Heating Season

**banana** · 09-02-2006, 02:52 PM

Ok all:

Fall is almost here! How long can you hold out before you turn up the heat? What temperature will you keep it at?

I'm in Bethlehem PA and am hoping to hold out till November 15th by using space heaters if needed (I wont use them overnight though). We keep the house at 68 when we are home and 60 when we are out of the house. I would love to set it back more at night but 65 is as low as I can tolerate it. We use oil for heat and hotwater. I prepaid a total of 600 gallons of oil this year. Originally I prepaid 500 but the next month I purchased another 100 gallons. Last year we only used 537 gallons so I am hoping I can stay under 600 gallons again this year!

So what is everyone's plan? What temp do you keep your thermostat set to to try to reduce your heating bills?

**miss_thrifty** · 09-02-2006, 03:01 PM

68 no more then 72*. I cant stand it any higher then that, im use to having more clothes on, and cooler in the house.

**Darlene** · 09-02-2006, 03:20 PM

We'll hold out as long as we can. Sometimes when it gets cold we'll bump it (heat) on for one cycle then shut it off to take the edge off. Often just light a fire in the fireplace too. We keep our temp at around 68º during the day & turn way down at night.

**kabin63** · 09-02-2006, 07:43 PM

Last winter I was keeping it at 66 during the day and 64 at night. Not much of a difference day to night, but the results were worth it. We use natural gas, but am try ing to get husband to install a wood burner.

**Edelweiss** · 09-03-2006, 10:20 AM

Sorry for those that have to deal with heating costs. I don't know if our house even has a heater? I'm really looking forward to the winter months so my air conditioning costs will go down!

**YankeeMom** · 09-03-2006, 10:30 AM

I'd like to hold out until the first week of November. Then only turn it on at night. It will be set at 59* just like last year. Plus we will use the woodstove to take the dampness out and heat up a little bit without cranking on the whole furnace.

ETA: we are in Northern NY, where you read about record snowfalls and negative double digits

**dwallyfam** · 09-03-2006, 10:31 AM

Trying for mid November as well. We try to keep it around 66 at night and 70 in the day. It also helps that we run a humidifier when we are home so that it makes the house feel warmer.

Kellie

**Dave'sGirl** · 09-03-2006, 10:43 AM

I'm hoping for mid to late November. Upstate NY here too. We cut down a huge tree this summer so we are really hoping to use the franklin stove and fireplace instead of the gas company. I don't have experience with burning wood but DBF does so he's going to show me how to keep it going on the nights he won't be here.
I've liked my $30-$40 a month gas bills. I don't look forward to another winter of $300 a month bills!

**autumnlynn** · 09-03-2006, 12:05 PM

Well, i really don't have to use a lot of heat out here. I keep it at 68. I usually wear a sweatshirt around the house if it's cool.

**Shellshome** · 09-03-2006, 02:01 PM

We are on a gas budget so our budget it $110 which is great for Ohio weather.

I am not sure what it will be set out but hoping to hold off for a long as we can before we turn it on.

I hate winter and would love to live somewhere warmer but can't get dh talked into it yet but I am working on it.

**carolyns** · 09-03-2006, 03:18 PM

we usually keep it around 66 to 68 as well. hopefully this year will stay warner into the later fall like it sometimes does.

**mustang80** · 09-03-2006, 04:02 PM

Also shooting for Nov here as well. We can use the fireplace to take the chill off, we got at least 2 cords of FREE firewood back in March, it just needs to be split. We have natural gas here.

**koolchica** · 09-03-2006, 04:07 PM

Hoping for Nov here also. I have wood from a tree that we cut down this spring that I can use for the fireplace. When I do turn it on it will be set at 68 during the day and 62 at night. I'm in upstate NY also.
Tracie

**Kimberlina** · 09-03-2006, 04:12 PM

Oh, man, I must be a wimp! LOL

I'm also in upstate NY and I think I'm doing well if I hold out until October. (You should all know that I have VERY cold hands and feet already!) But I refuse to turn ANY heat on- no fire, no boiler.

I was almost tempted to get the space heaters out today, but DD is too small for us to have the big one out. I'm so cold!!