Home Heating Costs

**FreesiaE** · 09-14-2005, 10:32 AM

I can't seem to get over the fact that heating costs will be up to 70% higher than last winter, and Dec/Jan/Fed were not cheap. We have a 2 zone baseboard hot water heat, so many suggestions on saving $ through shutting vents, turning off certain radiators etc do not hold true for us. We're thinking about adding a heat pump to the AC unit, but is a major undertaking with drywall cutting out, etc, probably to the tune of at least $3500. I need to find some caulk/putty stuff to stick in the windows this year. I guess I'm just concerned about such a big leap in costs this year. Thanks for listening!

**babetteq** · 09-14-2005, 10:55 AM

I feel for you! Our heating runs about $150-200 a month. We're moving!!!

As well as caulking around the windows, put up plastic. I know it's not pretty, but it makes a difference. You can also invest in an electric blanket. Don't heat the house, just heat you. of course it doesnt' take the place of heating, but it means that if you're sitting watching tv, sleeping anything like that, you can be warm for the price of the blanket.

Stay warm!!!!!

**Sara Noel** · 09-14-2005, 10:58 AM

I just read an article on this last night and have been thinking about it too.

I don't even know if it would help, if I moved us all downstairs to the main level and closed off two floors. We had bills over $300 last winter, so I can't imagine a drastic increase.

**pkellyc** · 09-14-2005, 11:20 AM

My house is fairly well insulated and heating costs have not been that bad. I usually don't freeze in the winter but this year it will be getting slighty chilly in here. Slipper socks and sweaters for everyone this Christmas.

Babetteq, My heating upstairs is secondary and I have been thinking of buying electric blankets for my dd's. I worry about fires is there any risk? Do they shut down if they over heat?

**dolphin** · 09-14-2005, 11:41 AM

I got my new bill this week. We just got an increase on this bill "power cost adjustment". My increase is $15.17. Total bill is $280.21. Last months bill was $306.16. It's unreal! Our trash bill is seperate and we have a well so water is included with electricity. It's so sad to think dh works a whole week just to pay the utilities.

**homesteadmamma** · 09-14-2005, 11:50 AM

There are a number of things you can do to keep your heating costs down. In Canada, ours is going up as well.

~for every 2 degrees your drop in your temps, you save 2% per year. We keep our heat at 66 during the day, 63 at night. We use flannel sheets, flannelette pj's and many quilts. During the day, we wear more clothes and always have socks & slippers on to keep our feet warm. Remember, were in Canada and in one of the coldest provinces.
~if possible, put in new windows and doors. This will save you the most.
~put more insulation into your attic. Its not a hard job to do and you can do it yourself. Remember heat rises so if you have a well insulated attic, the heat won't go out through the roof. You'll know if you don't have enough insulation if you have icicles hanging off your roof.
~don't heat your basement.
~if you can't afford new doors and windows, use quilts for covering of your windows and make "draft socks" for the bottom of your doors. Use plastic around ALL windows if you can't change your windows.
~You can also hang quilts on outside walls. It might not be much, however every little bit helps.
~put new caulking around the outside and inside off your old windows and around your doors.
~use only one door during the winter. Make sure though that you can get out of any door should you need to.

If you can, have an inspector come to your home to show you where the leaks are.

Remember as well, many older homes don't have insulation in their walls. Along with that homes built in the later years have only 2x4 studs. Now most homes are built with 2x6 studs and even some 2x8.

**frugalmel** · 09-14-2005, 12:12 PM

{{hugs}} to you all. Our cooling bills have been wonderful this summer. Its all due to my dh putting insulation in the attic where there was NONE. It has helped in the winter as well. Our home is 1178 sq ft (that being a generous measurement I think) and only one floor.

The next place we buy I would like to get a corn stove. There are many brands out there, and some that burn both corn and wood pellets. Here is an example

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...&cm_ite=heater

For now though, I just use tips like the ones in the posts above to help keep warm.

**jlxian** · 09-14-2005, 03:36 PM

The floor in our house is always frigid in the winter. We tried insulating the floor (basement ceiling) a year ago and it did not help much. I'm sure we have tons of leaks in the foundation and where the basement walls meet the wood of the house --- guess I better just spend some dollars on caulking and get those holes filled in. I hate the idea of hunting for the holes and cracks, however.

