Does keeping the termostat low really save on heating costs

Brad White_191

you have a forced hot air system, Nancy?

I would not close off vents (outlets) on especially cold nights because sometimes those remote corners suffer, the ones that have pipes in them it always seems. Also, closing off rooms can and will affect balance. Air systems can and do affect air leakage in a house, especially when the pathways for return air are 'challenging' for the furnace. If the furnace cannot get return air, outside air takes it's place.

Now, your basic question, if you are talking about reducing the temperature you keep your house as a constant, yes you will save fuel.

The question not directly asked is, if you set the temperature back when you are away and back up when you are home, will that save energy? That varies with every house. Some houses take hours to recover and use as much fuel as saved during the off-hours. Some houses recover quickly (usually because they are over-sized) and so setback savings can be realized. But over-sized furnaces are less efficient the whole year-round.

You can see the variables!

But if held to a constant, lower temperature, yes, you will save.

Nancy_6

Thermostat setting

Does keeping the heat set low really save on heating costs?

Should I close off vents in rooms I am not in or keep them all open for balance?

Jamie Hall

Yes and maybe

The amount saved by reducing the house temperature will vary somewhat depending on the outside temperatures in your area; oddly, the colder it is, the less you save. But you will save! The maybe has to do with the relationship of the boiler to the heating system. If you have hydronic, you will definetly save. If you have steam, you might, but only if the remaining radiation is still a good fraction of what the system is designed for.

If you do shut things off, though, be very sure that you don't shut off the heat in areas where pipes might freeze. One frozen pipe and your savings are toast...