[Space Cowboy]

Front page of the papers and news so I thought we all could share some idea's

With all this news about heating costs going sky high. I would like to see peoples experiences with programmable thermostats. Do they save money? Are they easy to install? Whats the best brand.

What other methods can you do to try and keep these costs down.

Thanks

[Wolfeymole]

Originally Posted by Space Cowboy

Front page of the papers and news so I thought we all could share some idea's

With all this news about heating costs going sky high. I would like to see peoples experiences with programmable thermostats. Do they save money? Are they easy to install? Whats the best brand.

What other methods can you do to try and keep these costs down.

Thanks

Say to the wife;
"Get your coat on"

She says, "Why, are we going out?"

You say, "No I'm turning the fire off"

[jrom727]

Originally Posted by Wolfeymole

Say to the wife;
"Get your coat on"

She says, "Why, are we going out?"

You say, "No I'm turning the fire off"

[deh]

LOL @ wolfey.

How about Mr. Johnny Walker? Yeah yeah i know youre not really warm when you drink it, you only feel warm.

[win98se]

Short answer, "Yes, get one."

Longer answer, much the same:

I had a programmable thermostat until an incompetent electrician sent it to the great junk heap in the sky. As the original model was no longer available, I replaced it with another variety that required (for me) a 6 week residential training course to understand - result was that my heating bills went up by 20%.

Lesson: get a simple one.

Not everyone will be in my position, I work irregular shifts, so each day requires its own program. Another disadvantage is that I am in the UK where it is quite possible to have all 4 seasons in one day, therefore having the heating turned down at, say, 2p.m. might not be a good idea.

Lesson: it should be easy to adjust.

However, if you can reasonably be assured that you will require a certain temperature on a certain day, a programmable thermostat will pay for itself in a couple of months - less if you install it yourself or your house is particularly large.

Lesson: more money to spend on the important things.

For even greater savings, a simple thermostat in the circuit, near the door by which you usually leave the house is a good idea - if the normal cycle is heating at 75 deg F (24 C) on Wednesday between 16:00 and 23:00 but you are going out for the evening, you don't want the house warming passing aircraft.

Lesson: it should be convenient to re-program.

If you are in a place where the temperature regularly goes below 32F/0 C, make sure that there is a minimum setting of say 41F/5 C.

Cheaper than a plumber.

[MSM Hobbes]

Replace fireplace w/ insert or stove w/ blowers...
Switch old lightbulbs over to fluorescents...
Keep down drafts...
Install geothermal heat pump system...
Service the heating units...


http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/know...214743,00.html

http://msucares.com/newsletters/housing/20000922.html

[jimi]

you have a home depot/lowes by you??? then get one!!! mine cost $30-40 USD installed it myself in about 15 minutes, super easy to program and change, back lit display show you whats up

[Space Cowboy]

Originally Posted by jimi

you have a home depot/lowes by you??? then get one!!! mine cost $30-40 USD installed it myself in about 15 minutes, super easy to program and change, back lit display show you whats up

What brand?

Hobbes .. Geothermal doesn't work up here. Took out chimney when replaced roof. It never worked right anyways. This house is tight. Close one door and another opens. It's caulked. Electric company is outrageously high and I have no other choice. My best friend is a plumber and checks out my boiler (hot water heat) every year for free

P.S. I like it warm in the house in the winter. And I don't drink any Booze

[jimi]

Originally Posted by Space Cowboy

What brand?

i have no clue, generic, but it's worked great for me.

[Mulderator]

Well, moonmist lives in Canada--what she does is invites Mulder to her place and it steams up pretty quick!

[GoneForNow]

Originally Posted by Space Cowboy

What other methods can you do to try and keep these costs down.

Move to Miami. Works well. Except having to deal with those brown-skinned Communist Cubans.

[Bush Lady]

Get a wood stove.

We are buying a tractor-trailer load of logs. It is about 16-20 cords of wood. For $800. This should last two winters.

[Space Cowboy]

Thats a good price for wood. I have a woodstove in the attached garage. It used to be in the house but the chimney was no good and we tried 3 different kinds of woodstoves and besides the mess they caused allot of smoke damage to the ceilings.

I heard something about burning soy beans on the news tonight or corn?

I'd like a smaller house but not ready to move just yet.

[Bush Lady]

Originally Posted by Space Cowboy

Thats a good price for wood. I have a woodstove in the attached garage. It used to be in the house but the chimney was no good and we tried 3 different kinds of woodstoves and besides the mess they caused allot of smoke damage to the ceilings.

We got ourselves an airtight wood stove, that we can also cook on. about 5 years ago. It cost us $2,500. The price was kind of high, but when you consider the price of oil, it doesn't take that long until you get your money back.

The wood we are getting is maple and birch. It all long logs, we have to buck it up and split it.

Our wood stove doesn't create any smoke in the house. You just have to know how to operate it. Maybe your draft in your chimney isn't good. If your chimney doesn't have a good draft then when you open the stove to put wood in it all the smoke comes into the house.

[Space Cowboy]

Yeah .. The Chimney was a add on that ran up the side of the house. We went round and round and finally gave up. To much smoke damage. I had to have every ceiling in this house repainted when we moved in. They were so bad. Also got water in from the chimney on heavy rains and soaked the brand new carpet. When I had to put in a new roof I took the chimney out and put in a gas woodstove which I love but probably won't be able to use much now that the price of natural gas is so high. I have a bunch of wood so I'm thinkin of using the woodstove in the garage and either getting a screen door to keep out the rodents but Thor will destroy it in no time so looks like Sam the Man will have to go out there. Also gonna close off some rooms.

I talked to my boss and he said those programable thermostats don't always work. So I'm callin my plumber friend and seein what he suggests tommorrow.

My Natural Gas Boiler which heats the house also provides my hot water so probably turn that down or put it on a timer also.

Thanks