Heating - on or off?

[Frosty]

Maybe add wall/floor/ceiling insulation and then just keep the room at whatever temp you like?

[KenK]

What's the least expensive to use in a smallish single room in cold weather, mostly used all day - like 18 - 20 hours - using an electric space heater and electric blanket for sleeping?

Turn heat on when needed and heat room from a cold start, usually starting a half hour or more before you need it so it's comfortable when you start using it? Or run the heat all the time so that the thermostat in the heater mostly just goes on briefly as needed? Probably turn down the heat at night and skip the electric blanket. Or run the electric blamket at night and just run the heater during the day?

I would think the heat all day and electric blanket at night would be most sensible. But then too there's wear and tear on the heater and its lifetime which could be reduced that way.

What do you think? Anyone tried experimenting this way?

TIA

[makolber]

If it is true resistive electric heating and you don't have a special peak usage electricity rate or time of day billing, then it is cheapest to turn it down or off when you don't need it.

If you have complicated electricity rates, then it gets more,,,,,well complicated.

mark

[Ed Pawlowski]

You don't want it to get too cold or you pay for a lot of warm up from cold. Temperature depends on use. Sleeping with an electric blanket allows for cooler night time room temperature. We like about 62 degrees. Daytime use for little activity for us is 70 degrees.

[trader_4]

Paying for raising the temp later never costs as much as maintaining it instead, unless the rate for energy changes.

Temperature depends on use. Sleeping with an electric blanket

[hubops]

My advice - steady room temperature - but - keep it on the cool side of comfortable - slippers & sweater .. Throw an extra comforter or quilt on the bed. The electric blanket and going up & down with the room heating just makes you more aware of the chilly times - and more uncomfortable from them .. Our fancy programmable home thermostat is set to

66 or 67 all winter, on Manual .. we crank it up 2 or 3 degrees for company or grand babies. John T.

[Wade Garrett]

Any water pipes in walls?

[trader_4]

It depends on how frequently you use the room. If the room is used at various times during the day and at night, then I'd agree the most logical thing to do is keep it at a reasonable temp, because you're going to be raising the temp back up several times, it's not worth having to wait for the temp to rise, you're not saving that much.

But if it's really not used for long periods, then turning the heat way back or off will save money. For example, if the room is a bedroom and isn't really used during the day, then setting the temp way back during the day will save money and not be an inconvenience. At night, a low room temp and using the electric blanket should cost less than warming the whole room too.

It's always going to save money if it's set back, then raised only when needed. But if it's used enough and that happens every few hours, then the savings typically aren't worth the hassle.

[hubops]

** mostly used all day - like 18 - 20 hours ** John T.

[trader_4]

I missed that. I agree with you then, maybe have a different temp for sleeping at night versus day, but if it's used that much, trying to raise and lower it beyond that, just doesn't make sense. Layered clothing can make a lower temp feel comfortable too, it really does make a big difference.

[Dick Cannoli]

Cana you keep the room at 40F or so and then use a small portable *radiant* heater when you are home?  Mebe use a electric blanket at night?