What month do you typically start using the heat? (home, neighborhood)

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

So you would be okay in the house if the inside temp was 62-ish? I am not, and my animals don't care for it either. Saying you don't need heat at all is just ridiculous, some people do. Some homes aren't as well insulated or for whatever other reason get cold when the season changes to winter. I am not going to bundle up inside my house when I can just use my furnace to bring the temp up to a comfortable level.

This whole thread is ridiculous. When I lived in the midwest, there were people who would wear shorts in 10 degree weather and claim they weren't cold. Absolute BS. People like that do it for attention because it makes them look "tough." Nothing wrong with admitting it's cold outside. We had a receptionist at my job wear flip flops in the snow claiming her feet weren't cold when you could see they were literally BLUE. (The manager finally told her she had to wear weather appropriate shoes, she looked ridiculous.) You never hear people claim they never need A/C in the summer like it's some sort of badge of honor.

.

Well, in Tucson there are still quite a few homes with evaporative cooling, so some people do feel comfortable without air conditioning. However, I don't understand the mentality about not needing heat, and I'd be willing to bet that in climates with similar average winter temperatures (for example Houston) that mentality does not exist and seems to be isolated to the Phoenix area.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

Well, in Tucson there are still quite a few homes with evaporative cooling, so some people do feel comfortable without air conditioning. However, I don't understand the mentality about not needing heat, and I'd be willing to bet that in climates with similar average winter temperatures (for example Houston) that mentality does not exist and seems to be isolated to the Phoenix area.

Air conditioning is an all inclusive term in this case meaning "cooling".

[thinkalot]

I use heat but not often. This morning it was 62 inside so I turned it on. Most days I use it to take the chill out, comes on about 3 times, and then turn it off. I left in on for several hours this morning.

[Pink Jazz]

I just did a poll in the Houston forum, and as I expected, almost nobody there has the mentality that heating is not required even though average temperatures are comparable. I wonder what is the reason for the difference in heating usage. However, here in the Phoenix area a large portion of homes have heat pumps while in Houston most have gas furnaces due to Houston's very low natural gas prices which could favor greater heating usage compared to Phoenix.

[wase4711]

I think alot of people like to pretend that since its the desert, you dont need heat on ever; and, I agree with the others, if that is how you really feel, there might be something wrong with your internal thermostat..

I lived decades in midwestern cities, went hunting/fishing/ice fishing, and spent tons of time outside when it was below zero, and I am not ashamed to admit we had the heat on here in Phoenix since late November..
Sure, its not "on" all the time, it only comes on obviously when the temps in the house drop below a certain level..

But, to think that you dont ever "need" to turn the heat on here from November through about February is just
hard to believe

[observer53]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

When I was at our cavernous AZ house a few weeks ago I'd be up very early and have the heat on for a few hours. Lots of floor-to-ceiling windows, plus those darned tile floors make everything frigid. I know that's a feature, not a bug, and I'm sure I'll appreciate it in summer.



I don't care for heating and try not to use it but sometimes I just gotta.

Yes, when I put tile in most of my house I discovered that it does make things a bit chillier in the winter (though it is great in the summer). I haven't turned the heat on yet (needs a part replaced) but I've used a little portable heater for short stints in the morning. When the heat gets fixed, it will be on for a couple of hours max in the morning, and in the evening too if we get a cold snap.

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

I just did a poll in the Houston forum, and as I expected, almost nobody there has the mentality that heating is not required even though average temperatures are comparable. I wonder what is the reason for the difference in heating usage. However, here in the Phoenix area a large portion of homes have heat pumps while in Houston most have gas furnaces due to Houston's very low natural gas prices which could favor greater heating usage compared to Phoenix.

Natural gas is pretty cheap out here as well.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

I just did a poll in the Houston forum, and as I expected, almost nobody there has the mentality that heating is not required even though average temperatures are comparable. I wonder what is the reason for the difference in heating usage. However, here in the Phoenix area a large portion of homes have heat pumps while in Houston most have gas furnaces due to Houston's very low natural gas prices which could favor greater heating usage compared to Phoenix.

I'm a lucky one that has a gas furnace. When I replaced my HVAC system this year one company wanted to convert me to a heat pump. I did not go with that company. It's so cheap to heat my house.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

We put on the heat whenever we feel even the slightest amount of chill. So if the house gets to 68, I turn on the heat so it gets back to 72 to 74. So we had the neat on in mid November. If that costs me a few $$$'s, so be it. In this state, heating the house is cheap. Now when it gets to 100 degrees outside and the fact that I have rooms with 20 foot ceilings and three air conditioning units, I set the temp slightly higher that I prefer or around 78-79. Heat costs me as much as $100 a month in January for natural gas. The air and electric can cost >>$700/month if I cool it to 73. So I pick my battles. Our off peak air in northern MN (3900 square foot house) costs under $200 every month. So in MN and in the summer, I won't cool more than 75 degrees in the house. So it's a blend of economics in combination with comfort. IMO, heating a house in AZ 3-5 degrees makes sense.

[Bondurant]

Turned the heat on a few minutes ago. Utilities are included in my rent but I still use it sparingly. My feet have been cold these past few days. Thick socks on the cold tile don't help. I'll warm the place up before bed.