Where do you set your thermostat?

Jennicillin · April 2014

So I got into a conversation on FB about utility costs in San Antonio, TX (where we'll be moving this summer) I was SHOCKED at the amount of money people were paying down there. I live in a 30 year old, 3 bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA, with crappy insulation. VA is notorious for having high utility costs.... the highest bill we've had here is $280 in the summer, and $250 in the winter.

So when these girls living in a state with a lower cost of living said they were paying upwards of $300 I was super confused...

Then I found out they're all keeping their thermostat set at 68, during the heat of the summer in Texas!!! We keep ours at 68 during the day in the winter and 65 at night. In the summer we keep it at 78 during the day and 75 over night.

So now I'm curious if we're just stingy or if they really are all insane??? Where do you keep your thermostat set?

[Deleted User] · April 2014

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jenn330 · April 2014

65 in winter and 70-73 in summer months. But, I usually just have the AC off until we are home or I feel like we need it on. We aren't home often. We also open windows at night in the summer. We recently got a space heater for our home since our propane bill was insane this past winter.

secretsout · April 2014

In the winter, we generally have it set at 63 during the day and 68 when we are home. In the summer we keep it at 82 during the day and 75 at night for the most part. My mom stays at my house with my son now, though, so she typically adjusts the thermostat if it gets too hot or too cold.

Our gas bill in the winter is usually between 200 and 300. During the hottest months, when we run the AC the majority of time, our electric bill is around 300.

theseaword · April 2014

69 in winter. I'm honestly not sure about summer. We've only had the central AC for one summer so far and I don't remember.

ToastieSimons · April 2014

In the winter, 66 during the day (i used to keep at 64 but with all the therapists coming in and out it seemed a bit cold) and 63 at night. I use a space heater in the boys' room.

During the summer, 78 during the day 76 at night. I hate sleeping when it's too warm and we have no fans. If it's going to be super hot and they ask to use to conserve electricity I leave it at 80 during the day and 78 during the night.

MJN9510 · April 2014

We keep ours at 68 in the winter & 74 in the summer. We try not to turn on our AC unless absolutely neccessary during those really hot and humid days of summer. DH is a heating/cooling guy by trade so he is very strict about keeping our thermostat at these temps. You may already know this, but it is better to keep your thermostat at one temp and dont keep moving it up or down more than a degree or two. Your furnace/ac will work much harder if you change the temp too much and that will mean higher utility bills.

Pips09 · April 2014

70 for heat in fall/winter, 74 for AC in summer. We have a programmable thermostat, so we let it get hotter/colder while we are out of the house during the week.

Maebb · April 2014

DH thinks he is the high ruler of the thermostat. He keeps it on 68 during the winter "to save money and be environmentally responsible," but that is BS because he also likes to keep it on 68 in the summer. I bump it up to 72 in the summer whenever he's not looking.

pdh2008 · April 2014

64 in the winter, 72 in summer.

LucilleAustero · April 2014

We keep ours at 65 in the winter. This winter was brutal, so there were days it was definitely higher.

We do not turn on the A/C unless it is hotter than 85 degrees. When we do turn it on, it is set at 73/74. I live on Long Island, super high COL.

RayRay007 · April 2014

I'm too lazy to do conversions. 18-21 c in winter and 23-25 c in summer. There is usually a period in spring and fall where we don't have either heat or a/c on. Our equalized power and natural gas bills are about $185 a month.

Rach7170 · April 2014

Spring and fall we keep it off. Winter is 65-68. Summer is 72-75

thebanich · April 2014

66 in the winter and 72-74 in the summer.

DH always tries to bump it up in the winter. I need a lock box for that thing.

wesleycrusher · April 2014

70 in the winter, 76 in the summer although I hold out on turning it on until I can't stand it anymore.

missyishere · April 2014

MrsButt said:

68 in the winter, 72 in the summer. Spring and fall, it's usually off.

This is about where we are. I've had almost an entire week with all things off, which has been so nice. Windows open for regulation as needed.

ASmallWonder · April 2014

This is an issue for us right now and we're having a home energy audit done next month to figure out WTF is wrong with our house. We keep it at 65 in the winter when we're home, 60 during the day and while we sleep. We go through a disgusting amount of oil for a not warm house. I actually don't know what we keep it at in the summer but I want to say maybe 73?

Unknown · April 2014

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Monkeybabe · April 2014

About 65 in the winter, and we don't have a/c.

casholmes · April 2014

68 in winter, 68-70 for right now but I'll set it higher later on (stupid winter made us think 70 degrees was too hot).

Our gas bill was about $100-$130 a month. We prepay our electric so we put in $20 every week and a half or so, but that includes water, sewer, and internet.

wiggyslilsis · April 2014

We like our house at 72 year round. Only the heat is on a thermostat but we have an in the window AC and we just try to keep it cool enough to sleep and cook.

mschoepp · April 2014

We keep it at 65 in the winter unless it's a super windy day (Montana has wicked windy days) then it MIGHT get bumped up a bit. We don't have central air and it is our first summer in this house, so we will see if we need window air units or not. I didn't grow up with air conditioning so I'm a little more tough about it...H is a total heat wimp so I have a feeling we will have window units in by end of May.

Smootchy · April 2014

in the winter when no one is home, like 64. When we are home 70. When we're sleeping 66/68.

in the summer when no one is home, like 75. When we're home 72. When we're sleeping 72'ish. or if we can shut it off and open windows.

DreadLoc · April 2014

80 with fans on in the summer, and don't turn anything on in the winter. if it gets cold we just bundle up or pile the blankets on.

Jennicillin · April 2014

Good to have some perspective. I'll be the first to acknowledge we like to live cheaply... but I did think 68 degrees during the day in TX 110 degree summers was just asking for a high bill! Maybe living in a lower cost of living area with a newer house we won't have to be quite as stingy :-)

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