skymama 35 #1 December 7, 2010 My son will be leaving his apartment in Tallahassee today for about a month for winter break. He and his roommates are going to turn the electricity off during that time. It gets below freezing there during the winter. I don't know much about what to do in cold weather; do you foresee any problems with that? My suggestion was to leave the heat on, but at a low temp like 62 or so. Help, cold weather people!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #2 December 7, 2010 As you suggested, keeps the pipes from freezing. Also, might wanna check with the landlord, might be against the lease to 'turn off the power' so to speak. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #3 December 7, 2010 Well, if he wants to bet on properly insulated pipes, etc, go for it. However, this has about a 99% chance of going wrong. You can unplug all electrical devices, defrost the fridge, etc to stop electrical usage. However, leave the heater on like 55 or so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #4 December 7, 2010 Quote at a low temp like 62 or so. Low? Mine never gets set any higher than 65 or 66 during the day when I'm home, and 62 is the "I'm bundled up in my bed at night" temp. (Granted I don't currently live in a particularly cold climate, but when I've lived in colder climates, and for the few weeks it is chilly here, those are the temps I use)."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydude2000 3 #5 December 7, 2010 The only thing I can think of is if the water in the pipes freezes. He might want to shut the water off as well. Don't know if it would get THAT cold, but water that isn't flowing for a month straight in cold weather could freeze and cause damage to the plumbing, no?PULL!! or DIE!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #6 December 7, 2010 If the apartment complex is large enough then it might be ok to turn off the electricity but your idea is better... the temperature doesn't have to be very high and even 45-50 deg is more then enough to prevent pipes from freezing... and will substantially reduce the chance of pipes freezing... They can reduce their electrical footprint by unplugging appliances while they're gone... but honestly the 10-15 dollars they might save by turning off the electric for a month is not worth the potential costs associated with repairing frozen pipes...Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #7 December 7, 2010 Unplug all the small appliances and set the thermostat to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. PS: You won't save a lot by turning off the electricity for a month but you could spend a lot if you have a problem."That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #8 December 7, 2010 Remind him to leave the fridge door open after unplugging it , them things get ripe when the door is left shut! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 35 #9 December 7, 2010 Quote Low? Mine never gets set any higher than 65 or 66 during the day when I'm home, and 62 is the "I'm bundled up in my bed at night" temp. LOL...last night in bed I had on pajamas, socks and gloves and was covered by a sheet, comforter and 2 blankets. The temp in the house was 69. I was fr-EEZ-ing! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,341 #10 December 7, 2010 Getting the power turned off and then back on is far more of a hassle than it's worth. Unless he is just planning on turning off the main switch, in which case he will still be paying the "service" charges (which are about 1/2 the bill anyway). Unless it gets well below freezing, the chances of pipes freezing and bursting is low, but not zero. The cost associated with burst pipes due to freezing is astronomical, especially if nobody is home to catch it right away. Unplug everything (make sure there isn't anything in the fridge or freezer) and set the thermostat as low as it will go (that's usually about 50). If the apartment is part of a larger complex, the heat from the surrounding apartments will help keep his warm and reduce the heating costs to practically zero."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 35 #11 December 7, 2010 Quote Remind him to leave the fridge door open after unplugging it , them things get ripe when the door is left shut! I just asked him if the fridge was cleared out, he said no. Those dorks, I don't know what they're thinking! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #12 December 7, 2010 Fine. Don't listen to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,384 #13 December 7, 2010 Quote Quote Low? Mine never gets set any higher than 65 or 66 during the day when I'm home, and 62 is the "I'm bundled up in my bed at night" temp. LOL...last night in bed I had on pajamas, socks and gloves and was covered by a sheet, comforter and 2 blankets. The temp in the house was 69. I was fr-EEZ-ing! I'm sure you can find volunteers here to help warm you.My thermostat: - When I am home and awake: 65F - When I am in bed: 55F"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southern_Man 0 #14 December 7, 2010 Quote, but at a low temp like 62 or so. Yeah, that's my normal heat setting."What if there were no hypothetical questions?