Don't touch the thermostat!

[PineRidge]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

<font color="blue"> I have a question on this topic. I have heard that you should leave your blower fan on all the time. It helps keep the moisture out of some areas and keep hot /cold spots from happening. The one person said it is easier on the motor and does not cost much too run.
</font>

It is easier on the motor if there is no start/stop cycle. All blower motors used today are rated for continuous run. That is running them 100% of the time will not due any harm to them. Running your blower constantly may cost you a couple of bucks more each month in electricity usage but it will give you some added benefits as well.

The home will be at a more even temperature as moving air will help prevent air stratification. Furnaces, air conditioners, humidifiers, and air cleaners will work more efficiently.

 

[CTyler]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( if the heat pump can NOT bring the house temp to within 4 degrees of the thermostat setting it will turn on the coils. )</font>

I pulled my thermostat manual on line. On mine setting back the thermostat doesn't just kick in the backup when it comes on. It allows 8 min for each deg F in the standard mode. So if I set it back 5 deg(70-65) it will allow 45 min to raise the temp from 65-70 before kicking in the backup. The second mode will allow 15min per deg F.

Wether your kick in you back up depends on how good and/or flexible your system is and if its automatic or not.

 

[Hambone]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

This has been very helpful.
Now I have a question of the heatpump that switch to propane instead of electricity. This sounds more efficient, who makes them, or is this common now?

 

[Docsknotinn]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

Yikes ! that is too cooooold for me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I am always trying to nudge it up to 72 and build a fire. Dave

 

[thcri]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This has been very helpful.
Now I have a question of the heatpump that switch to propane instead of electricity. This sounds more efficient, who makes them, or is this common now? )</font>

All manufactures make them. Carrier, Bryant, Lennox, Trane, they all make them. They basically take their heat pump and instead of having electric heat they use a propane or gas furnace for the air handler. In our area the utility company requires propane or gas backup so they can take you off electricity in peak loads. But, we really squirm around here with any heat pump. They just don't quite make up here in the north.

murph

 

[Golfgar4]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

Well, to be perfectly honest, there are some days when it's a little too <font color="blue"> cool </font> for me too. But I can always put on an extra long sleeve t-shirt. My feet seem to get colder first, so I'm always wearing hunting socks.

The only reason we keep it that cool is because my wife is on a medication that always makes her real warm. At least when we're going to have friends over she lets me set it a little higher for the time they're there. And no one has noticed, or at least mentioned, the fact that she's always wearing short sleeve summery kinds of clothes when they visit. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

We went out to dinner last night, and it was 3 degrees with the chill factor of -20. I was wearing my winter barn coat, gloves and a hat. She was wearing a light sweater and slacks. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In our area the utility company requires propane or gas backup so they can take you off electricity in peak loads )</font>

That is interesting, wouldn't gas/propane still require electric for the fan?

Our heat pump (about 4 years old) will kick the propane furnace on anytime it gets below 28 or if I bump the thermostat more than 4 degrees higher than the house currently is. There is a box on the outside of the heat pump that is an outside thermometer. On this I can adjust at what point the crossover takes place to the furnace. At first we didn't have it. The heat pump kept freezing up - didn't know that is what it was doing at the time. Kept calling repairman to come fix it. He would swap out some parts and get it going until it got really cold again. When I when in to complain that I wanted a new unit because that one had already been "fixed" 4 times in 18 months he asked me if I was switching it over to the furnace. I said know, I didn't know that I had to, and I shouldn't have to. He then mentioned the outside thermostat. They came out, put it on at no charge, and we haven't had a problem since.

I like the 28 cutover point. Below that, it seems like the HP runs all of the time and it doesn't put out really warm heat. BTW, we keep our thermostat set on 72 year round.

 

[CTyler]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

They still require electricity for the blower, thermostat etc.. However it uses very little current compared to the electric heating elements.

 

[CTyler]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I like the 28 cutover point. )</font>

I'm curious to see what the power Co. sets the x-over at. I was kinda suprised at how low it would go and put put heat and not run all the time. I've noticed it kick in the propane a couple times above the x-over point when it was really humid and or foggy out. The unit will start to frost up. I'm assuming it kicks over to propane when/if it needs to defrost.

Had to laugh this weekend. My Wife was ready to make a service call. The unit was raining a ton of water and sounded funny. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Lazy]

Re: Don\'t touch the thermostat!

Hi
Which cost more Gas or Electric? We have always lived in an all Electric home because of the danger of Gas. Last year our total for the year was approx 1400 dollars. How does that compare to someone using gas and electric in the home for a year?

Charlie.