Should You Adjust Your Thermostat When Leaving Home for Short Periods?

[sharonita]

My question is as follows:
If you wsh to save fuel on a cold day. and you're going to leave your house for a half hour or so, should you turn the thermostat down a few degrees, down all the way, or leave it at room temperature.

I said that I would leave it at the same temperature since I'm only leaving for a half hour or so, so by the time I come back the temperature would not have changed much. I should not lower it or higher it because it would be less fuel-efficient and take more energy from the heater to reach the new temperature level.

Any suggestions?
Thanks much, Sharon.

 

[MaddenDude]

Ive heard on the news that you should keep it on, that it actually takes less energy that having to reheat your house. Also close your blinds.

sorry I am not much help, its all i know...

 

[kyle8921]

Hello Sharon,

I completely agree with your reasoning. Heat transfer is the movement of thermal energy from one object or system to another. In this case, the thermal energy is being transferred from your home to the outside environment.

When you lower the thermostat, you are essentially reducing the temperature difference between your home and the outside. This means that there will be less heat transfer occurring, and your home will stay warmer for longer. However, if you turn the thermostat down too low, your heater will have to work harder and use more fuel to bring the temperature back up when you return. This can actually end up using more energy and fuel than if you had just left the thermostat at the same temperature.

On the other hand, if you turn the thermostat all the way down, your home will eventually reach the same temperature as the outside, resulting in no heat transfer. But when you return, your heater will have to work extremely hard and use a lot of fuel to bring the temperature back up to a comfortable level.

Therefore, leaving the thermostat at the same temperature is the most fuel-efficient option. It minimizes the temperature difference and heat transfer, while also not requiring your heater to work extra hard when you return.

I hope this explanation helps. Thank you for considering energy efficiency and being mindful of fuel usage. It is important for both our wallets and the environment.

Best,