Programable Thermostat

**rebecca** · 11-08-2005, 04:49 AM

I bought a programable thermostat. Going to be curious when I get my next heating bill in how much it saved me. The nice thing about the programable theremostat is that nobody in the house knows how to turn the heat up. My oldest daughter was always turning up the heat to 70 to 73. The other day it was very nice and I came in and she had it on 73.

I was about ready to wring her neck.

Does anyone else have a programable thermostat and did you see a difference in your bill?

**britbunny** · 11-08-2005, 06:31 AM

We've just had a new heating system fitted and there are thermostats on each of the radiators which is meant to help reduce costs. we have the boiler on quite low and then can adapt the heat for each room - which is great as I hate having a warm bedroom!

We haven't had any bills yet but I'm really interested to see how high our winter bill is this year. We're hoping that the savings from having an ultra-efficient boiler will offset the increases in gas prices.

**canadian gardener** · 11-08-2005, 10:47 AM

We buy a new one every time we move house. It pays within 9 months usually but we do live in Canada so that may make a difference re payback times.

Unfortunately teenagers are good at programming things. Hide the instruction manual where you alone know!

I do suggest that if you want our kind of savings that you do the double set back. Here is how that works.

Night time and day time when everyone is gone set it around 63 to 65, then an hour before people get up, or come home, set it for 68 to 70 to warm the house up. Keep it in that range, till after bedtime.

Keep in mind that if it has to swing back up a lot of degrees, you lose some of the savings, as it takes a lot more energy to get it back up, if it falls too low. A 5 degree spread is ok, more than that, you lose the benefit.

We keep the night time around 63 to 65, and morning time is 68. During the day it drops a bit, and back up for the evening when dh comes home, and we both feel chilly.

HTH

**rebecca** · 11-08-2005, 10:56 AM

I have a thermostat that is set for the weekdays and weekends. Also, have one for night time and day time. Had to chuckle the other day. My oldest daughter who always wants to turn up the heat, I noticed that she must of been trying to turn up the heat. Needless to say she didn't know what she was doing and turned it off! At least I know that she doesn't know how to work the program. Yes!

**peanut** · 11-08-2005, 06:34 PM

Not to be a Devil's advocate here, but dh and I have argued over programmable thermostats. I wanted to get one in the house and he was disgusted. Claims he can get up in the morning and turn it up, and then turn it down in the evening before bed. Why bother with a programmable one? So we haven't. He does it himself. Course, we're home all day, so we don't need to turn it down after we leave for the day, but if we did, we'd just turn it down on the way out of the house.

**slowtypinwoman** · 11-08-2005, 08:18 PM

We got one this year as well. I will be interested to see how it affects out heating bill. We haven't had to turn out heat on for any length of time yet this year. I don't know how to work it. Which is fine for now because I'd just build a fire. However in the summer I could go most of the summer without air. I hope I can figure it out. I'm still trying to figure out the t.v. remote and the D.v.d/vcr. lol

**dwallyfam** · 11-08-2005, 09:06 PM

I love my thermostat. It has dropped gas bill by 20-40% and our electric by about 30%. There are some thermostats that you have to have a passcode to change the temperature. They are a little more expensive, but it that is a problem it might be worth it.

DH loves this thermostat. Now it warms the house about 10 minutes before he gets up. No more complaining about the cold.

**rebecca** · 11-09-2005, 03:18 AM

Well guess what my lovely daughter who I am definetly going to choke has learned how to use it!!!! I have already posted in the utility bill forum but would like to post it here. She does not go to school, another story in itself, and lord only knows how high she puts it. Tonight was a nice night and when I got up in the middle of the night she had it on 69 or 70. Had a fit. Would like to know if I can turn off the furnace while I am at work (gone for about nine housrs) by turning off the fuse that runs the furnace. Don't know if it would harm the furnace by doing this. Any replies would be helpful. Thank you all so much.

**rebecca** · 11-09-2005, 03:33 AM

Ladies I asked in the frugal tip forum and the utility form if I could turn off the fuse box to the furnace so my oldest daughter wouldn't turn it up while I was gone. While I have been fuming about this. Well to put a long story short I got the instructions out and there is a program lock that I can do. I guess I should of read the directions. Didn't think you could do a program lock on this thermostat. I experimented with the lock out and it works. Praise the Lord. I don't want you ladies to think I freeze my girls, but my oldest one thinks that if it's 65 degrees outside you have to crank up the heat! If anyone has replied to my previous question about turning off the fuse box thanks! I'm so happy that I have this on my thermostat I could scream!

**dwallyfam** · 11-09-2005, 07:22 AM

Congrats on figuring out the lock Rebecca

**Renee-2kids** · 11-09-2005, 07:42 AM

I want to get one in the future but right now we have a one year old who kicks off blankets at night. He's still bundled up in layers, but I don't want him to get too cold. We are home all day too. So it's set at 68 all the time.

I've read that you need a special one for electric heat pumps that puts the temp up more gradually. Otherwise you waste any savings making the unit work to hard. Anyone else heard this?

**mom22grls** · 11-09-2005, 08:46 AM

I've always had ours. We bought it the month we moved here. I can't say whether it saves money or not, but it sure is nice to have.

**canadian gardener** · 11-09-2005, 01:59 PM

Wow Rebecca, way to go girl!!!! You are handling that well and I think that your dd better just give up now, because as I always said to mine when they were being stinkers...

Life is tough, and full of surprises
and the FIRST THING life teaches you IS

YOUR MOTHER IS ALWAYS RIGHT!!!!!