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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / January 2004turning down the heat?
Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering if it's more than they need. -Jen Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright 15 Jan 2004: > Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day > (when they are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, > but I'm wondering if it's more than they need. That's about what I set mine to, and what it is at night for sleeping. Though today I left it at 65 because I had to separate a very aggressive one to the downstairs and it gets colder down there. When it is cold you can tell they don't much like it if they are indoor cats and used to the even temps. They spend more time balled up and the fur looks fluffier.  SignatureCheryl I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine. And he shall be my Squishy. Come here Squishy. Ow. Bad Squishy. - Dori > Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they > are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering > if it's more than they need. > > -Jen > Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright I leave mine at 67 (but I live in East Texas, where bills for heating are not bad). My highest bills are for air conditioning in the summer. I like it fairly cool, so I generally set the thermostat for 72 in the summer when I am home and raise it to 75 when I will be gone for the day. Incidentally, I don't think there is a great deal of savings (at least in this climate) if the temperature is altered drastically for the day because then it takes more time to raise/lower the temperature to the "desired" level after I return home. MaryL I posted the question because I'm in Boston, and it's really cold here right now. These wicked cold snaps are gonna be murder on my heating bill (oil). If I could get away with lower than 60 during the day, I probably would. However, I don't want to go too low. -Jen Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright > I posted the question because I'm in Boston, and it's really cold here right > now. These wicked cold snaps are gonna be murder on my heating bill (oil). If > I > could get away with lower than 60 during the day, I probably would. However, > I > don't want to go too low. I'm in Boston (Roslindale), and they said to turn your heat UP as a protective measure. Priscilla >I'm in Boston (Roslindale), and they said to turn your heat UP as a >protective measure. Protective of what? SignatureThey call it "PMS" because "Mad Cow Disease" was already taken >>I'm in Boston (Roslindale), and they said to turn your heat UP as a >>protective measure. > >Protective of what? Water pipes. It reached 11 below 0 F last night around here. My SIL's kitchen water pipes all froze - just hope they don't burst. >>>I'm in Boston (Roslindale), and they said to turn your heat UP as a >>>protective measure. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Water pipes. It reached 11 below 0 F last night around here. My >SIL's kitchen water pipes all froze - just hope they don't burst. Wow. We were -22F several nights for the last few weeks, I haven't heard of anyone having issues around here. SignatureJust sit through this NRA meeting Marge, and if you still don't think guns are great then we'll argue some more. >>>>I'm in Boston (Roslindale), and they said to turn your heat UP as a >>>>protective measure. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Wow. We were -22F several nights for the last few weeks, I haven't >heard of anyone having issues around here. If you live someplace where that's common, your houses are more likely to be built in a way that the pipes are adequately insulated so they won't freeze. When you live someplace where it seldom goes much below 0F, and then seldom for more than a day, the builders don't know and/or care as much about doing that. > >>>>I'm in Boston (Roslindale), and they said to turn your heat UP as a > >>>>protective measure. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > 0F, and then seldom for more than a day, the builders don't know > and/or care as much about doing that. Yeah, what they said. My house has a second bathroom tacked on the first floor (added by the previous owner who became an invalid and had to live entirely on the first floor). When they built it, they almost totally closed off the crawl space beneath it from the rest of the basement, with the result that shower drain freezes when it goes under 10 F, and sometimes the toilet and sink (cold) inflow freeze as well. I keep a space heater in the basement pointed at the drain where it comes into the main basement from the added bathroom, and that helps a lot. (I have learned to really appreciate being able to get a hot shower in the morning!) I know a woman who has to hurry up and do her laundry when the forecast is for real cold because her laundry room pipes freeze. Keeping the heat up is also recommended because it is easier to maintain a warm house than reheat a cooled off house. So they say to not drop the heat down too much during the cool periods, so your furnace won't have to struggle to get it warm again. Priscilla > Incidentally, > I don't think there is a great deal of savings (at least in this > climate) if the temperature is altered drastically for the day because > then it takes more time to raise/lower the temperature to the > "desired" level after I return home. That definately depends on the type of heating used. I have a heat pump and live in the east where it gets cold in the winter. There is a huge difference depending on if you're raising the temp, (winter) or lowering it (summer) when you come home. It is most cost effective in the winter to lower it, yet in the summer leave it where it is. Also, for those with heat pumps it is good to remember that they are efficient when the temp outside is around freezing, but if way below, to turn on the e-heat (or alt heat, whatever your manufacturer designates it) and that type of heat is not energy efficiant and you NEED to turn it down. Heat pumps can't convert cold outdoor air to warm air if below a certain temp. SignatureCheryl I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine. And