by "Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
Published 12/08/2017 at 23:31
by "Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
Published 12/08/2017 at 23:31
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STARS: 2
After nearly going broke during my first winter in the Midwest five years ago I’ve been setting my thermostat lower and lower every year. Right now I think I have it set to get the place up to a blistering 57 degrees during times when I’m at home and awake. As I write this there is currently a 15 degree difference between my home office and the rest of the house(72 vs 57), and since I tend to lock myself in this one room most of the time I’m home that works out just fine. I should probably relocate the wine cooler/second fridge in here thus giving me even less of a reason to leave.
For the most part I’m just using a couple of those oil-filled radiator heaters in the bedroom and office, and they do a surprisingly good job. One thing I have done is to place them right above forced-air vents, so when the main heater kicks on it blows the heat into the room a little quicker as the air passes over the radiator. Too bad much of the good hot air is trapped up high by these 9 ft high ceilings...
So, any good ideas on how to keep ones home warm on the cheap?
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
12/09/2017 at 00:19, STARS: 7
Unfortunately it only works once.
"winterlegacy, here 'till the end" (winterlegacy)
12/09/2017 at 00:35, STARS: 2
If you have any circulation issues with your home, however, this fixes them.
"Recovering Gaijin" (toxrensem)
12/09/2017 at 00:37, STARS: 1
I used a portable propane heater at my old house. Best BTU/$ for supplemental heat imo. They also sell thermostatically controlled wall mounted propane heaters.
"Roadster Man" (roadsterman)
12/09/2017 at 01:17, STARS: 1
I’m going to be buying a few space heaters. I figure electricity is a bit cheaper than oil. Or at least I hope so. I keep the house at 58 but kick it up to 62 when I’m home.
I’m thinking of buying a propane space heater, but I’m worried about fumes.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
12/09/2017 at 01:58, STARS: 3
Back in college I’d leave my desktop churning away on some distributed computing program ( SETI@Home , Folding@Home ), and these days you could even mine Bitcoin or some alt-coin instead to try to offset the electricity costs.
"Sovande" (sovande)
12/09/2017 at 02:35, STARS: 3
Get a fan, set it on low and aim it up at the ceiling and circulate the hot air down.
(Dad voice) Or get a sweater, it’s not that cold.
"Recovering Gaijin" (toxrensem)
12/09/2017 at 05:40, STARS: 0
I never had noticeable fumes while running-unless a tank ran dry. Still minimal and not long-lasting.
I did buy a carbon monoxide alarm and set it up on a shelf >at just below< the level at which I slept. Futon back then, so basically floor-level. I also had a ceiling fan in there. Only real adjustment I made to having propane was acquiring a large humidifier to use while the propane was running. That has made me much healthier thru the winters: far fewer sinus problems.
ETA: use common sense: no paper lanterns above it! And I tacked sheet-metal to a piece of 5/8 plywood and set the heater on it to protect hardwood floor.
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
12/09/2017 at 05:45, STARS: 0
I do have one desktop running as a DVR and that’s probably helping to heat the room. When my old gaming rig was on I couldn’t have a space heater on at the same time, but then again, I didn’t really need the space heater...
"jimz" (jimz)
12/09/2017 at 06:22, STARS: 1
what’s your energy source? even when it gets real cold my gas bill in the winter (in Michigan) rarely crests $40/mo.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
12/09/2017 at 07:20, STARS: 5
If there’s hot air trapped at the ceiling, install a ceiling fan. To get the air down, put the fan on reverse so it pulls air up and put it on low so it doesn’t create a cooling breeze.
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
12/09/2017 at 07:33, STARS: 0
Electric heat. I was getting $300+ bills when I was trying to get the temp up to 68. I learned quickly to dial back the temp, 63 then 60 and now 57.
I was getting gas bills of almost $50/mo year ‘round, and that was just for hot water and the dryer. They cut me off when I was unemployed a couple of years ago and I’ve learned to live without hot water even though I can afford to reinstate service. Gas prices here seem ridiculous compared to what I was used to in LA.
"S62B50daily" (s62b50daily)
12/09/2017 at 08:14, STARS: 0
Since you have 9' ceilings try installing a ceiling fan to redistribute the heat trapped up there
"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
12/09/2017 at 08:34, STARS: 0
You realize those ‘passive’ process increase the electricity consumption of an idle machine 10x, right? Or more than 100x of a sleeping machine.
Not a great way to save electricity.
"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
12/09/2017 at 08:40, STARS: 0
It varies by where you live, and the rates you get, but heating by electric is about 60% more that #2, or about 3x as expensive as NG.
Do you have better options?
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
12/09/2017 at 08:57, STARS: 0
Pellet stove. The new ones have fancy recirculating fans and whatnot. If you’re handy you could probably set it up yourself, just need some tile under it and a chimney.
Or just get a natural gas furnace. NG is stupid cheap these days.
"dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter" (dsigned001)
12/09/2017 at 09:21, STARS: 0
I’ll second the gas vs. electric.
"Roadster Man" (roadsterman)
12/09/2017 at 11:32, STARS: 0
I keep my gaming rig on in my room while I’m gone all day, and it’s about 5-10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house when I get home from work.
I just let it idle, I really should have it mining or folding.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
12/09/2017 at 23:23, STARS: 0
Oh of course. He didn’t mention his electricity costs though, and those oil-radiator heaters are power hogs too.