How do you handle what the temperature is in your home? What do you set it on during the summer and during the winter (typical days)?

We've been having a constant battle in my house. My wife and oldest are extremely hot natured (I used to be) and neither also understand how the systems work (or how making wild swings up/down can mess them up and cause outrageous electic and gas bills). During the winter, I like to set the temp at anywhere from 68-70 depending upon time of day and where I'll be. Our house has lousy insulation and windows so some rooms can get stuffy while others are freezing.

During the summer, I prefer to set it from 74-76, but have given in to 73 at times. My wife and son tend to go in behind me and not just make a small tweak, but go overboard. For instance, if I have it set at 75 in the summer and one comes in hot, they think that they should just set the temp to 68 (and leave it there) to cool off. Today, it is currently 65 outside and the temp is set at 70. My wife just went and turned on the AC to 68 because she felt it was stuffy!

I've tried getting them to adjust 1 degree at a time, not switch back and forth from heat to AC (and reverse), etc., but they don't get it. I tried walking through how the systems work and explaining that turning the heat off when set at 70 and showing 71 actual temp inside doesn't change things, nor does flipping to AC besides freezing me out and running up the bill. The idea of using a fan to circulate the air does not compute for them right now.

Am I crazy? Any one else fight these battles?

Sort of. In the car, my wife will set her thermostat to 68, turn the fan all the way up, then turn the vents toward me.

78/79 in the summer, 70 in the winter

My mother-in-law never learned there were degrees on a thermostat. It was either all the way up or all the way down.

Lock box...

Fact: women are stupid when it comes to thermostats and compass directions.

I am shocked that anyone but you has the authority to change your setting. My dad set it when I was growing up and I have always set mine. I set mine at 70 during the day and turn it all the way down at night. My rent includes the gas bill so its not an effort to save money. I just like to sleep under the covers.

Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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I am shocked that anyone but you has the authority to change your setting. My dad set it when I was growing up and I have always set mine. I set mine at 70 during the day and turn it all the way down at night. My rent includes the gas bill so its not an effort to save money. I just like to sleep under the covers.

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I allow my wife control of the T-stat but I also allow her to pay the bill... I choose our electric plan and set it to be average billed over the year for her. If she wants me to pay it then she understands I get full control of the temp in the house.

Wife has this bill plus a couple of credit cards she has... If I have to pay a bill, I get the card.

77 in the summer and 72 in the winter. MY HVAC guy says to set and forget it. You'll spend more money on energy bills by changing the setting during the day/night. When you set it and forget it, the furniture and rest of the interior get heated/cooled to the desired temp. If you change the setting during the day/night, the system has to work harder to reheat/cool the furniture, etc., according to my guy.

I know the fancy thermostats that allow you to program them to change settings for different times of the day/night are popular, but I can understand how the set it and forget it works.

I've never seen any study that concludes the correct way. If anyone does, I'd like to see it.

How do some of you sleep at 77-78 degrees? Do you have insane electric bills? Why so high?