he shall be my Squishy. Come here Squishy. Ow. Bad Squishy. - Dori > > Incidentally, > > I don't think there is a great deal of savings (at least in this [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > difference depending on if you're raising the temp, (winter) or lowering it > (summer) when you come home. I should have thought of that. I grew up in Ohio, and we used a heat pump. It was great, but it definitely would not fit my description. MaryL > Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they > are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering > if it's more than they need. I leave it at 60 except for right now when we're having a cold snap and it's recommended we keep the heat higher to protect the pipes. It's at 64 when I'm away or asleep now. Priscilla I turn mine down to 55 at night and only raise it to 60 during the day, unless I am teaching at home, when I raise it to 65. It's all I can afford. I've done it this way for years and I have 11 healthy cats and a collie. It does get crowded in the bed at night, though! > Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they > are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering > if it's more than they need. > > -Jen > Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright Here in WI we use 67 while we're home and 60 during the day (62 at night). Cats have fur and can keep warm. We have strays that live outside where it's 20 degrees so there's no worries about it being too cold for the cats. >Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they >are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering >if it's more than they need. > >-Jen >Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright > Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they > are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering > if it's more than they need. I'm a Californian. 60 is ridiculously cold. =^^= SignatureDennis Carr - ke6isf@spamcop.net | I may be out of my mind, http://www.dennis.furtopia.org | But I have more fun that way. ------------------------------------+------------------------------- >From: jlove98905@aol.comNOSPAM (JLove98905) >Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when >they >are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering >if it's more than they need. I set ours at 64. Lauren _________ =^..^= See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe To Error is Human, To be Purrfect is Feline >Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they >are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering >if it's more than they need. > >-Jen I set ours to 18 (degrees centigrade that is). Couldn't resist with all the Fahrenheit comments : > Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they > are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering > if it's more than they need. > > It depends on the age of the cat in question, as kittens are far more succeptible to cold than are adult cats. Our primary vet advisor to our shelter recommends that we not let the temperature drop below 68 when we have kittens. Of course, we are talking caged animals that cannot seek out a warmer spot to snuggle in, but I still don't think I'd let the temps of a home with kittens in it drop below 65. For adult cats, if they have a spot close to a window where they can catch some sunbeams, or a hidey hole with lots of blankies, I wouldn't worry below about 50. Yes, outdoor cats can tolerate pretty cold temperatures briefly, but they too need a warm hay room or other sheltered spot, and they have acclimated to those temps slowly. Your indoor cat is acclimated to a certain range of temps also. >It depends on the age of the cat in question, as kittens are far more >succeptible to cold than are adult cats. Our primary vet advisor to our [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >or other sheltered spot, and they have acclimated to those temps slowly. >Your indoor cat is acclimated to a certain range of temps also. I let ours drop to 17 or so during the day (62ish for the US readers), which is about right for me (I work from home). It often doesn't get that cool, it's only down from 8:30am to 3:30pm when the kids return home. We have an electronic thermostat that adjusts automatically, no manual intervention required. Over night I'm keeping it a little warming, 19 (66F) for the moment for the sake of the kittens, but I'd like to drop that a little (for the sake of me) We have one room that stays 2-3 degrees (19-20C, 66-88F) warmer due to having four computers there (for our kids) -- The cats spend most of their time in there when the girls are home, but Interestingly enough the kittens don't tend to spend much of their time alone unless somebody is in the room. When they're alone or it's just me they typically curl up in the kitchen in front of the heat vent (which is off all day) or in the kids beds. Don't get me wrong, I love the little devils, and when I'm up at night I sit in a lazyboy chair with a blanket on my legs and a laptop on my lap, all three of them will usually come curl up with me. Unfortunately, during the day I typically sit at a desk, and there just isn't anywhere for the little devils to sit. SignatureThey call it "PMS" because "Mad Cow Disease" was already taken >Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright George Carlin's thoughts on the topic are much better... Think of how stupid the average person you know is, now consider that half the people out there are dumber then that. SignatureThey call it "PMS" because "Mad Cow Disease" was already taken Well the weather has been nice here during the day so I have been able to turn off the heat and the air conditioner entirely. At night it is in the 50's and even then I have mostly left it off. If it gets too cold though then I turn it on. SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > Just curious....how low do people turn the heat down during the day (when they > are at work, etc), for the cats? We leave ours at about 60, but I'm wondering > if it's more than they need. > > -Jen > Half the people you know are below average. -Steven Wright |
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