Need suggestions - programmable thermostat

[Opti]

I'd love some suggestions on what to program my thermostat given heating season is
just starting. My schedule is variable and might become more so as I am interviewing
for a retail position at the mall and seasonal hours are worse than the 8AM-8PM M-Sun
PT receptionist hours I can work.

This is my first programmable thermostat. Its a Honeywell and the manager of the complex finally installed it about a month ago. Any suggestions on days, times and
temps to program? I don't do well in very cold so in the past the lowest I set the analog
one was about 68 degrees F because on cold nights that translated to 63 to 64 in my bedroom. Thermostat is in the LR/DR area against the back wall. Bedroom is on the corner and has windows on two different walls. LR only has one long window.

(Dept store mall anchor Xmas season hours can be as bad as 6AM to midnight.
I hope to convince them to hire me but keep away from the extremes of those
hours except perhaps for inventory in January. Going to apply to another mall
store which will likely be more like 9:30 to 11PM max, but I have to find the jobs via Indeed or something. )

[Deleted]

We generally set ours to come on around 5:30 am to heat up to 68 and turns off about 1/2 hour later. I think our minimum is around 62 during the day. Then it comes on again around 6pm.

We are home most of the day but we're generally moving around. And yes we're the kind of folks who will wear a sweater or vest if we're chilly.

If it's really cold or you're not moving around too much, you can always do a manual override for awhile.

[kent]

We're both retired so this isn't an issue for us.

That said, if you have a smartphone, I "think" there are some apps that would allow you to control your furnace remotely.  Just set it as you leave work and you're nice and comfortable when you get home.

[Opti]

Just a dumb phone. I tend to low blood pressure and sinus infections so I already
wear sweaters and fleece during heating season. In fact if I'm sick and its down to
63 or 64 in my bedroom I might be wearing socks, gloves, and a hat to stay warm
as well. (in bed typically, but sometimes awake too. )

I'd love to find a FT job with a steady schedule as my plan was to let the heat drop during
the day when I was gone to save money. Right now, my only scheduled FT day is Thursday and my other shifts are 6 hours(Sundays at most twice a month) and 4 hour
evening shifts M,W,F starting with the FTers matenity leave. Then there will be the hours
I should pick up at some retailer likely the weekends and some other times I'm not at
the subacute facility.

I might not have a pre-determined somewhat known one week in advance schedule until
the last week of November so I have time to play with it and figure it out. The lows have
already hit freezing and I had three different tops I washed that I slept in this week:
short sleeve pj top, long sleeve flannel pj top, and black fleece zip up mock neck. (The
week before was tank top, short sleeve pj top and a long sleeve tshirt. Weather has been
a bit variable. )

[Deleted]

I think I'm a wimp. Mine is set upstairs to 68 all the time. Downstairs is 71 when we are home, 68 at night. I work from home, so I keep it comfortable,

[Deleted]

What kind of heating system do you have? Forced hot air?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

We've got a programmable thermostat, it's set for 64 during the day and starts dropping to 58 around 10 pm. 64 is more tolerable for me now, but when I was immobile it would get bumped up to 67 for a few hours. We've got down and flannel sheets on the bed, so cooler temps are easily tolerable, only problem is the freaking cold ceramic floor when I need to do a middle of the night bathroom run.

[Angel!]

I set mine to 70 during the weekdays about 15 minutes before I wake up. 
Then about 15 minutes before I leave it drops down to 60 for the day. 
It goes to 68 about 15 minutes before I get home.  Sometimes that isn't warm enough and I will bump it up, but I would rather walk in and need to turn on the heat than to walk in and have it feel like a furnace. 
About 1/2 hour before bed it goes back to 68 for the night.  I used to make it a lot colder during the night prior to kids.  But, I don't want it to get too cold for the kids though and anymore it seems like I am up at least twice/night and don't want to get up when it is freezing. 

Weekends are similar only it doesn't drop down during the day and it stays warm later at night since I tend to stay up a little later.

[Abby Normal]

We have ours set to 60 at night.  It goes on about 30 minutes before we get up to bring the house up to 63 then back down to 60 when we leave.  When we return, it's set to warm up to 67 and stay there until about 10 at night.  If we need it a little warmer, we just manually adjust in the evening.   It's set for 67 on weekend days.

