We have decided that we will not be able to heat our house this winter with the propane furnace. My Sweetie was laid off last week so we are stratigizing on how we are going to stay warm this winter as economically as possible.

Does any one have recommendations for energy efficient space heaters?

I am also open to other tips or hints that can help keep us warm this winter.

We are spending today replacing and upgrading weather stripping and checking for other areas that heat could be lost in the house.

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It's about learning to dance in the rain.

This might be a stupid question, but does it get "cold" in Arizona? I mean I'm in Wisconsin where winter heating bills are a nightmare I am not ready to face yet....

I think there are areas that get pretty cold at night but warm up during the day. I think that's desert climate.

Yes it does, we went to the Grand Canyon several years ago and at night it was in the mid 30's.

I don't even want to think about how much propane we'll get.....we pre-buy at the summer rate, and try to guess what we'll spend for the winter. We do have a fireplace insert that we burn daily to save on propane, but on the really REALLY cold days both run.

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I know for a fact that you can ski in northern Arizona, so I guess it qualifies for cold. (Flagstaff)


I, too, would like some recommendations for alternative heat. Does anyone here have a heater that uses uses those sterno cans? I am thinking about getting a heater just for the diningroom.
I would also love a wood-burning stove, but I don't think my dh would go for that.

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Not a stupid question at all.
We live in the northwest corner of the state which is considered "high desert". We are at 3000' altitude.
We don't have the long hard winter season that you experiance in Wisconsin but our nights do drop into the 20-30's range. And we even occasionally get snow. It doesn't last and is never as much as Flagstaff.

I really don't know how some up in your neck of the woods are going to make it through the winter if they heat with fuel oil or natural gas.

We had considered a pellet stove but don't know how the prices will be affected for the fuel used in those.

Still looking for any recommendations. Thanks

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When it gets cold we unhook the dryer vent from the outside vent and redirect it to a vent box inside the house (available at either Home Depot or Lowes I forget which). I usually dry my clothes mostly on a line and then fluff them in the dryer or dry smaller things in the dryer, but any additional heat I can get is good because it's already paid for, no sense throwing it outside.

Here's the same sort of thing we use:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ELECTRIC-DRYER-I...d=p3286.c0.m14



I just bought the foam insulators for outlets today too, an extra insulating I can do can't hurt!

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I have no recommendations, but just want to caution everyone- safety first please with your alternative heating plans. It is a plain fact that there will be more house fires this winter as people struggle to find ways to stay warm. Many of the alternate plans are not safe. Check the cords on all your space heaters- if they are at all frayed or heat up during use- have them repaired properly or throw them away. Do not place close to beds, clothes etc. In general, use common sense and keep everyone in your home safe this winter!

I like my little Pelonis heater, its a little expensive but I think its worth it.

I never heard of the dryer vent idea, but one time my vent hose came undone and all the air
was filling up my bathroom which is where the dryer is and it was so wet in there we had to exhaust the room is this what happens with this dryer idea too ? just curious as my dh is always telling me
make sure that hose is on correctly.



We also have to get propane but its only for our water heater, last month we paid 335 a gallon
for it and they tack on a service charge.

It is moist air that comes out as you could imagine, but in winter I like that since it is so dry anyway. Our laundry is in the hall by the bedrooms so it is a pretty large area and isn't confined like maybe your area is in a bathroom? So maybe it would work better in different laundry room setups, not so much in a small closed in area?

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We have alternated between the pellet stove insert and oil furnace in the past. This year, we may buy another insert since we have 2 fireplaces.

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We are having a hard time finding the pellets for our pellet stove. Most of the stores around here (Maine)are getting occasional shipments, but when they get them in, they are gone within an hour. We are lucky enough to have a friend who is selling us two tons because he bought the pellets and had trouble finding a pellet stove. From what we have been told two tons should go us about three months (during the coldest part of winter). We will also still be using our oil furnace, the pellet stove will be to take the edge off and hopefully get our oil bill down....

