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Jessah
I love my dogs :)
Member since 2/08 1344 total posts
Name:
Jess
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im sure this is a dumb question
but is it better to keep the heat set low when I am not home or to turn it off before I leave and then on again when I get home. I don't know if it is good for the oil burner to keep going on and off!
I never had oil heat before so I do not know
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Posted 11/12/09 8:20 PM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
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CAMCaps
Live Laugh Love Run
Member since 6/07 4922 total posts
Name:
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
When it gets colder, I woudl definitely not turn it off as your pipes could freeze. We usually just set it low (~58) when we are not home.
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| Posted 11/12/09 8:26 PM |
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Jessah
I love my dogs :)
Member since 2/08 1344 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Posted by CAMCaps
When it gets colder, I woudl definitely not turn it off as your pipes could freeze. We usually just set it low (~58) when we are not home.
so when it is set low it does not use as much oil? I feel so dumb asking these questions but we really have no idea :(
I didnt even know our pipes could freeze
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| Posted 11/12/09 8:33 PM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Posted by TeamBurns
so when it is set low it does not use as much oil? I feel so dumb asking these questions but we really have no idea :(
I didnt even know our pipes could freeze
Yes pipes can freeze... do not shut your heat off entirely on cold days! I believe you burn less oil by lowering the thermostat during the day. We have a programmable one, and we set the temp to drop right after I leave for work & bump back up before we get home.
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| Posted 11/12/09 9:22 PM |
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KittyGags
LIF Adult
Member since 7/09 5614 total posts
Name:
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Posted by TheDivineMrsM
Posted by TeamBurns
so when it is set low it does not use as much oil? I feel so dumb asking these questions but we really have no idea :(
I didnt even know our pipes could freeze
Yes pipes can freeze... do not shut your heat off entirely on cold days! I believe you burn less oil by lowering the thermostat during the day. We have a programmable one, and we set the temp to drop right after I leave for work & bump back up before we get home.
I wish I could figure out how to do this! Instead i'm just throwing money away
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| Posted 11/12/09 9:25 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Your HVAC must be controlled by a programmable thermostat which will allow you to set the temperature when you are away from home or asleep and when you come home or wake up.
We really haven't had to worry about frozen pipes just yet since the temps around the NYC area haven't dipped consistently below freezing, but definitely once Dec, Jan, and Feb roll around.
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| Posted 11/12/09 10:12 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
We dont have oil but its the same for gas heat. We have a programable thermostat and keep the daytime temp at 60 degrees then it goes up to 69 around 5:30pm
do not shut off the oil burner....you will not save anything, it will take longer to heat the house with an ice cold burner and you may run the risk of having your pipes freeze
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| Posted 11/12/09 10:18 PM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Definitely do not turn the burner off on cold days-pipes will freeze, then burst and that will be a big mess.
We have our thermostat set to go to 58 during the day while we are not home. It keeps the pipes open, but doesn't waste as much oil while we are not there.
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| Posted 11/13/09 9:18 AM |
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
It will cost more in fuel and eletricity by turning it off each time the system has to kick in to heat as opposed to keeping it at a programmable steady temp.
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| Posted 11/13/09 9:48 AM |
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MrsFab
this is bliss.......
Member since 10/08 1234 total posts
Name:
Mb
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Posted by Squiggy
It will cost more in fuel and eletricity by turning it off each time the system has to kick in to heat as opposed to keeping it at a programmable steady temp.
Yea thats what I understood as well- they say if you keep it on a reasonable temperature all the time- like 65 it is better
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| Posted 11/13/09 10:29 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Posted by Squiggy
It will cost more in fuel and eletricity by turning it off each time the system has to kick in to heat as opposed to keeping it at a programmable steady temp.
Actually I have metered my system and I can say this isn't true.
You only use electric and oil when your burner is running. So when your burner is on, you are using electric.
I have found that if I was out for 10 hours, if I kept my thermostat at a set temperature, the burner would be running for more minutes during the day when I am not home. Compare that to leaving the burner at a lower temperature, it's running less during the day. Then when you get home, turn the system on.
My home heated very quickly so overall the burner was "on" for far less.
Some people say the burner has to work "harder" if you keep it off. That's a myth as most burners are usually either "on" or "off". The more your burner is on, the more electric you pay. Of course you can't turn it completely off due to the risk of frozen pipes.
I found the same to be true with my CAC and it was far worse if I kept my CAC at a steady temp all day.
Message edited 11/13/2009 10:45:59 AM.
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| Posted 11/13/09 10:41 AM |
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mandasue
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/09 772 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
Posted by ave1024
Posted by Squiggy
It will cost more in fuel and eletricity by turning it off each time the system has to kick in to heat as opposed to keeping it at a programmable steady temp.
Actually I have metered my system and I can say this isn't true.
You only use electric and oil when your burner is running. So when your burner is on, you are using electric.
I have found that if I was out for 10 hours, if I kept my thermostat at a set temperature, the burner would be running for more minutes during the day when I am not home. Compare that to leaving the burner at a lower temperature, it's running less during the day. Then when you get home, turn the system on.
My home heated very quickly so overall the burner was "on" for far less.
Some people say the burner has to work "harder" if you keep it off. That's a myth as most burners are usually either "on" or "off". The more your burner is on, the more electric you pay. Of course you can't turn it completely off due to the risk of frozen pipes.
I found the same to be true with my CAC and it was far worse if I kept my CAC at a steady temp all day.
i agree with this 100%
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| Posted 11/13/09 11:58 AM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: im sure this is a dumb question
i would get a programmable thermostat... they're like $40 or $50. you can set it to go up or down to go with your work hours, and ours even lets you do 2 days that are different, for the weekends when you're home during the day. heres our current program 
WEEKDAYS
6:30-8 AM goes up to 67 while we get ready for work
8AM-4 PM goes down to 62 all day while we're not home
4PM-11PM stays up to 69 while we're home at night
11PM-6:30 AM goes down to 62 while we're sleeping (we like it cooler to sleep)
we set this like 2 years ago when we got the theramostat, and really haven't had to touch it since.
WEEKENDS-
9AM-Midnight- it stays up at 70, since we're usually home most of the day
at midnight it goes down to 62 while we sleep
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| Posted 11/14/09 10:44 AM |
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