Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkB
Where in the world did you get that idea? Sorry dude, but you're makin' it up and giving very bad advice. The physics of this question is very simple - turn down more, save more fuel. There's no magic 'wicking' to take account of. This is a very simple formula:
1. The more degrees you keep your house above outside temps...
2. for the longer time
the more energy you use.
If you either set your thermostat lower, or keep it lower longer, you will save fuel.
And running the furnace to raise the temperature more than five degrees doesn't hurt the furnace. A furnace is not like a car engine - it's not like you're pulling a load up hill. The furnace always runs at the same rate. To raise the temperature of your house more, it just runs longer. If anything will hurt your furnace, it's cycling on and off, not running for a long time. That's true of any machinery - it's always the cycling that does the damage not the standard running.
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You obviously don't know Bob, but many of us do.
Bob does NOT make things up and give bad advice.
I agree with him on the 4 degrees thing for the few hours of setback time.
On the other hand, say you are going away for the week, sure turn it down 15 degrees and save money. I do that to my workshop when I know I am not going to be out there for days, I keep it warm enough so the glue doesn't coagulate when it gets cold. It does take a long time for all the objects to get back up to temp( I have a lot of cast iron), but it's worth it in saving gas.
Also outdoor temps have a lot to do with saving by setting back the t-stat.
4 degrees is a good rule.
your mileage may vary
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