Try space heaters did you read the other thread?
Also use your oven and dryer during the day. After removing food from the oven leave it cracked to allow the heat into the room.
You may try plastic on the windows we don't like that but it works.
Also corny as it sounds I am bundling up so I don't have to turn on the heaters yet.


I almost forgot: put rolled up blankets under doors to keep cold air from coming in. If you live in an older home with big cracks around the doors put a big blanket or old quilt up in front of the door it will keep cold air out and warm air in.

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Guess it was a good thing that I bought 3-4 sweatshirts this spring when they were on super clearance, something like $2 each.

I'll be bundling up in my flannel pj's, slippers, sweatshirt and blankets. I'm going to the fabric store this weekend to price fabric to make heavy curtains. I have TONS of windows and I figure putting up plastic with heavy curtains over it will be about everything I can do with them.

Then I'm using weather stripping, putting plastic over the back door(don't worry, I'm more than strong enought to break out of plastic in case of emergency), putting an insulation blanket on the hot water heater and closing the registers in rooms I don't use much. I already have a progammable thermostat. Oh, and I'm gettign a clean and check for the furnace so it'll be as efficent as possible.

My cats won't be real happy with the cutbacks on the heat this year, they love to sit on the registers when the furnace is running. I just tell them that as soon as they get jobs then they can set the furnace where they like, LOL!

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In the past (in a different house) we closed off the living/ kitchen with hanging blankets in the hall. We used a wood burning fireplace and baking and cooking helped a lot. The bedrooms were not heated - use more blankets. I sleep better when it's cold anyway. The plastic on the windows helped a lot. Put some insulating tape around the front door and switch the fan to blow upward.

I usually burn my candles in the winter time, it helps a little with the heat they give off ( BUT be cautious this may not work if you have small kids like another poster said house fires are a risk )

I oven bake more often, and also I have a self clean oven that turns on to clean itself for about 4 hours so I clean it on a really cold day and it warms up the house fast.

small inexpesive space heaters work too.

And lastly take a trip to your local Home Depot just walking around the store you may get many ideas on other things you can do to keep warm this coming winter.

There was something on the news just last nite about this practice. Seems lots of people have been doing this and the moist heat from the dryer is causing molds to grow inside the home. This is very dangerous for anyone who may have any type of breathing problems or children.

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I`ve wanted to get rid of my water bed for years but my DH wont think of it. Well I guess I`ll appreciate it this winter being in New Hampshire.

I have an oil burner but I also have a gas fireplace that is a little cheaper.

I also have a pellet stove in garage that heats the rooms above it. i happen to have gotten enough pellets because my DH works for Lowes but I`m pretty sure you can burn corn in it also.

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I have heard that the pellet stoves work really well.

I use a small space heater and turn off the furnace heat during the day. I tend to hang out in one room or another so that works well. At night, we turn the thermostat down to 62 and have electric blankets on the kids' beds. Ourselves, we have a down comforter with a quilt over it and that is plenty. I love the breathability and warmness of down (check Overstock.com?).

Another thing that we do is hang clear plastic using wide clear tape to the inside of all of the bedroom windows. It really blocks the draft and keeps cold air out, warm air in.

Our natural gas bill never went over $60 last month. Is it more expensive to heat with propane?

Sorry about your Sweetie's job... that's hard.

we also have a waterbed and I love being able to crawl into it and its nice and snuggly warm when I get in. I wouldnt dare get rid of it. we dont turn the heat on in our bedroom cause it gets to hot with the heater for the bed keeping it warm. so this will save us on heating.

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We also have plastic on the outside of the windows on the northside of our house (which I really hate, but it seemed to really help this past winter) so am thinking about doing it on more of the windoww this year. I also had picked up several of those plastic things that go on the inside of the windows that you seal with a hair dryer to help keep heat in, but I haven't put them in yet. I picked them up at the end of the winter this past year for about .25 each. Our house was built in 1930, and some of the windows have been replaced, but some have not, half are the original windows. I have thought about heavy curtains, but that would be expensive.

