I personally leave mine set all winter, and shut it off in the summer. People always say you will save energy, and cost, by having a programable thermostat. I understand the theory, but how can you determine if it actually saves you money? You could set it one year, and program the next and compare bills, but what if one year is colder? Maybe there is more wind, mild winter and cold summer. There are way to many variables to compare year to year. The only way I can see to determine if you are saving money is to have 2 identical homes right beside each other, with the same furnishings and number of people living in the home who have the same schedules. Have one home set the temp, and the other home program the thermostat. Do this for 1 year and compare. This is the only way to determine if one way is better, you just eliminated all the variables for 1 year.
I set mine to 19 Cel.(66 Far). It can be a bit cool if the outside is really cold but the furnace is able to maintain it and not really run for very long, a couple of minutes at a time when it dose come on. And even with a programable thermostat, when the temp dose drop to the set lower value, the furnace will still run after that to maintain that temp, and then in the morning will run for an extended period of time to warm the home up. I also close the registers closest to the thermostat, I want more area around the thermostat to warm up rather then that small area, the rest of the home feels warmer to. My monthly gas bill is about $70month average in the winter. 1541 sq/ft with a single attached garage and finished basement. The coldest room is the bedroom above the garage, but don't know of many that are not cold above the garage.
I set mine to 19 Cel.(66 Far). It can be a bit cool if the outside is really cold but the furnace is able to maintain it and not really run for very long, a couple of minutes at a time when it dose come on. And even with a programable thermostat, when the temp dose drop to the set lower value, the furnace will still run after that to maintain that temp, and then in the morning will run for an extended period of time to warm the home up. I also close the registers closest to the thermostat, I want more area around the thermostat to warm up rather then that small area, the rest of the home feels warmer to. My monthly gas bill is about $70month average in the winter. 1541 sq/ft with a single attached garage and finished basement. The coldest room is the bedroom above the garage, but don't know of many that are not cold above the garage.