3 degrees has been the coldest temperature that I have witnessed this month. We live close to Gillette stadium where the New England Patriots play their home games in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Our upstairs heat pump is set to 60/62 degrees, downstairs we have two heat pumps (1-ton and 1.5 ton) and the 1.5 ton is set to 70 degrees and the 1-ton is set to 62/64 degrees. 1840 square foot cape style house built in the late 1970's.

My Sanyos were working down to 3.5 F, but there were many defrost cycles.
The power use was high too. We shut them down and went to back-up heat.
When it got up to 10F yesterday, I said "Summer again!" and turned them back on!

How well did those Fujitsu units work while it was down around zero?
Did they maintain 65F the whole time it was down in the zero range?

[warmwxrules]

Originally Posted by AC_Hacker

This is why Ground Source Heat Pumps were invented.

-AC

This is why wood stoves were invented.

I've been keeping my heat around 66F during this cold winter weather... dropping it back at nite to 63f. If the sun is out like today, the house stays nice and the furnace takes a break. Calling for -20Fs tonite and torrow nite...ugh

[poleikleng]

Originally Posted by Xringer

My Sanyos were working down to 3.5 F, but there were many defrost cycles.
The power use was high too. We shut them down and went to back-up heat.
When it got up to 10F yesterday, I said "Summer again!" and turned them back on!

How well did those Fujitsu units work while it was down around zero?
Did they maintain 65F the whole time it was down in the zero range?

Xringer,

No, the room did not maintain 65F, I had noted at 2.3 degrees the room was 63.7 and the temperature coming from the inside air handler was 108.1 degrees. This was early in the morning and the temperature in the room increased as the outside temperature increased. We used to keep our house at 62F when we used the oil fired furnace so 63.7F was an improvement. I too noticed the heat pumps had many defrost cycles and if both heat pumps have the defrost cycle and the same time the room temperature really drops.

Very happy with the performance of the heat pumps with this cold weather, today with the 35F temperature it feels like a heat wave?

Last billing period (National Grid) we used 1387 kWh total.


Poleikleng

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by warmwxrules

This is why wood stoves were invented.

I've been keeping my heat around 66F during this cold winter weather... dropping it back at nite to 63f. If the sun is out like today, the house stays nice and the furnace takes a break. Calling for -20Fs tonite and torrow nite...ugh

If the grid dies and the generator won't start, I've got a pile of wood ready to burn..

[Exeric]

Originally Posted by AC_Hacker

Just because I'm 69 and I dug my loop field by hand doesn't mean I expect anyone else to get up out of their lounge chairs.

-AC

touche! (as in sword fighting)

[MN Renovator]

Originally Posted by Xringer

If the grid dies and the generator won't start, I've got a pile of wood ready to burn..

Is there a reason why you don't choose wood over the spendy oil?

[Xringer]

The wood is outdoors, and the oil is in the tank, connected to the burner..
This is no country for old men, from Texas..

I've been saving that old oil just for this kind of occasion..
It's the backup, that I never wanted to use.

I didn't think that I would ever have to use it.
But, this global warming is getting worse every year..

[Daox]

I just reprogrammed my thermostat for some additional savings. It used to be 70F while I was at home and awake, and 60F when I am not and while I'm sleeping. I have now made it so that it is 70F when I am home and awake, 60F when I am at home and sleeping, and 50F when I am not home.

Depending on how well this works, I might try to drop my temperature while sleeping, and bump the temperature up in the morning to get ready for work. I currently just keep it at 60F until I leave the house in the morning, and then it goes to 50F.

I'm hoping these changes show up good on my energy usage. Its been a very cold winter so far.


Here is my typical week day when I'm home in the afternoon.



Here is my typical week day when I'm not home in the afternoon. Dropping the temp to 50F should show sizable gains on these days especially.

[warmwxrules]

Notice the temp vs last year...My bill for 32 days was just a hair over $180. That is high efficiency gas furnace, powervent gas hot water heater. Family of 5 keeping the temp around 65F to at most 67F. One problem we do have is the amount of baths that are taken every day. Seems like several a day are becoming common this time of year (kids are like fish).

If I insulate the basement (on my list) and dense pack the walls (on my list)...i should be able to shave at least another $20 off on a bill like this, if not more? Plus keep the house more comfortable. I also think the home energy audit last winter has really helped (sealed things up pretty tight)...ranch home/1000 sq ft or so/3 bd/1 bath.

[Daox]

Its been about two weeks since reprogramming for 50F nights. I'm honestly quite happy to say that I haven't been cold at all at night, and am sleeping very well. No heated mattress pad has been used.

I'd recommend more of you guys try setting your temperature back farther at night. Even if its just a few degrees more, it isn't costing you anything but a minute or two to reprogram your thermostat.