Does it save more fuel to turn the heat down when not home, or to leave the thermostat set at a set temperatur?

change the thermostat to a programable one cheep and inexpensive set the time you want it on heat set the time to go off ……….heat is heat when the unit is on your spending money for energy by setting the temp heater comes on and off at will barring the temp set point off is off period…….till needed on………..

your husband is right. worked with heating all my life, like 42 years.

Simple BTU answer. The more BTUs used the more it costs. The heater runs at the same BTU, whether at 65F or 85F, it just runs longer. So if you keep the house at 65F and it runs 6 hours a day to keep it at 65F all day while you are gone and when you come home it takes 2 hours to warm it to the 65F you want, you saved 4 hours of run time. Test it on a couple days you have the same external temperature range. Take meter reading, record. Leave at 65 and check meter reading 24 hours later, record. Now, set the temperature at 60F when gone and 65F when return. Check meter after 24 hours and record. Lowest usage will be the best program for you.

5 degree change you will probably be better of turning it down if you were to turn it off and let it get down to maybe 45 during the day then turn it back on at 65 then you would be losing because it would have so much to catch up. but most heating systems don’t take long to bring the temperature up 5 degrees. So I say your right! Tim

Yes, lowering the thermostat when you are not at home will save money.

your husband and the answers on here that say ” they are hvac experts ” are ignorant.

and if you are only to change it 5 degrees , dont even bother. it wont do much but it would help some.
if you want to save , turn it down to 40 when your not at home. that way it runs less and uses less energy.
those that say stupid things like ” it has to work hard to reheat the house ” are stupid too.

the only thing you will have to put up with is you will need to keep your coat on for a few minuets when you get home as the house warms up.
but if you get a [programmable thermostat] (google it, and read ) that will turn your heat back up 30 min before you get home.

anyone that disagrees is just ignorant about heating a house.
you will just need to be strong and over come the ignorance , take charge.
What does your husband have to lose if he is wrong ? nothing.
so just get the PT and go save some money.
but again,, if you are so timid ,,,that you will only change it by 5 degrees, dont even bother.

http://www.toolbase.org/toolbaseresources/level4FAQ.aspx?ContentDetailID=2845&BucketID=4&CategoryID=4

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GWYE_enUS261US261&q=how+to+use+a+progamable+thermostat

the worse your house insulation is ..the more you will save.

because your heater runs more with poor insulation ,, heat going outside.

turn it down to 40 .when your gone.

I don’t see much difference in the 5 degrees. Let him have his own way, he will be easier to live with.

It definitely makes a difference, but you would be better off turning it down 10 degrees to really see a difference. Many studies have been done and all prove that using a setback when you are not home or at night saves power.