Sophia Be wrote:
To turn on a heater. It's so damn cold in my house right now. But I swore I wouldn't do it.

I'm sitting at my computer with a blanket, in a heavy jacket and poofy socks just freezing my tushy off. (All my animals are hiding under the covers)

For those of you who don't like to spend money on electric heating bills/heating oil/gas, how cold does your house have to be before you'll break down and turn on a heater?

For the rest of you, how do you manage your heating? On during the day, off at night? On all the time? Thermostat always set at 85?

just wrote a check for $706 for heating oil

But I think I am saving about that much this year just by replacing all the aluminum windows.

I don't mind 65° as long as I wear a heavy shirt and keep moving.

Sophia Be wrote:
To turn on a heater. It's so damn cold in my house right now. But I swore I wouldn't do it.

I'm sitting at my computer with a blanket, in a heavy jacket and poofy socks just freezing my tushy off. (All my animals are hiding under the covers)

For those of you who don't like to spend money on electric heating bills/heating oil/gas, how cold does your house have to be before you'll break down and turn on a heater?

For the rest of you, how do you manage your heating? On during the day, off at night? On all the time? Thermostat always set at 85?

first complete day below freezing here.
no heat is bad for the pipes

Gabrielle Heather wrote:
my thermostat says 70 but it lies. I have no insulation in any of the walls of this apt I now rent. I always wear a jacket inside or a sweatshirt and I am always cold to begin. I hate it. I prefer it to be like a jungle, but I have a roommate, and I/we pay for heat in this apartment. My body physically hurts from the cold. I want to move.

I'm sorry to hear this.  This is not good.

My heat is included in the rent.
But I still turn down the thermostat when I'm out.
I was away for a few days and let the temps drop to 63F.
My place is at 74 during the day and 72 at night. Could be less maybe.
I like to be comfortable first and foremost.

BlueMoonPics wrote:
I'm sorry to hear this.  This is not good.

My heat is included in the rent.
But I still turn down the thermostat when I'm out.
I was away for a few days and let the temps drop to 63F.
My place is at 74 during the day and 72 at night. Could be less maybe.
I like to be comfortable first and foremost.

Im happy to have a place to live right now. I cant/wont be moving for a while. Is what it is. I was just complaining cause I am cold right this moment. Sorry to rant. Places where the heat is included are taken for granted I now realize!!!!! (and insulation is a wonderful thing, I might add) Dishwashers are damn awesome too!

sdgillis wrote:

just wrote a check for $706 for heating oil

But I think I am saving about that much this year just by replacing all the aluminum windows.

I don't mind 65° as long as I wear a heavy shirt and keep moving.

Oh man, I don't miss heating oil.

When I was little, we had heating oil but could never afford the minimum oil purchase to get the truck out, so the house was always freezing. In the winter I could see my breath. My dad would sometimes go buy a little bit of diesel fuel just to take the bite off.

Then I had it again when I lived in North. So damn expensive.

scrymettet wrote:

first complete day below freezing here.
no heat is bad for the pipes

I bet it's much colder where you are for sure.

It hasn't quite hit freezing yet (I don't think). It was 35 when I left my house this morning. I'm on a mountain though, so it's much colder up here then it is in Portland propper

Gabrielle Heather wrote:
my thermostat says 70 but it lies. I have no insulation in any of the walls of this apt I now rent. I always wear a jacket inside or a sweatshirt and I am always cold to begin. I hate it. I prefer it to be like a jungle, but I have a roommate, and I/we pay for heat in this apartment. My body physically hurts from the cold. I want to move.

I had a house that was badly insulated years ago. It had baseboards, cost a small fortune to heat even though it was only like 500 sqft. My heating pad has been my friend in past years

Stay warm!

Two Pears Studio wrote:
The thermometer in the kitchen hit 49 when I turned on. It is set for 62. We have gas heat and it gets expensive during the winter.

My last house had gas, but it was so well insulated, I could turn it on, warm the place up then turn it off. I loved that Oh and sitting on the heating vents was the best!

MMDesign wrote:
That's just dumb. Sorry.

Okay, actually it's not... as long as you're destitute and living in a house that zombies just recently vacated.

Meh, I'm actually ok financially, just cheap and always looking for ways to save money.

I'm the only one home during the day, so it seems like a waste to pay for heat for just me.

We have a fireplace and we will spring for fire wood, but the problem with that is that I can't make a fire till late in the afternoon. Still it's very nice. The living room gets warm. The bedrooms and bathrooms are still icy though.

BlueMoonPics wrote:

I'm sorry to hear this.  This is not good.

My heat is included in the rent.
But I still turn down the thermostat when I'm out.
I was away for a few days and let the temps drop to 63F.
My place is at 74 during the day and 72 at night. Could be less maybe.
I like to be comfortable first and foremost.

Wow, that's awesome!

