Question
Should I keep my house at one temperature rather than turning it up and down as I do with my auto thermostat?
I had an oil burner contractor say its more efficient to keep the house at one temperature rather then turning it up and down as I do with my auto thermostat. He also stated that the temperature should not be adjusted by more then 5 degrees if I did so. His reasoning was that the furnishings in the home also get cold and the system needs to heat them also and so uses more energy.
Answer
Mary,
I usually recommend that the change in temperature does not exceed (3) degrees up or down.
Any amount over that will require more energy to heat the space.
For more information:
Read "How much energy is saved by turning down a thermostat even by 1 degree? Is there a statistic available?" a Q&A answered by Michael Holcomb.
Also, read "Does a programmable thermostat really save 20% on my utility bills?" a Q&A answered by Steve Saunders.
