Am I going to save much on my gas bill doing what I did today?
By kris182_2000
@kris182_2000 (5444)
Canada
February 9, 2011 4:41pm CST
I know that turning down the thermostat helps keep costs low, but what about actually turning it off for about 3 hours?
That's what I did today while I took a nap. I was tired and the sun was blazing through the living room window heating it up quite nicely on its own.
No one has been home in the basement for hours, so I didn't see much point in keeping it heated while I snoozed for a while.
I just wonder how much that will save on the next bill by doing this, and if there would be any long term savings if I did it more often.
The bills will start decreasing when the weather gets warmer, and soon all we'll have to pay for is the occasional a/c day and the water heater.
I will be glad to see lower heating bills soon. I guess I should be using my fireplace more and using up the wood outside before winter ends.
Anyone see any benefit to what I did today?
3 people like this
8 responses
@Nadinest1 (2016)
• Canada
5 Mar 11
They say(...and I don't know who 'they' are) that it doesn't save any money buy turning down the heat for a few hours, then turning it back on. You will use less electricity, gas etc by keeping the room at the regular temperature, then turning it off letting the room cool down and trying to heat it back up again.
It is also true with water heaters, I heard. it is going to take more money to heat the cold water back up than it would to just leave it on. Now, this wouldn't be true if you were leaving for 2 weeks or something like that.
I am interested to see what the other posts are going to say....to see if they have heard this as well.
Hope it all goes well for you.
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
10 Feb 11
Yes, I agree with everyone here too. I think that it takes more energy for the heater to warm up hot again once it is shut down totally. Plus you have to worry about the pipes and everything freezing when you do turn it off. I just think it would be better to leave the thermostat with a little bit of heat on when you are not in the room or sleeping.
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
10 Feb 11
There is always a discussion about running on a minimum heat or a/c as opposed to completely shutting it off for a period of time. Some say that cutting the furnace or cooler clear off is a good idea. Others insist that going to that extreme means that the heat or a/c has to go into overdrive to compensate for the loss of heat or coolness. Three hours in the scheme of things may not make a huge difference, but I would not do that all the time. I would, however, shut it down to 60, or 62. (not sure if you are F or C) whenever I was not going to be home. I love those seasons when we do not have to heat or cool.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
9 Feb 11
I think that it will help, but I'm not exactly sure how much it'll help. I've tried to work on turning our heat down more, as well as using our lights less. Our electric bill (we also have electric heat) has been very, very crazy lately. I'll have to start paying out more expenses each month so I'm trying to cut things down a bit. I'm turning the heat down (I don't like it too hot anyway). I'm also pushing to use the lights less. So right now I'm sitting in the dark with the TV and computer on, but I'm not using any other lights, except if I walk into another room. I'm not sure if it'll help any but I'm hoping it will.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
10 Feb 11
A man was driving to work when he ran out of gas and his car stopped along the road. As he sat there wondering what to do, a bee flew in through the open window and said,"Whats the matter?" The man described his predicament and the bee said," Wait right here till I get back!" The bee soon came back with a whole swarm, and told the man to start his car. The car started right up and the man said,"What did you put in the Tank? The bee said," B.P."
@payout (3794)
• United States
9 Feb 11
Hey Kris,
I think it will help the Gas around my area the rate of it is costly and I wont dare use it because of it. I turn on my gas heating when its very cold and I will turn it on once and then I will let my electric portable heater help it and then keep the electric on and the Gas off saving me Gas. My Electric normal is 30-50 a month and now its 130-170 because of electric heater but thats better then paying 250-300 on Gas. I try to save a lot of energy. I buy everything Energy Star but.. to be honest I dont think this Electric Heater is a STAR haha Buy a New one Next year
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
9 Feb 11
It could backfire. By turning it off completely, it will have to work harder when you turn it on to reheat the cooled off space. Better to turn it down.
@Robswife2006 (1208)
• United States
9 Feb 11
I'm guessing that this will cut your electric bill down some, but be careful you don't freeze your pipes in the process. If it is a warm day out that's one thing, but if it is very cold outside you could freeze & damage your pipes & in the end that will just wind up costing you even more money.
