Question about heating an apartment

[GoingUp]

I'm in an apartment here in MI and I had some questions regarding heating. Would it be cheaper to turn down the heat to 60 during the day and then back up to 68 when I get home, or is it cheaper to keep the apt at the same temp all the time?

Edit:I'm in MI and the apartments are only a couple of years old.

 

[Reel]

There was a long thread on this not too long ago. I think the only conclusion from it was that nobody knew.

 

[feralkid]

That's pretty much what programmable thermostats do, and they are purported to save money. The advantage is, you set it to kick on a half hour before you get home.

You could do it manually and save the same money, but shiver while waiting for it to warm up.

 

[Toastedlightly]

keeping it at 60 works

 

[dullard]

Obviously, you lose less heat when it is colder and thus for most cases, it is cheaper to drop the temperature.

However, for people with heat pumps, a heat pump has trouble rapidly heating back up (they are best at heat maintenance). When this happens, the much less efficient furnace kicks in (often called emergency heat). In this case, it is often cheaper to use the more efficient heat pump all day than to use a very inefficient furnace when you get back.

That said, none of the apartments around here have both a heat pump and furnace. If this is the same for you, it is cheaper to drop the temperature.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: feralkid
That's pretty much what programmable thermostats do, and they are purported to save money. The advantage is, you set it to kick on a half hour before you get home.

You could do it manually and save the same money, but shiver while waiting for it to warm up.

Therefore you'd save even MORE money doing it manually, right?

 

[GoingUp]

I'm in MI and the apartments are only a couple of years old.

 

[Modeps]

Turn it down when you're out.

 

[spaceman]

get yourself a few propane space heaters and makes sure to seal off ANY and all potential drafts in the house.