It's getting cold outside... tips for reducing heating bill?

Kim · 01-13-2007, 09:37 AM

What do you all do to try and get the heating bill down? I'm trying to dress a little more warmly and turn the heat down, which is hard because I'm always cold! Has anyone tried sealing their windows with that clear film?

KathrynHannah · 01-13-2007, 09:58 AM

We use a programmable thermostat and keep the heat at 66F (19C) during the day and 59F (15C) at night. We set it so it goes down 1/2 an hour before our regular bed-time, and to come back on 1/2 before the alarm goes off. We use down comforters to keep warm at night and wear sweaters and slippers in the house to keep warm during the day. (We would keep it warmer if the kids were babies). Our house is 10 years old so the windows are pretty good at keeping the cold air out. My dream is to go solar one day but that's a big one time set up cost!

Maryfs · 01-13-2007, 10:25 AM

I tried keeping the heat down some where I would wear a sweater. I don't think its worth it when my hands and nose are still cold though.

Oregano · 01-13-2007, 10:44 AM

We also have a programmable thermostat, which is great...so can have it go on and off automatically and I can override the settings and warm things up a bit or cool things down if I'm going to be out all day. It really made a difference in our heating bill.

I grew up in a chilly house, so I do wear sweaters and socks and slippers if I need to during the day. If you don't have good storm windows, the film will probably help. My BIL made plexiglass 'storms' for his windows (no storm windows) and they've made a huge difference in retaining heat for his house. He puts them in each fall with some sort of clear caulke that peels right off in the spring when he takes them out.

Happymom · 01-13-2007, 11:43 AM

We use the plastic. It really does help. We totally sealed off one door in the back of our house that the air just runs in around!!! We have a hundred+ yr old house that really needs new doors, heck, they all have the hole for the skeleton keys!!! I do dress warmly and keep a blanket on the couch for snuggling up and watching tv. I also try to bake alot. I got to figure something though, because we just got our first gas bill at this house and I about went through the floor!!!! It was more than we ever paid at our old house!!!

fullernj · 01-13-2007, 03:07 PM

I put plastic on the windows too. We live in a very old house and it is very drafty. After I did the plastic film on the worst windows and was still feeling a draft, I noticed that it comes in around the windows, between the trim and the wall. So that is my project for this spring, to re-caulk around the window and baseboard trim. Otherwise I will probably have to do the plastic on the outside of the windows and I am just to vain for that.

One of my daycare parents told me they use a whole house humidifier, and then they can keep their heat lower because it feels warmer when it's not so dry. So I am on the lookout for a used one.

Missystuy · 01-13-2007, 03:22 PM

We have a walk up attic that gets REALLY cold and the cold air comes under the door. I hung a comforter over the openeing, and close the door really tightly to try and keep drafts out.

I also keep my thermostate set at 66-67. Its actually not that badm unless I'm not moving, in which case, I crawl under the blankets of my bed. LOL I keep many blankets on my bed and all the kids end up in there, keeping us all toasty.

Dont' use hot water, if you can help it. WAsh in cold or warm, don't take long showers, and don't use really hot water to wash dishes.

BAKE! Cook a TURKEY or something. LOL When you use the oven, you make supper and heat the kitchen at the same time. hehe

Spoodler · 01-13-2007, 06:52 PM

I also suggest the programmable thermostat. Ours cost us around $100 six years ago and it has saved us a TON of money. We keep ours at 59 at night and 64 during the day. We do the same thing kathrynhannah does and set it to go to 59 around 30 minutes after we go to bed and then to go back up to 64 around 30 minutes before we usually wake up.

DD and I are perfectly comfortable in a colder house...after a while, you don't feel comfortable in a really warm house.

We also are gradually replacing regular lightbulbs with the 6 year energy efficient ones. Whenever one burns out, we put in a spiral one.

Also, make sure weather stripping around doors is keeping drafts out.

mommysparkles · 01-14-2007, 09:33 AM

We actually shut our furnace off last winter and purchased a couple of heaters. We placed one in our bedroom and one in the livingroom. Of course they are the kind with thermostats so they don't run all the time. Our kids sleep in the basement and we have one for each of their rooms too. In the basement they have to keeep their doors closed so they aren't heating the whole basement or at least trying to, and upstairs we keep the kitchen and bathroom doors closed when not in use. We also put plastic, not the light film, but the heavy plastic on the windows on the north side of the house and the west side too. Though there are chilly spots in the house, especially the bathroom first thing in the morning (gosh how I still haven't grown use to that cold toilet seat!!!) the house stays pretty comfortable.

We had to get creative last year when our gas bill in Oct hit $80 with only using the hot water heater and cooking. No furnace yet. It worked too. While most of our friends and neighbors were paying $300 a month to heat their homes, our electric bill with all of this only increased $25. This year we are practicing this again and even though our electric rates have increased, the amount to heat our home each month is still under $45. Mind you I live in a really old house that is in dire need of new insulation and the windows are as old as the house (no joke-85 years original)

Of course don't forget that wearing a sweater and socks in the house is just the norm for winter, and even a lap blanket when watching tv isn't out of the question if you live in the colder climates.

HTH

Missystuy · 01-14-2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommysparkles

We actually shut our furnace off last winter and purchased a couple of heaters. We placed one in our bedroom and one in the livingroom. Of course they are the kind with thermostats so they don't run all the time. Our kids sleep in the basement and we have one for each of their rooms too. In the basement they have to keeep their doors closed so they aren't heating the whole basement or at least trying to, and upstairs we keep the kitchen and bathroom doors closed when not in use. We also put plastic, not the light film, but the heavy plastic on the windows on the north side of the house and the west side too. Though there are chilly spots in the house, especially the bathroom first thing in the morning (gosh how I still haven't grown use to that cold toilet seat!!!) the house stays pretty comfortable.

We had to get creative last year when our gas bill in Oct hit $80 with only using the hot water heater and cooking. No furnace yet. It worked too. While most of our friends and neighbors were paying $300 a month to heat their homes, our electric bill with all of this only increased $25. This year we are practicing this again and even though our electric rates have increased, the amount to heat our home each month is still under $45. Mind you I live in a really old house that is in dire need of new insulation and the windows are as old as the house (no joke-85 years original)

Of course don't forget that wearing a sweater and socks in the house is just the norm for winter, and even a lap blanket when watching tv isn't out of the question if you live in the colder climates.

HTH

Wow this is intersting! Where did you purchase the heaters? Can you tell me more about them?