I am not trying to be a smarta** either
No worries, I dont think anybody took it that way.
First let me point out that I am not an engineer, I just like numbers to support my observations and instincts, and I like to experiment. So how does closing save me money?
Over the years I've "experimented" with my floor heat settings. I monitored the outdoor temp, the floor heat temp, ice formation in the bays (yes I did it safely), and my gas bills. I've basically got it adjusted to the point where the floor is just warm enough to prevent ice, but low enough to minimize gas usage. It works as long as the temps stay above approx 20 at night, and hits the 30s during the day (typical temps around here), my gas bills are down as a result of these adjustments.
If the temps get down below 20, I have to turn up the floor heat by about 5 degrees.
If the temps get down below 15, I have to turn up the floor heat by another 5-7 degrees.
Below 10, another 5-7 degrees.
Otherwise I get ice in the bays.
So I burn more gas to keep the floors above freezing as the temps drop. Kind of obvious, I know, and easily observable as well. But the point is, gas costs $.
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