**YankeeMom** · 09-14-2005, 05:27 PM

We're stocking up on wood and plan on using our woodstove much more than last year. We have a huge old house and aren't moving until next summer. Last winter our bills were over $300/month

**nodmicks** · 09-14-2005, 10:06 PM

We live in a 150+ year old farm house. Our second floor isn't heated at all. When it's really cold up there we use the plug in electric heaters. All 3 beds use electric blankets. We use the electric heaters to warm the bathrooms before showers too.
We put plastic on all out windows. I do have to patch it though as the dog tends to stick her nose through it.
We invested in a programable thermostat last year. That thing was wonderful!!!!!! It was the first year we weren't skimping on fuel (we prepay) through feb/march to squeek by). We set it down to 55 at night and back up to 68 from 6 am to 8 am and then back down again until 3 pm. Really saved the gas!

**SHOPGIRL** · 09-14-2005, 10:19 PM

You might also think about investing in down comforters and featherbeds for your beds. It's a one time investment and they really do keep you warm. The price on down comforters has really come down in the past few years.

Plastic for the windows is good! Increasing your insulation will help. A lot of people have already given good tips. Check out the thrift stores for good deals on wool sweaters. Cashmere sweaters can be a luxury, but they are really warm and of course super soft.

I'm not sure if you work outside the home, but if you don't perhaps consider spending less time at home. That way you can keep the heat lower. Maybe go to the library, etc. . . Of course, spending time a the mall, would be a bad idea. Just too tempting!

**jlxian** · 09-15-2005, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by rodmick
We live in a 150+ year old farm house. Our second floor isn't heated at all. When it's really cold up there we use the plug in electric heaters. All 3 beds use electric blankets. We use the electric heaters to warm the bathrooms before showers too.
We put plastic on all out windows. I do have to patch it though as the dog tends to stick her nose through it.
We invested in a programable thermostat last year. That thing was wonderful!!!!!! It was the first year we weren't skimping on fuel (we prepay) through feb/march to squeek by). We set it down to 55 at night and back up to 68 from 6 am to 8 am and then back down again until 3 pm. Really saved the gas!

Sounds like our house! No heat on the second floor. We put plastic on the windows also, and thankfully have a lot of southern facing windows which brings in some warmth.

Somewhere (maybe at FV) I read about buying those emergency "space" blankets and using them on the windows. So DH bought a bunch the other day and we are going to try them this winter too --- maybe on everything but the south facing windows.

Back during the energy crisis of the 1970s, I remember reading about insulated panels that were placed into/over windows at night to cut down on heat loss. I will see if I can find anything about these.

I'm getting more and more tempted to get a progammable thermostat too.

And we are getting in some more wood for the woodstove --- a friend had loggers in to harvest some timber and the trimmings are available for anyone who wants to go cut them up and take them home.

**FreesiaE** · 09-15-2005, 02:37 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies! It's nice to talk to people who understand and think about future costs. I can't believe that such stores barely make a 15 second news blurb on the local television around here. I mean, I swear, they dedicate more time to the price of college sports tickets going up!

**nodmicks** · 09-18-2005, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by jlxian
Sounds like our house! No heat on the second floor. We put plastic on the windows also, and thankfully have a lot of southern facing windows which brings in some warmth.

Somewhere (maybe at FV) I read about buying those emergency "space" blankets and using them on the windows. So DH bought a bunch the other day and we are going to try them this winter too --- maybe on everything but the south facing windows.

Back during the energy crisis of the 1970s, I remember reading about insulated panels that were placed into/over windows at night to cut down on heat loss. I will see if I can find anything about these.

I'm getting more and more tempted to get a progammable thermostat too.

And we are getting in some more wood for the woodstove --- a friend had loggers in to harvest some timber and the trimmings are available for anyone who wants to go cut them up and take them home.

Keep us posted on how the space blanket thing goes! We can burn wood up until it hits freezing. Then is we dont run the furnace (which helps warm the crawl space) our pipes to one bath and the laundry freeze. Unfortunately there is no way to get to those pipes short of ripping up the floors. When its really cold we actually run a tube with heat under there. Dh is going to try putting hay bales all around the side of the house that freezes to see if that helps. Wisconsin is so cold! We are in a flat are so the cold wind just rips!