motherto2
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Post by motherto2 on Jan 7, 2011 19:59:17 GMT -5
I usually keep both thermostats around 64-65. I wear sweatpants and shirts, socks or slippers. I sit on the couch with a blanket. If it gets really cold I'll bring in a little heater. I have an electric throw on my bed to turn on if it's really really cold at night. I have a gas fireplace but didn't want to spend the big bucks to fill it this year since it's just me and the pup. Both kids also have small electric fireplaces and electric throws for their rooms. I just have to go behind them to turn them down/off all the time Oh, the lap pup helps alot too!
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998fbird
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Post by 998fbird on Jan 7, 2011 20:22:16 GMT -5
I use a lot of the same tricks to keep the bill down and myself as comfortable as possible. The house is very old and only the attic has any real insulation. I keep the thermostat set to 62F when I go to bed and when I'm at work and around 67/68F when I'm home, use a vaporizer to make it feel a little warmer and wear layers. I tried the heated mattress pad but didn't like it, so I use the heating pad. I put it in the bed where my feet go and get that area warm and remove it. When I'm watching tv I sit on an afghan and cover up with a fleece blanket and let the kitty sit in my lap and drink hot tea or hot chocolate. I also use fans to blow the warm air from the rooms with heat ducts into the rooms without. I also have electric space heaters to use room by room. So far the bill hasn't been too bad and I'm hoping that it doesn't get much colder. I have had problems with frozen pipes and solved it by putting a fan in the crawl space and circulating the warm air into the area without heat under the house.
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Jake 48
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keeping the faith
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Post by Jake 48 on Jan 7, 2011 21:02:50 GMT -5
65-68 if we are home, 62 at night with the down comforter, fleece throw for sitting on the couch. Dress in layers, slippers etc.. DD gets an electric blanket for sleeping since her room is the coldest in the house. budget plan with the gas company and wood burning insert primarily on the weekend
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Deleted
Joined: Apr 26, 2024 19:52:25 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2011 22:17:30 GMT -5
First I'll say that we are in Central Texas so heating isn't usually a big problem or a costly one. A/C is a whole different issue.
When it's cold outside, how do you stay warm inside? We turn the heater on & set it about 73 (the wife turns it down some because she likes it cold but 71 is about the lowest I like it. Do you use a fireplace? We have a fireplace but it's mostly for show. It's gas & located in the middle of our living room. Our house isn't set up to run it if it's cold because the thermostat is in that room & if we used the fireplace the rest of the house wouldn't get heat. Cozy slippers and a steaming mug of tea? I don't have any house shoes & wouldn't drink tea on a bet (coffee yes, tea no) but I have been known to put a blanket on the couch & cover up. Do you just run your heater, the heck with the cost? Yes but our highest bill is usually only $85 dollars. Do you cover or insulate your windows? Nope, not worth the time or effort here.
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gailbon
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Post by gailbon on Jan 7, 2011 22:27:48 GMT -5
I use my snuggie! I still cannot believe that a cheap piece of fleece could be so warm!
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Post by toservewithlove on Jan 8, 2011 11:29:52 GMT -5
My heater is an old gas wall unit and is not programable. It has a dial that turns to increase the amount of heat. My apt is old, made of stone, and very drafty. The outside temp directly affects the inside temp without me adjusting the heat. I simply try to not let the apt get too cold or hot as opposed to a particular temp. I have a cuddly fleece blanket that I cover with when watching tv or on the laptop. I also have fleece bed sheets on my bed. LOVE THEM! They provide more warmth than flannel imo. In the past I've put plastic over the bedroom windows, but haven't gotten to it yet this winter. May do it this weekend. I drink more hot chocolate than a person should. It's the only warm drink I can stand to drink...and it's chocolate
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djmj3284
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Post by djmj3284 on Jan 8, 2011 13:38:31 GMT -5
Let's see we use a ventless gas fireplace as the primary heat and run it on low at night wait until it's down to 55 inside before we turn it on - no heat during the day. TN rarely gets cold enough for pipes to be an issue. We also convert our clothes dryer to venting inside with a water trap in the winter, and of course do a lot more cooking in the oven vs. the slow cooker.
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Artemis Windsong
Senior Associate
The love in me salutes the love in you. M. Williamson
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 19:32:12 GMT -5
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Favorite Drink: Fresh, clean cold bottled water.
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jan 8, 2011 15:49:28 GMT -5
I bought one of those infrared guns to measure the temperature of different place in my house. I then know what rooms to close off and where to add more plastic and blankets.
I have a small heater that opposes the draft from the fireplace which is covered up. That's cheaper and easier than the fireplace.
I cover the windows with plastic and heavy drapes. The front door has a blanket over it. I use a fleece blanket under the comforter and quilt. We don't program the heat because I'm up too much at night with insomnia. I have an oil filled radiator heater in the unfinished basement to keep the heat ducts somewhat warm.