[Tiny]

I have forced air and an older brick house. So from now until about mid-december it's set at 65 when I'm sleeping or not at home and 68 when I am home. I use a little space heater if I need alittle extra heat in the bathroom (for my morning shower) or in the living room. My house warms up with the sun during the day and then cools down (how quickly depends on the outside temps).

Once it's routinely in the 30's and below - I'll set it to 68 and 72. I can't keep an even temp across the house so at 68 degrees in January the bedrooms might be 62 degrees.

That said... for figuring out your schedule for your thermastat - why not shoot for having the times you are asleep as a lower temp say 65.    Since your at home/away from home may be very variable - why not go "old school" and program something like 68 during the day --  but then manually bump it up to 72 when you come in the door from being away.  I'm just using 68 and 72 as examples. You may need to figure out what temps are 'comfortable' for you.   Most programmable thermastats will hold the manually set temp - until it hits a 'time to change' that's been programmed in.   Some of the termastats will hold  the manual change for an hour or two and then revert to the 'programmed temp'.   

I'd read the instructions that came with your thermastat to determine what will be the best plan of action.

Even if you only set the thermastat to 68 degrees for 8 hours of 'sleep' and then 72 degrees the rest of the time 7 days a week - you'll still save some money (because you will be using less energy). The programmale thermastat simply lets you 'forget' to have to manually turn down/up the heat.

I have 2 cats and I use to worry that they'd be cold (yeah right) so I got them heated cat beds - they use 4 watts of electricity so they are just like nightlights.  I don't notice a change in my electric bill when the beds are plugged in 7/24 - but then electricity is cheap (.08 a kilowatt hour).  

ADDED:  My thermastat is set to bring up the tempurate 30 minutes before my alarm clock goes off and then it drops the temp at 9:00am (I actually leave at 8:00am), it then brings up the temp around 5:30 (I'm home by 6:30/7:00pm) and then drops the temp at 11:00pm.   On Sat/SunThe temp comes up when my alarm goes off and then doesn't drop until 11:00am and then stays low until Monday AM.  I'm often in and out during the day on the weekends and then not home on Saturday/Sunday nights.   If I am home and I am chilly I'll manually bump up the heat.

[greeniis10]

We tried the variable temp thing: lower when we're gone during the day or at night and then higher in the AM while getting ready, etc. but we decided just to keep it at a steady temperature all the time.  The furnace runs for a lot longer when it is trying to get the house back up to temp after being cooler through the night, so it seems like it would use more energy that way.  I don't know; I've never done the actual numbers (too lazy!).

Also, we initially programmed each day into the system accomodating weekday and weekend schedules, but we have regular power surges in our neighborhood that last a few seconds - just long enough to wipe out all the electrical appliances and then everything has to be re-set again.    Yep, guess I'm just lazy overall...

OP, with your variable schedule I'd just set it at the lowest temp you're comfortable with and start from there.

[teen persuasion]

First off, how many days can you program, and how many periods?  Some are the same each day, some are the same weekdays and have another schedule for weekends, some have a schedule for each day; there are 2 periods per day, and 4 periods per day.

Ours at home is 4 periods per weekday (M-F all the same) and 2 periods on weekends; I guess they assume you want to schedule it cooler while you are at work, but on weekends stay home.  Don't get too hung up on what the number says; go by how comfortable you are.  Our thermostat can read 64 but it is comfortable.

We've got baseboard hydronic heat, so I set it to warm up 15 minutes before DH gets up.  If your heat takes longer to take effect, adjust the time.  I have it drop down in temp after the last kid gets on the bus, knowing I'll head off to work in an hour or so.  It comes back up before the first bus comes home, and drops off at night about 9pm; hopefully feeling chilly will drive us to bed at a reasonable hour.

Read the manual, figure out how to set it, pick something reasonable to you, and try it.  Readjust it as needed until it feels just right.  If your work schedule changes, reprogram it for that day if necessary, or override for the day if you don't want to mess up a good thing.  

The ones I've used are all different, but none are that hard to figure out - we just replaced ours when the old one got wonky (power surge?), and I've been designated to figure out the one at work, so that's 3 different types.

