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I N S U L A T I O N

renee grinich
renee grinich Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL
i've insulated my brick ranch home, double layered, criss cross. i sealed my window jambs. i covered the windows in plastic. yes, i have seen quite a difference in my heatin bills. saved about 150.00 per month. typical bill for my place 180.00/month. i have an older weil mclain boiler. i recently installed a programable thermostat. what are some reasonable settings for the midwest to stay warm and save some money?

renee

Comments

  • Big Ed
    Big Ed Member Posts: 1,117
    Personal

    I find temperature setting are personal . The lower you can stand the more you will save. Me , at night and away I drop it down to 58*, during the day I like 70* and in the evening I like 72*.......


    P.S. don't forget maintaining humidity for comfort....
  • renee grinich
    renee grinich Member Posts: 2


    thanks for the tips Ed~ what is the best way to maintain the humidity? would you recommend a cool air or hot air humidifier?

    Renee
  • Steve_35
    Steve_35 Member Posts: 546
    Heat Manager

    You may want to look into a Heat Manager. They're being marketed by Beckett. 5 year warranty and a guaranteed 10% reduction in energy usage. They will work on oil or gas fired units.
  • Big Ed
    Big Ed Member Posts: 1,117
    Humidifier

    Either one but don't let the water lay too long in the cool air units.. Wash them out with vinegar...Always use a hydrometer to maintain proper humidity. When the wheather drops below 20*F you need to drop % of humidity , because it will form condensation within your outside walls....Read the literature that comes with the machine or go to one of their web sites....

    Comfort is a balance of temperature & humidity.
  • Boilerpro_3
    Boilerpro_3 Member Posts: 1,231
    BE careful

    I would check your humidity first before adding a humidifier. With a tight home and a heating system that tends to reduce air leakage, thereby increasing humdity levels, you may need to reduce humidity rather than add to it.

    Boilerpro
  • Fred Robinson
    Fred Robinson Member Posts: 23
    humidity

    IMHO, humidity is oversold. Personally I would like to have
    25 cents for every humidifier installed, but not functioning. Most problems posted here are related to water.
    And humidifiers use water. Hard,loaded with minerals,leaking,corroded,rust producing,mold causing, maintenance requiring water. Most commercial systems have malfunctioning humidifiers and they are not even missed. That doesnt mean they should not be operative, thats just the way it is. Anyone see a service opportunity here?
  • Mechanic
    Mechanic Member Posts: 43
    Amen Fred nm.

  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    as well as

    I agree completely with Fred on the humidifier..no one maintain's..no one check's..and definately no one clean's...As to a set back on a boiler..think your wasting your money...when you allow all of the item's in your house to cool you then have to reheat them as well as the building air..by the time this is done the boiler has run longer than if it maintained...as someone mentioned..check the becket manager..never used one but will be checking into them for the future...IMHO...I would only do a set back if it were scorched air...:) good luck oh..you insulated like crazy..but can your house get any fresh air in there?? don't overdo it...you may do more harm then good
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