Under 10 degrees and lower, I wear a wool shirt or sweater. Sweat pants and a turtle neck. I sleep in light flannel pants and a turtle neck. If it's real cold, I will put a shirt over the top of my head, or a fleece jacket sleeping in the camper. That's better than a knit cap as the cap leaves marks on your face. A wool shirt or fleece jacket are my bathrobes.
I drink coffee and hot water.
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Post by mommy2twoal on Jan 8, 2011 20:07:48 GMT -5
I would really love to keep it cooler in house but the hubs and fam are not so into that. They like to hang around in pjs that are not really that thick. We live in south though and have fireplace and gas heat. Not really that bad considering that someone is home around the clock. Daytime 72, night 70 and bill is usually only $150 but also have gas water heater & gas starter in fireplace.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2011 16:38:52 GMT -5
Winters are cold here. I wear cuddle duds(long underwear) all winter long. Only the bottoms because my legs are always cold. Sweatshirts or sweaters on top. We do use the fireplace (wood burning). It dosn't actually make it warmer but it makes me think it's warmer. Plastic on a few drafty windows. Lots of tea, hot chocolate, slippers and a couple snuggly cats.
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sccdf
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Post by sccdf on Jan 10, 2011 18:43:40 GMT -5
Secret weapon.... wool socks. If my feet are warm I am happy.
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Post by honeybunny66 on Jan 10, 2011 20:13:31 GMT -5
How do you people do it? The temps you're describing would be freezing to my family. We try to keep it a toasty 70-72 in the day and it goes to 68 at night (10 PM). We use blankets, slippers and anything else we can think of to keep warm. Oh yeah, the fireplace gives out a lot of heat in the keeping room (I thought it was a lil den when I first saw it).
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Post by sidney on Jan 11, 2011 10:05:04 GMT -5
Menopause......I can melt the snow in our backyard! LOL I live in Wisconsin and some days I long for Menopause.
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Post by sidney on Jan 11, 2011 10:13:52 GMT -5
We keep our house at 65 when were gone during the day and at night when were sleeping. 70 degrees when were home. Sometimes I bump it up to 71. I don't know that one degree just makes it feel warmer.
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museumgal
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 11, 2011 1:24:36 GMT -5
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Post by museumgal on Jan 11, 2011 16:46:14 GMT -5
It's cold here in Ohio. But I usually wear a lot of layers (long underwear and then a longsleeved tee then a sweater) and we get those plastic seal kits to put over the windows. Warm baths and warm drinks.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Jan 12, 2011 0:02:10 GMT -5
My programable thermastat is set on 68 in the morning then 65 then back to 68 when I get home in the evening. It goes back to 65 for the night. When the outside temps get into the 20's and lower, the house isn't an even temp so the living room (and bedrooms) might be 62/64 with the temp set at 68. If I'm doing chores or in the kitchen/dining room it's fine. If I'm watching TV I use a blanket (and sometimes a space heater). I just wear alot of layers at home and/or a fleecey jacket/really heavy sweatshirt. Slippers and/or wool sox are a must. I've got 2 blankets and a down comforter on the bed. I'm always toasty at night. The Cats have heated catbeds (use very little electricity!) so I don't agonize over them "freezing" to death - like that would ever happen. I use a Rice Sock - 1 pound of plain white rice in a white sock with the top tied off - at night. Rice Sock goes in the microwave for 3 minutes and then to the foot of my bed. Lets me have toasty toes! And when the heats gone it's not COLD if my feet bump into it during the night. Also the Cats occassionally snuggle in on top of me (they LOVE the down comforter) and they are surprisingly warm. Unfortunately, I usually wake up with a back ache when they do this.
FWIW: when I have guests I bump up the heat to 72/74 degrees. It seems everyone else lives in warm "wear your shorts and t-shirt" year round houses...
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Post by lovemylife on Jan 12, 2011 12:52:04 GMT -5
During the day I keep our gas furnace set at 68 and at night we turn it totally off. We have a pellet stove in our family room in the basement where we spend a lot of our time. We live in the Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada and this winter so far we have had a lot of snow. As a rule we do not get a long cold winter.
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TrixAre4Kids
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'Not all those who wander are lost' - J. R. R. Tolkien
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 22:33:15 GMT -5
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Post by TrixAre4Kids on Jan 13, 2011 1:19:03 GMT -5
I also discovered the joy of the heated mattress pad! <<Trix runs off to google! Ooohh, I WANT one of those!>> I'm loving my new furnace, It's set with the same temps as old furnace 68/60. The fans are set to recirculate several times an hour which keeps all my nicely warmed air from hanging up in the cathedral ceilings. The house is so much more comfortable than before. Weather here is chilly and damp, every sofa and chair has at least one throw to wrap up in.
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