[Sam_2.0]

Check with your utility company. The one I work for offers a programmable thermostat for free in exchange for being able to remotely cycle your AC compressor on peak days in the summer (maybe 1-3 events per year for 2 or 3 hours at a time). Ours are able to be programmed through the website too so if I forget to change settings at home I can do it online (phone or computer).

The Nest is a good one and also features a smart phone app.

I have an old one right now that just does M-F and weekends. We have a babysitter in the house 2 days a week and then DD goes elsewhere the other 3 days. On the days when we are all gone I have to manually turn down/up the thermostat before we leave. But 8 hrs/day x 3 days/week = 24 hrs per week when we can turn it off, shaving off about 10% of our bill overall.

[Angel!]

The Nest looks so cool & I want it.  However, I just can't bring myself to spend that much on a thermostat.

[Sam_2.0]

Oct 28, 2013 13:18:45 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

We tried the variable temp thing: lower when we're gone during the day or at night and then higher in the AM while getting ready, etc. but we decided just to keep it at a steady temperature all the time.  The furnace runs for a lot longer when it is trying to get the house back up to temp after being cooler through the night, so it seems like it would use more energy that way.  I don't know; I've never done the actual numbers (too lazy!).

Also, we initially programmed each day into the system accomodating weekday and weekend schedules, but we have regular power surges in our neighborhood that last a few seconds - just long enough to wipe out all the electrical appliances and then everything has to be re-set again.    Yep, guess I'm just lazy overall...

OP, with your variable schedule I'd just set it at the lowest temp you're comfortable with and start from there.

Those are not surges. It's most likely breaker operations on your circuit. Could be caused by trees or animals touching the lines and tripping out the breakers. The automated system can go back and close the breakers, and if the contact is gone then the power stays on. If the contact is still there and the breaker flips again then it stays off and someone has to physically come out to inspect and reset. I am guessing you have overhead lines or distribution lines that run overhead if the lines in your actual neighborhood are underground.

[greeniis10]

Yes, Sam, you're right.  We do have overhead lines.  We call them the squirrel transportation highway as we have multitudes of them!  The power doesn't stay off; it just goes out for a few seconds.  I don't know the correct terminology, so thank you for the explanation!

[Tiny]

Oct 28, 2013 13:18:45 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

We tried the variable temp thing: lower when we're gone during the day or at night and then higher in the AM while getting ready, etc. but we decided just to keep it at a steady temperature all the time.  The furnace runs for a lot longer when it is trying to get the house back up to temp after being cooler through the night, so it seems like it would use more energy that way.  I don't know; I've never done the actual numbers (too lazy!).

Also, we initially programmed each day into the system accomodating weekday and weekend schedules, but we have regular power surges in our neighborhood that last a few seconds - just long enough to wipe out all the electrical appliances and then everything has to be re-set again.    Yep, guess I'm just lazy overall...

OP, with your variable schedule I'd just set it at the lowest temp you're comfortable with and start from there.

The utility companies generally say that even a 2 degree drop in temp (so, say 72 to 70) for a few hours each day WILL result in using less energy.   I can see if you have a big temp difference - say 65 to 72 and you have alot of "house" where it might feel like you are spending more money than saving money.   The key is how long between the temp shifts - if you are getting 8 hours at the lower 65 and then the other 16 at 72 - you probably are still using less energy each 24 hour period than leaving it set at 72.   

It also depends on how well insulated your house is and how air tight it is as well as how efficient your furnace is, and of course how expensive the energy per unit is.       If you live someplace with cheap energy, have a high efficiency furnance, and a tight, well insulated house -  you probably won't see much of a $$ change on your bill (cheap energy and using a small amount less doesn't add up to Big Changes on your energy bill).    But, if your goal is to use less energy then it would give you a 'warm fuzzie' to rise/lower the temp for some hours each day (usually night time or when away from home).   

