How cold do you keep your home?

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Messages 41 - 60 of total 73 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Sierra Ledge Rat

Social climber
Retired to Appalachia
Dec 15, 2011 - 08:07am PT
I just spent $5K on a new very-high-efficiency furnace. The furnace exhaust is a small PVC pipe, if that gives you any idea of the efficiency.

I keep the place at 72 degrees. And yes, I walk around naked. Pics to follow.
jopay

climber
so.il
Dec 15, 2011 - 08:18am PT
71 degrees here with a heat pump, wished I had installed hot water baseboard which in my opinion is the most even and comfortable. I have a south facing wall of windows which are great for passive solar during the day but not so at night, installed insulated window shades which helped.
okie

Trad climber
Dec 15, 2011 - 08:34am PT
If you live where it can get really cold, and it sounds like you do, by leaving the heat off you're risking broken water pipes from freezing.
I had a toilet freeze up and break in half once at one of my college places. That was an interesting thing to come back to after being gone for the holidays.
Dingus McGee

Social climber
Laramie
Dec 15, 2011 - 09:19am PT
Let's put this sleeping temp into more context. I have a digital thermostat in my van and it measures the ceiling temperature because of where it is located. The mattress is somewhat cooler on cold nights, maybe 40F. With the thermostat set at 55F ceiling temps cycle from 55F to 60F. Sometimes when going to bed the mattress is so cold that I plug in a 12VDC electric blanket for an hour or two.

So far all this talk has evaded the real issue? How much volume are you heating? My sleeping space is 7 ft long X 5.6 ft wide X 3.2 ft high. Sleeping in this space feels like sleeping in a cave or den. I call it "the den". When it is -25F outside the heating cost may be $$?? -- 25 cents a night. Solar cells run the electrical part and LP does the heat.

No doubt our ancient ancestors knew the feel of a sleeping den. Most of my life I have lived as an energy pig--heating a gracious space and paying the bill.


I believe Andy Carson has an all solar power heated van. He used aero-space insulation at high dollars.
Crimpergirl

Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
Dec 15, 2011 - 09:30am PT
Not sure what the temp of our home is. I just know I turn the temp up and BN follows by turning the temp down. This is a year-long ritual. :) Our personal preferred temps differ by at least 20 degrees and that is no exaggeration.
Murzerker

Social climber
Land of Goats and Tacos
Dec 15, 2011 - 09:56am PT
Hmmm summer cooling temps are set at 85 when I am at work, 76 when I am home and awake, and 72 when I go to bed. Winter I leave it off when at work,(my cats have fur), and turn it to 69 when awake at home, and 58 when I sleep, (has yet to turn on this year).
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 15, 2011 - 11:28am PT
Silver knows what he's talking about, BTW.

It's ironic, my work specializes in energy efficient building, yet I live in a home that seeps heat.
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 15, 2011 - 12:32pm PT
You've got to factor in humidity as well.

It's 59 right now inside but feels colder, as it's sleeting outside.
Elcapinyoazz

Social climber
Joshua Tree
Dec 15, 2011 - 12:43pm PT
Winter: 10pm-6am 50F, 6am-5pm off, 5pm-10pm 70F
Summer: Don't use climate control unless it's >90 inside, which with 12" thick concrete walls, it rarely is. Used the AC maybe 4 days last summer.
Karen

Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
Dec 15, 2011 - 01:46pm PT
The house I live in was built in 1952 and still has the original heater, it is not efficient and is expensive to use, hence, I don't use it.
The house stays around 50 degrees, so to tolerate it I wear my expedition weight long johns, a neck gaitor, heavy wool socks, my fleece and a long fleece robe. Yeah, a wimp! Do have a electric blanket so sleep warm enough, but darn getting out of the shower can be painful.

It does not help that my entire living room area (facing the backyard) has floor to ceiling windows and they are single paned.