Solacium wrote:
My house always used to be freezing due to poor insulation on an old house.

Tips:
Down comforters
Electric blankets (yes, a fire hazard, but use when awake)
Space heaters for small immediate areas that have timers.
Snuggies!
Constant hot drinks! Tea tea tea!
Animal warmth!

lol, Yes! I use my critters a lot. I should get a Snuggy thing

Damon Banner wrote:
If it gets below 68 degrees, the heat is coming on.

I imagine it stays pretty warm where you are.

(I could be wrong, though. I lived in San Jose for a while, but I don't remember it ever getting cold).

Sophia Be wrote:

I imagine it stays pretty warm where you are.

(I could be wrong, though. I lived in San Jose for a while, but I don't remember it ever getting cold).

sub 50's!!!

Damon Banner wrote:

sub 50's!!!

My house is currently below 50, ha ha

Sophia Be wrote:

My house is currently below 50, ha ha

I'm no expert but I remember reading my refrigerator manual and it stated to not let the temperature drop below about 60F.  The refrigeration system will not work properly with the outside coils at below that temperature.

Check your manual.

Also, you may have medications that tell you not to exceed or go below certain temperatures.  Check them out too.

Gabrielle Heather wrote:
I wonder what the temp in here is. I know I am ridiculously cold all the time anyway. When the heat here decides to actually kick on it's amazing!!! (but not long lasted) We added this long panel of fabric over the stairs to save some heat in one area and not lose it out of the bottom of the stairs. Well, my father did, and I helped. My roommate provided most of the supplies. I feel bad for people who dealt with no insulation as a constant in their homes growing up. No fun. The blankets I have laid on the couch I cover my doggie in to make sure she is warm. It's not even winter yet! I am pretty sure I will be turning this thing up at some point or someone will find me frozen to death on the corner of the couch. Unicorns and puppies.

I used to have an epic layering technique to create a cocoon of wamth. I think It was super warm winter PJs, flannel sheet, blanket, electric blanket, and down comforter on top to seal in the warmth. Something like that.

It was impossible to leave, but the house could be freeeezing and I'd be toasty. The electric blanket was just needed to be on for the first bit or so to create the warmth

Solacium wrote:
Under 50?!

And I was worried about my dad keeping his thermostat at 59.

You must be shaking with cold! Is it really worth it? Personally I'm a ball of utter misery when cold.

I brought in my out door thermostat and it says 49. I have thermals on under my cloths too, so I'm cold but not shivering.

I just started thyroid medicine, I couldn't have tolerated this temp before the meds

BlueMoonPics wrote:

I'm no expert but I remember reading my refrigerator manual and it stated to not let the temperature drop below about 60F.  The refrigeration system will not work properly with the outside coils at below that temperature.

Check your manual.

Also, you may have medications that tell you not to exceed or go below certain temperatures.  Check them out too.

Hmm, weird, thanks for the info

Gabrielle Heather wrote:
treat yourself woman! revel in that shit! You are fierce! let there be heat!

Damon Banner wrote:
I vote that you turn on the heat.  I'll send you 1 cent to help with the bill

I just got back from the gym and am home for the night now, so I'm gonna start a fire

Red Sky Photography wrote:
I have an auto thermostat that turns heat on to 70 from when I get home from work till bed time. Then it lets the temp slip down to 64 at night and through the day.

I open some shades on the sunny side of the house to get some afternoon sunlight which warms it a bit. The computers warm up my office a bit, and i wear sweaters and sweatshirts, trying to keep the electric bill down. I don't care much for cold weather.

That's cool, very fancy

Damon Banner wrote:
I have a space heater I use while it is still "warm"

when that stops being enough (dec/jan/feb) I turn on the central heat.

Right now the space heater goes on and off depending on the temp.

your in damn California! come stay at my place for a night or two

Gabrielle Heather wrote:

your in damn California! come stay at my place for a night or two

nah, you never turn the heat on!  that is unacceptable!

Damon Banner wrote:
nah, you never turn the heat on!  that is unacceptable!

my heat is always on 70....... I just dont feel it. I need to turn it up MORE. Its basically throwing money out of the window to crank my heat but im cold. Ill provide blankets and turn the heat up. Guests get comfort. (if they say something) I'll let you feel the chill for a lil bit though. Just cause.

ShivaKitty wrote:
I hate being cold inside.

My *perfect* temperature is around 80 degrees. I like being able to walk around naked in my house and be perfectly warm, or even just a tiny bit sweaty.

I wanna come over.

edit: for the heat reason. If you truly walk around naked that would be a bonus.

Solacium wrote:
I used to have an epic layering technique to create a cocoon of wamth. I think It was super warm winter PJs, flannel sheet, blanket, electric blanket, and down comforter on top to seal in the warmth. Something like that.

This is true you know. And rather hilarious.