When Do You Start Your Boiler?

I switched my heat pump from cool to warm yesterday. My goal is to run the minisplit for as long as possible before I run the boiler.

I've been running a diy heatpump all summer. I'm hoping to run it as long as possible.

I'm trying to hold out as long as possible. These last two nights have been cool but the temps look like they're going to climb some in the next few days.

First we try closing windows at night and then when it is just so chilly in the morning one would have to wear clothes turn the thermostat up on the boiler.

Won't be this week, as it's going into the 80's here again - Last year was Oct 1st.

I expect my mini split will be shifting back to cooling by the end of the week. The wonders of shoulder season

Just closed the windows yesterday, house is holding 72.5. I usually wear baselayer tops and bottoms October through May, polyproplene or similar wicking material. Never cotton. Wicking baselayer works best to self regulate temperature through different activities, doing nothing around the house or out working.

When it gets chillier I will be in baselayer tops and bottoms, winter socks, and use a fleece top as necessary.

If I was on oil, I would not turn it on until Thanksgivng. With the Froling, most likely I will charge, temper the basement slab, first week in October. Then I will just burn as necessary so the house temp reads 70.0.

This years wood is all set, the primo remains from the Oct 2011 snowstorm. Red and White oak. Ashplund just came through here clearing trees from the power lines. Special program, they took people's huge old yard ornaments. I bought the firewood from five or six neighbors and just put ~ the next five years firewood in the yard. Been at it seven days/week since August first

velvetfoot said:

That's sweaty work!

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Yes it was, worst time of the year. But with firewood scrounging, if I let it sit there a few days it would disappear. I was one day behind Ashplund on my street. Laid out ~ 1000 cash among the neighbors. Mostly oak, some ash and maple. Ashplund was great, Thank You. Their grapple truck was working same day until I called them and told them to stop taking wood I had paid for.

I would not let them touch my trees except for a light shave, So I have a few live oak leaners over the wires, and all the neighbors dead oaks in my yard. At least three of them were over 36" dia and many more over 30". They took old trees.

I'm torn. If I start burning, I heat my basement slab. It takes a big load that first time. Then I have to keep it heated.

Basement will continually need heat to maintain 67 or so.

I use the theatre room rarely this time of year, the only real use in the basement other than my office.

I think I'd let the oil occasionally pop on for heat upstairs in the mornings. Sun warms the living room enough in the day. DHW is still running off the HPHW heater.

Thinking I'll wait till middle to end of Oct. I've bought 100 gallons of oil each year for the last two years. Bet I haven't burned 50 gallons of it. I started burning at the start of Oct last year. I think that was a mistake. I could easily use the space heater (electric, but I have solar power) in the theater room to get me thru the occasional use in the next couple months.

When it's dark in the winter, especially if were not grooming snowmobile trails.. Dark means I'll hang out and watch more TV.

Everyone's situation is different.

JP

I'm hoping to be able to make it another month or so. But we've made the switch from windows up at night & blinds down all day, to blinds up and windows closed all day - although the next few days are warmer again.

If all goes well & and as is half planned, we will have some mini-split action going on here this time next year which should put it off another month or so, on either end.

I got a couple years ahead on wood last year, but this year I didn't get around to even starting to do any until into August, and still haven't gotten all my other summer projects done. So now I'm thinking more that the less of that I have to do each year the better, as the years add up - even if it costs me a bit of electricity.

Thanksgiving usually... Not until it's consistently in the 40's in Jersey.

I burn all summer for DHW. I turned a couple rads on a couple weeks ago to take the chill off one morning but only the towel warmer since then. Supposed to be warm this week so dont think Ill be doing any heating other than my towel in the morning.

The day/night temp swings here in New England are pretty significant this time of year. It can get down in the 40's at night and then almost 80 sometimes during the day.

I try to wait as long as possible too but generally the heat goes on every year when the wife utters the phrase " no heat no *****."

The weather forecast here prompted me to get a load into storage yesterday. I will begin drawing on it Tuesday night if their forecast is correct (frost warning) but will be a slow draw for sure. Last year the first burn was on September 10th. The short answer to your question is completely dependent on mother nature.

Did it yesterday, Sept 29. 1000 gal storage tank was at 62F. Did not actually need heat at this time, but it takes quite a bit of wood and time to raise the tank into the heating range (120F+), the tank holds heat well, and I wanted to be ready to handle the cool temps coming this week. We had frost both Monday night and Tuesday night, and a forecast of highs in the 50's all week.

I was thinking about it late last week, but this tropical system going thru right now has it another week out at least. 20c at 8am. Have only had one frost so far, that I've seen.