Inside house temp - do you decline over the winter?

[CurlyDave]

Higher humidity increases the thermal conductivity of air, and actually makes cool temps seem cooler. (Thermal conductivity of a gas is proportional to the reciprocal of the square root of molecular weight, how's that for a factoid from way back in engineering school?) Water vapor has a molecular weight of 18 vs. 28 for nitrogen and 32 for oxygen.

* * * * *

We are just plain too old to take much cold. 70 all winter long, and we are thankful we can afford it.

77 or 78 in the summer. Again just plain too old.

 

[Ed of all trades]

We keep it around 72 in the summer and 73 in winter but lower it at night so we sleep better. We know people who live in pa that don't turn on the heat until Christmas, give or take a bit. Don't understand that myself but I don't have to. Ed

 

[rtimgray]

I was happy when I installed some new thermostats that have a low setting of 45 instead of the old ones that bottom out at 55. So I leave mine set at 45 in the winter. We run gas logs when we are home in the evenings for a couple of hours to knock the chill off. Other than that, everybody wears their outside clothes inside and we all have fleece sheets on our beds. There were a few mornings this past winter when it was about 40 in our bedroom when I got up.

The kids complain about the cold, and I've told them that I'll turn it up when they contribute to the bill.

We usually run about 80 in the summer.

Good luck and take care.

 

[JamesHW]

Generally we keep the house at 69 - 72 in the winter and around 74 in the summer if the AC can keep up with the oppressive humidity and heat we can get in the Mid-Atlantic during the summer. Wife sleeps on the side of the bed next to the radiator under a couple of blankets and a down duvet, I sleep under a sheet and maybe a thin blanket if it is particularly chilly.

Our old house in the country has only a few space heaters since the gas burner in the kitchen was decommissioned years ago (and the pot belly stoves long before that). I will be enjoying the cold this week when I am up there as they are expecting lows around 30 at night. One of my projects is to design a heating system for the house that will likely entail a gas furnace and either radiators or baseboards (along with insulation upgrades and storm windows). One of the assurances I have to provide to the boss is that the house will be warm and comfy during the Upstate NY winters to get her move to the country.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My wife and I are somewhat like CurlyDave, we are just too old to worry about setting house temperature to save a little money. We do like it cooler than most folks though, so winter it 68 on the thermostat, but I do raise it up when the AC is needed. 72 in the summer feels pretty good, especially when coming in from 90F-105 outside temps. My brother/sister-in laws don't like our cold temps and don't stay long when visiting, (they live across a pond from us). They are like a couple of 90 year olds (really only in their mid 60's), they keep their house like an oven winter and summer. When we have the AC running, they still have a heater on in their living room and an electric blanket on the bed at night.

 

[GMIslander]

Mini Split heat pump set at 21c (72f) two or three cord of wood from Dec. to Mar. Power consumption never over 1000 kwh. House is 1500 sq.ft.

 

[Looking4new]

Mini Split heat pump set at 21c (72f) two or three cord of wood from Dec. to Mar. Power consumption never over 1000 kwh. House is 1500 sq.ft.

Except for the heat pump, that is the way my place goes. I set the oil furnace to come on at 60F, the rest of the time we heat with wood. Summers IF it gets hot enough we shut the furnace off and just use the furnace fan to circulate the cooler air from the basement. Same size house and electric (hydro) consumption.

 

[tcreeley]

We heat with wood. The central area is kept warm depending on how much wood goes in. The trick is not to overheat ourselves. Our bedroom- when shut off on the -F nights can get to 32F if we let it. I like sleeping at 52F. At that that temperature I sleep the deepest. 60F is too hot for sleeping. Summer can be a chore and the AC runs almost all of the time.

 

[doxford jim]

We keep our house set at 69F for normal operation and raise temperature if needed (rarely). In the summer we can get by with 76F - 78F inside without using A/C. If feeling cold we put on a sweater etc.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I could never understand why some people want the stat set at 78F in the winter and 68F in the summer ???

I'm guessing it's a Thyroid problem.

 

[ovrszd]

I could never understand being uncomfortably hot/cold in the house to save a $. Don't stop at Quick Trip and get a coffee tomorrow morning and you will save enough money to set the thermostat where it's comfortable. As someone mentioned earlier, I'll suffer thru cold/hot temps all day working outside. When I get home I expect that suffering to be gone.

 

[s219]

As someone mentioned earlier, I'll suffer thru cold/hot temps all day working outside. When I get home I expect that suffering to be gone.

It really used to wipe me out when I'd spend all day outside working in the summer heat/humidity, only to come inside and find that my wife had turned off the AC and opened the windows. :confused3:

 

[newbury]

<SNIP> As for our house I put in a new Honeywell WiFi Tstat and really enjoy if it feels cool I can turn up the heat from my phone while sitting on the couch LOL:thumbsup:.

I don't have WiFi, my wireless remote heat control is the same my Dad used 60 years ago. "HEY SON, turn up the heat!" .

We set the thermostat at 70 during the day and 67 at night in winter (those were both negotiated with my wife -- can't go any cooler without risking divorce -- she's a southerner and I'm a Yankee) .<snip>

Tell me about it, I'm from Northern Vermont, SWMBO (the Attorney) is from Mississippi. Negotiations with a lawyer are tough.

I could never understand being uncomfortably hot/cold in the house to save a $. <snip>

Apparently a number of people did not understand

I like to keep the house as close to outside temps as SWMBO will allow.

Two prime reasons are energy savings and it's easier for me to get my behind in gear to go outside and putter around if I'm already dressed for it.

We don't keep it "uncomfortable", and it's not just "to save a $". I found early on if I keep the temp cool in the winter and warm in the summer I don't mind as much when I have to go in or out.

 

[farm boy00]

I don't have WiFi, my wireless remote heat control is the same my Dad used 60 years ago. "HEY SON, turn up the.

Don't you mean next generation

 

[LD1]

My preference, as close to 70 degrees all year is perfect. In my old house, with central HVAC, T-stat rarely moved off 70.

New house has two window air conditioners and a woodburner. Burning wood during the day gets it up to 72-73. Then stoke it for the night and if its a cold night, next morning may be down to 66-68. Which is fine. When I finish getting the geothermal installed, it will be back to 70 consistent.

But its funny how our bodies adapt to the seasons. In fall, when temps start cooling and get 40-45 degree days, you see everyone bundling up, wearing bibs, hats, coats, gloves, etc.

By march, when highs start getting back to the 40-45's, everyone is comfortable working outside with just a sweatshirt and jeans on.

 

[Zerk]

SWMBO ek:

Ahh, what is this? Is this a life partner kinda thing?

I keep mine at 58 at night, 62 in the evening. I have a boiler, which is slow, so when it drops below zero I usually just leave it on 62.

But this does not keep me dressed to go outside in the winter.

 

[WM75Guy]

Auto season thermostats, we never touch ours. Below 68 the heater kicks on, above 72 the AC turns on. Same settings year round.