But seriously I will take the cold over the heat of the summer, at least now I can wear enough clothes to stay warm but summer time-YUCK!!!
Forest

Trad climber
Denver, CO
Dec 15, 2011 - 02:23pm PT
The new house has two inches of spray foam, with regular batting inside of that. Also spray foamed in the attic with a whole lot of loose insulation on top of that. Makes for R30 walls and R50 ceiling. This is coupled with a 95% efficient gas furnace (and a 21 seer AC for the summer.)

Keeping the house at 68 during the day (I work at home, and the wife and baby are home, too) and 62 at night has not landed us with any kind of significant heating bill so far ($50 last month, I believe. That included some nights around 0°.) The baby's room gets an electric space heater on a thermostat at night to keep it > 65 in her room, since she's too young for blankets yet. Solar system makes the electric use pretty inconsequential.
Rockin' Gal

Trad climber
Boulder
Dec 15, 2011 - 02:52pm PT
64 degrees. Warmer than usual because I have 2 housemates from Louisiana who wear down jackets most of the time.
68 degrees when family comes to visit or else I never hear the end of it!
nutjob

Gym climber
Berkeley, CA
Dec 15, 2011 - 02:54pm PT
I grew up seeing my breath every winter morning inside the house. One time a half cup of water froze solid, and we lived in a California beach town!

Only an electric element wall heater in the bathroom, and I remember getting ready for school with half my body freezing and the other half sizzling next to those toaster elements. Those morning showers were a real spiritual exercise. I guess that made it easy for me to enjoy climbing epics.

Nowadays it's balmy 68 in my place, sometimes more for the lil' lady.
Norwegian

Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
Dec 27, 2014 - 06:40pm PT
a good cold blast of air
is cranking through my woods.

my cabin is currently 38 f inside.
i just lit the fire and in
my cot my head is about a foot
from the stove.

it'll coast thru
the night at 60 f
and i'll have coals
to work with in the morning.

i got my coffee perc
next to the wood stove
ready-made.

i arise at 2 and begin
cranking out drawings
so i've earned my daily lot
by the time my girls wake.

i love cabin life.
i absolutely adore it.

110 square feet and
i'm never ever far from
where i need to be.
greyghost

Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV
Dec 27, 2014 - 06:54pm PT
Try to keep the system between 68 and 74 all year. last 2 days were cooler and windy. Turned the thermostat up to 72 and A/C comes on at 76. 3 year old separate heater and A/C unit.
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
Dec 27, 2014 - 07:12pm PT
Now that there will be a Mrs. Brandon, let's see if the temp stays at 53 😉
Travis Haussener

Trad climber
Salt Lake City
Dec 27, 2014 - 07:58pm PT
I have an olde adage from my dad: Got time to be cold...got time to do a little work. We keep ours round 55...anytime we're feeling cold we do a little house work, warms ya up instantly.
jgill

Boulder climber
Colorado
Dec 27, 2014 - 10:14pm PT
Passive solar home on the high prairie. If it's 10 degrees outside but the sun is shining the house will quickly heat up to the low 70s. But the heat doesn't store well and we turn on the baseboard heaters (all electric house) until reaching the low 70s. I'm old and need the heat!
son of stan

Boulder climber
San Jose CA
Dec 27, 2014 - 10:16pm PT
Suppose you mean the nonmoving home (60F) and not the
preferred 2person tent home, which when in use,
is much closer to interesting rocks and its
temperature is mostly at the mercy of the elements
or if the jetboil is cranked up melting snow.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
Dec 27, 2014 - 10:21pm PT
happy for you 50-60 people, keep suffering, means cheaper heat for me,
80 is the norm, especially when it is on the landlord,
born down south so WTF, over?
jus sayin...when you die, food and gas prices drop too,
so go climbing! today! hell, why not tonight! find something with ice,
forget the rope and all those useless gizmos, wear vibram hiking boots,
oh, and Happy Holidays!
Messages 41 - 60 of total 73 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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