It's a trade off and ultimately comes down to comfort for you (and your family or guests).    I have learned to NOT get all 'frugal' and to not experience a 'feel bad' when i have guests over and need to raise the temp in winter (or lower the temp in summer).   For some bizarre reason my friends/relatives want to walk around the house in shorts and tank tops in Winter (when it's 20 below outside) and want to wear sweaters and generally bundle up in the summer (when it's 90 and humid out side).   <-- ok that's slightly sarcastic but kinda true.     I don't get it.   So I accomodate by changing the temp when they visit and don't feel bad about it.      

[Deleted]

Tiny said:

For some bizarre reason my friends/relatives want to walk around the house in shorts and tank tops in Winter (when it's 20 below outside) and want to wear sweaters and generally bundle up in the summer (when it's 90 and humid out side). <-- ok that's slightly sarcastic but kinda true. I don't get it.

Are they from the SF Bay Area? Cuz we do have to turn the heat on in the summer and wear sweaters. And I know more than a few people here who wear flip flops in the winter...and surf! 

[Deleted]

OMG reading what temperature some of you keep your house at makes me shiver....if I have to wear multiple layers inside then that's an indication that it's too cold and to turn up the heat.

OP I would just set the thermostat to what you're comfortable at and then adjust it down 2 or 3 degrees when you leave.

[NastyWoman]

Oct 28, 2013 18:13:14 GMT -5 @bonnap said:

Tiny said:

For some bizarre reason my friends/relatives want to walk around the house in shorts and tank tops in Winter (when it's 20 below outside) and want to wear sweaters and generally bundle up in the summer (when it's 90 and humid out side). <-- ok that's slightly sarcastic but kinda true. I don't get it.

Are they from the SF Bay Area? Cuz we do have to turn the heat on in the summer and wear sweaters. And I know more than a few people here who wear flip flops in the winter...and surf! 

-rofl-just because I recognize that behavior (but it is not mine)
In what we call winter here I keep the temperature ~64 during the week in the living room and I use a lap blanket at night and in the weekends turn the temperature up to 68.  In the bedroom not so much --- unless there is a rainstorm aimed straight at my windows, they stay open.  That said there are very few days a year that the temperatures get as low as the high 20s.  Most of the time it is in the 30s and 40s at night here in wintertime, so just perfect for sleeping   

[Deleted]

8AM-8PM M-Sun and 9:30 to 11PM max selling suits sounds like you will only be home for sleeping hours.

If your schedule is completely erratic, just set it for a low temp all the time, maybe dropping down at 10pm.

Then when you are at the house you need to bump up the temp.

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2013 18:28:34 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

OMG reading what temperature some of you keep your house at makes me shiver....if I have to wear multiple layers inside then that's an indication that it's too cold and to turn up the heat.

OP I would just set the thermostat to what you're comfortable at and then adjust it down 2 or 3 degrees when you leave.

Well apparently you don't have two little 101 degree hot water bottles who INSIST on snuggle up or on you at night (aka the evil kitties). Sometimes I wake up sweating!

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2013 10:11:43 GMT -5 @bonnap said:

Oct 28, 2013 18:28:34 GMT -5 @singlemominmd said:

OMG reading what temperature some of you keep your house at makes me shiver....if I have to wear multiple layers inside then that's an indication that it's too cold and to turn up the heat.

OP I would just set the thermostat to what you're comfortable at and then adjust it down 2 or 3 degrees when you leave.

Well apparently you don't have two little 101 degree hot water bottles who INSIST on snuggle up or on you at night (aka the evil kitties). Sometimes I wake up sweating!

I'm comfortable with it being about 68 (a little less if I'm running around doing housework), but my 11 year old seriously sweats at this temp.  He keeps the ducts closed to his bedroom and sleeps in just his underwear.  And it's much colder downstairs where he is and with stone floors to boot.  I'm guessing it's normally 58-62 in his room. 

[Deleted]

I replaced my programmable thermostat last year I think. The new one is complicated, I'm glad I could set it and forget it. I'd have to get the manual out to change the settings.

My work schedule is set, so I set the thermostat around that. I don't sleep well in a warm room, but if I didn't have the thermostat set to warm the house before it's time to get up, I'd be miserable every morning when I get out of bed. I wear long pants and sometimes a long sleeve shirt or a warm robe in the winter, but I'm not going to wear a bunch of clothes in the house to keep warm if my heat's working. I still keep my thermostat set at higher temps than most of you all.