Trying to get a general idea on the cost of heating a place while gone for the winter. If you don't mind telling, how much do you spend per month, at what temp, for how many square feet, and in what location, to heat your S&B while you're gone.

Before my daughter moved back home, I spent zero as I would drain and blowout the lines then put rv antifreeze into the drains. Unless you have fine plastered walls instead of drywall, I see no good reason to waste energy or pay for heating.

I can't answer your question because we shut ours down. Not knowing your experience, if you are in an area that freezes and you do heat it be sure to have the water main off in case the heat goes off. When you turn the water on in the spring pay attention for broken pipes. My neighbor asked me if my pipes were always broke in the spring when I got home. She was shutting the heat off and the well but not blowing the pipes out. She did it 2 years and had a plumber come in and repair the copper pipes each time. I thought why didn't the plumber tell her the first time? Maybe because he's a plumber who fixes pipes!!!!!

We just switched to a hybrid heating system, so won't know till we get our bills for this winter. I plan on setting the temp at 45° for the winter.

My question comes into play that we're thinking about a place that has a full basement. In this part of the country if you shut off the heat you run the risk of the basement heaving, or worst yet, buckling inwards. Leaving the heat on low will help keep the frost away. Was wondering what the general cost to heat a place was. It sounds like this place was left at 50 degrees (owners statement) and ran $300/month for heating 1,700 square feet in an area that can reach -20 to -40f for a week at a time. Sounds pretty high to me, thus my question for comparison. I also understand insulation and amount of windows vs walls. Just trying to get a general idea here.

Dec. 2013, $78.35Jan. 2014, $118.15Feb 2014, $114.10March 2014, $97.39April 2014, $61.89 Actual costs natural gas Xcel energy.1800 SF 1 1/2 story poorly insulated 80 year old house with full basement.Thermostat set at 50 degrees, that is as low as it goes. North Central MNThis is about 30% higher than previous years. it rarely exceded $70.00 in previous years.If it really costs $300.00 a month to heat empty with no one going in and out letting cold air in imagine what it would cost to keep 2 old folks warm if they ever had to spend the winter there.

How much do you spend to heat S&B over the winter. Update

35 Replies

pawatt
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
That is certainly a pleasant development, extra $$$ for something fun.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
Thought I would update this thread for any of those that are thinking about snow birding and making a budget for it, plus to thank those that responded.

Turns out that the reason the new house was running $300/month at 50 degrees for the prior (absent) owner was because the basement thermostats never shut off. They were running wild 24/7.

Once I realized that was the problem and replaced those three thermostats (plus I'm now only heating the basement after draining the water lines) my first snow bird bill (which I just got) was $26 for the heating part.

Thanks for all those that responded to this thread which helped reaffirmed my feeling that something was wrong prior to buying the place that I might be able to fix after the sale.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
Sep 14, 2014
We leave the furnace set to 52 degrees and pay $35.00 per month 12 months a year. House is 1800 sq ft and a full basement. $65.00 per month for water and electricity as the bill is combined. Heat pump is off and the furnace is the emergency heat. We pay close to $100.00 per month for our 35 ft alpenlite in Casa Grande Az. Big difference in the cost of a KW.

chevman
Bill_Diana
Explorer
Sep 13, 2014
About 1900 sq ft, 2 story, no basement....thermostat set to 50 degrees. Natural gas heat for Dec $102, Jan $51, Feb $41, Mar $25, Apr $43. The house is very well insulated with at least 18 inches in the attic. All new energy efficient windows. We left home Jan 1st and returned around April 15th. Past winter in SE Pennsylvania was very cold and I think about 100 inches of snow.
John_Joey
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
pawatt wrote:
pawatt wrote:
Sounds like it should work and reduce that heating cost quite a bit.

It just came to me though that wouldn't help much if you had to start spending the winters there. We used to keep our thermostat at 66 degrees when we were home, then 68, then 70, now we are cold unless we keep it at least 72 degrees.

If and when we started spending winters in the place then the added cost would be just accepted as our daily living expense. In all reality the winter park rent costs more then the heat would. So in the long run we would be making money.

Who knows maybe we would upgrade the heating system to some sort of geothermal heat exchanger at that point or do the "Up North" trick of heating with wood. I am getting a little too old for heating with wood though. Cutting, splitting, stacking, and hauling is a young persons job. :W
John_Joey
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
toban wrote:
Just a comment. If the expense is too much to heat the house in the winter, one should stay home as you can't afford the expense of being away. It's almost the same as owning a motorhome, if you can't afford to put fuel in it, you shouldn't have the motorhome. The expense of owning and looking after the house in the winter is part of the cost of being away or don't live there.

Toban

You do understand how silly the above sounds to most people. In the old days the motorhome sales people would say "if you have to ask how many MPG it get's, you can't afford to buy it." No I can afford the product easily, I just don't care to waste hard earned money unwisely because you have a poorly designed RV.
powderman426
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
toban wrote:
Just a comment. If the expense is too much to heat the house in the winter, one should stay home as you can't afford the expense of being away. It's almost the same as owning a motorhome, if you can't afford to put fuel in it, you shouldn't have the motorhome. The expense of owning and looking after the house in the winter is part of the cost of being away or don't live there.

Toban

Its not just the cost of heating. It just doesn't make much sense to waste the finite resources we have heating something that doesn't need to be. I have left mine unheated on several occasions with no damage to the structure or the basement. JMO and personal experience.
SGTJOE
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2014
My gas and electric usually run under 20 bucks each..I have a rambler style home with a full basement total sf is 3380. I set the thermostat at 45, empty the hot water tank and shut it down and turn off all breakers not needed. Fridge and freezer are emptied and plugs pulled. All plug ins are pulled since some items will still pull juice even when off. Been doing this for 10 years and no problems. Water is shut off inside house and at the main by the City.
toban
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
Just a comment. If the expense is too much to heat the house in the winter, one should stay home as you can't afford the expense of being away. It's almost the same as owning a motorhome, if you can't afford to put fuel in it, you shouldn't have the motorhome. The expense of owning and looking after the house in the winter is part of the cost of being away or don't live there.

Toban
pawatt
Explorer
Aug 29, 2014
pawatt wrote:
Sounds like it should work and reduce that heating cost quite a bit.

It just came to me though that wouldn't help much if you had to start spending the winters there. We used to keep our thermostat at 66 degrees when we were home, then 68, then 70, now we are cold unless we keep it at least 72 degrees.