We are definately going to keep our thermostat down, last year we had it at 68, I may put it down to 65. I turn it totally off when no one is home if it is above freezing or if it is below freezing I leave it at 50. We do vent the dryer into the house for the heat, no problems with mold or anything, both DD and myself have asthma and the extra moisture in the air actually helps with the dryness, otherwise we would have to run a vaporizer in the winter.

I signed us up for the "budget plan" last year for our natural gas which we heat by and we have been paying $150 a month, even in summer when we have no heat, we do have hot water though, but I am hoping that this will help even out and we won't have such huge bills in the winter, it will be the first time we have done this. Before we were getting bills that were anywhere between $2-300 and up to $600 a month if we heat the pool on the weekends (I think we won't be doing that too often only on special occasions).

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Those of us with gas clothes dryers- didn't see that this was mentioned but you cannot vent your gas dryers inside due to the carbon monoxide !!!!

we live in the country and last year to fill or propane tank for the winter was $580 we just had it filled and it was $1265!
we never turn the thermostat above 68 and it is programmable we also use plastic on the windows etc but our home is huge and old!
we live in Wisconson also!
it's our last winter here YAY!!! moving back home which is southern California.

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I would recommend fleece socks! I am from Minnesota, although I love Arizona and probably will retire there in the next 5 years! You can get good ones from Gander Mountain or Cabelas.....if your feet are warm your whole body will feel warmer!

Also, make lots of soups, stews, hot cider and tea.....warm from the inside out. Avoid caffene and alcoholic drinks.....you feel warmer at first, but then it catches up to you.

One more tip, when it is really really cold, go somewhere warm.......we head to the library--as long as you are not disruptive ours will let you sit for an afternoon of reading....if BF is not a big reader, point him to the magazine section......ours has a great selection....everything from Popular Mechanics to Cosmo!!!!

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A couple that I haven't seen mentioned....

Exercise - regular cardio workouts will help to increase your circulation and keep your energy level up. No more cold toes, etc.

Dress in layers, wear a cap to bed at night to avoid heat loss.

Take advantage of sunny winter days by letting the sun shine in those southern windows. You might even consider taking down trees that block the sun on the southern side of your home. We have kind of a passive solar set-up with tall deciduous trees and lots of glass on the south side of our home. It can get hot on the back side of the house in the winter from the sun. We use a ceiling fan on low to help redistribute the heat.

cj/

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The other thread is great too, not sure if this has been mentioned...

Remember to turn your ceiling fans counter-clockwise to bring the hot air down. I know a lot of us forget that sometimes. I have also read that it is better to run the fans on medium or low in the winter so that it is bringing the heat down, but not running so fast that they are causing a breeze. I tried it and it is true.

Make sure your fireplace dampers are closed (when not using) so the cold air doesn't come in.

Don't run the exhaust fans in the bathrooms in winter as the warm air will escape out/cold air gets in.

Turn all blinds facing downward and open on the windows that let sun in to warm your home. Turn all other blinds upward and close them tightly to keep cold out. You'd be surprised at how much this actually helps.

Like I said in the other thread, I do believe this winter will be a make or break for a lot of people as gas prices are supposed to be even higher (so the letter from our gas company states it will be anyway). I am truly dreading the bills. I do feel it is going to be dire straits for a lot of people, especially those on fixed or practically no income right now. Add to that the credit issues, foreclosures, etc. I am praying for a mile winter for everyone. I am in Arkansas and it gets pretty cold with ice & snow where I am, but I can't even imagine what you guys up north will experience.

OP, I am so sorry your DH lost his job. Wow, I feel for you right now. I know a lot of Americans are going through this or are living in fear of this right now. Two large employers in my town have closed down or layed off a bunch in the past month, and we live in an area of the state that continuously has the lowest unemployment rate. Hang in there, I know things have to get better.

I agree that this winter will make or break many people. I know we will be okay, although it will not be easy. I do worry about the elderly in our area. Many had a difficult time last year trying to heat their homes, I cannot imagine how they are going to be able to do it this winter. They had one elderly lady on the news that moved a cot beside her stove and used that to try to keep warm. Maine winters are very long and very cold....