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #15 December 7, 2010 I wouldn't even unplug the fridge, just empty out most of the stuff. It's not really an energy drain in the winter for an electrically heated space, since it puts 100% of the power it uses back into the room as heat. It basically does the same job as a baseboard heater. Also, like the previous poster pointed out, much of your utility bill is service charges. Turn out the lights, turn down the heat, clean out the fridge, and save a few bucks. Other than that, it's not worth the possibility of plumbing damage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 0 #16 December 7, 2010 Quote Quote Remind him to leave the fridge door open after unplugging it , them things get ripe when the door is left shut! I just asked him if the fridge was cleared out, he said no. Those dorks, I don't know what they're thinking! So for every buck they save in elec, they'll lose 2 bucks in spoiled food. I don't know how I survived being that age. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billeisele 122 #17 December 7, 2010 it depends on what kind of apt and where the pipes are located, stand alone, multi unit, first floor, second floor, etc. most of the electric bill is for water heating and space conditioning, turn off the water heater at the breaker panel, set the heat on 50 if this is multi unit the adjacent units will keep it warmer leave the fridge plugged in, it will cost $10-$15 to run it, not worth the hassle of empying and restocking unplug everything else, depending on the exact power company, most in that area charge about $7 flat fee and then 12 cents per kWh the real issue is what they do when they return, the apt probably has a heat pump, if they come in and move the T-stat to (let's say) 68 then the heat strips will come on and eliminate a weeks worth of savings this is a pain but they need to move the T-stat 1-2 degrees at a time, let the temperature catch up, then move it again until they get to the desired set point the walls, furniture, and everything else will take a couple days to reheat and the place will feel coldGive one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #18 December 7, 2010 Quote the real issue is what they do when they return, the apt probably has a heat pump, if they come in and move the T-stat to (let's say) 68 then the heat strips will come on and eliminate a weeks worth of savings Probably no heat pump, just baseboard radiant. And I disagree with your basic tenet that the cost to reheat will exceed the savings. Direct baseboard heat is about 100% efficient, and any time spent not radiating excess heat out of the apartment will save some money. Reheating the environment will take less energy overall than keeping it heated, and losing energy to the outside, during the absence. Good idea to shut off the water heater, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,400 #19 December 7, 2010 If it's a center unit, and is surrounded by other apartments, the pipes won't freeze. But generally they won't save any money due to the turnoff/turn on fees from the power company. If you just turn off the heat, you'll get the same result. If the apt drops to (say) 50F, the refrig will use almost no power, and they will use almost nothing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buff 0 #20 December 7, 2010 Quote Quote I just asked him if the fridge was cleared out, he said no. Those dorks, I don't know what they're thinking! He's in college and the only thing in that fridge is BEER! Everybody knows that when you're in college, you will consume any beer, skunky or not!It's called the Hillbilly Hop N Pop dude. If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough. That's fucked up. Watermelons do not grow on trees! ~Skymama Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,341 #21 December 7, 2010 Quote ...the real issue is what they do when they return, the apt probably has a heat pump, if they come in and move the T-stat to (let's say) 68 then the heat strips will come on and eliminate a weeks worth of savings this is a pain but they need to move the T-stat 1-2 degrees at a time, let the temperature catch up, then move it again until they get to the desired set point the walls, furniture, and everything else will take a couple days to reheat and the place will feel cold I don't agree with that. I routinely put my T-stat at 50 when I'm gone for more than a couple days. When I get back, I put it right to 64 (nomal daytime setting). I have an oil-burner, and when I go from 50 to 64 it will fire up, run for a while, the burner will shut down while the fan keeps going (normal). But before the fan shuts down, the burner usually kicks back on due to the walls, furniture and everything else being cold. It probably takes about 6-8 hours for everything to completely warm back up (getting into a bed with 2 blankets and a down comforter isn't a whole lot of fun, inuslation works both ways), but I burn considerable less fuel than I would if I left it up all the time I am gone. I've neglected to turn it down a couple times and the difference is pretty significant."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #22 December 7, 2010 My parents have a condo in the mountains in Utah. They're not allowed to turn all the electricity off, because while the pipes are insulated and run through the center of the building, they will still freeze. Their association mandates that during the winter, thermostats are left at 55 degrees F. My dad's got the breaker box very clearly labeled, and when we leave, we turn off everything except the stuff tagged red, which is the heater and whatever else Dad's decided is "Stuff Not To Be Disconnected", like the smoke alarms. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #23 December 7, 2010 Quote The only thing I can think of is if the water in the pipes freezes. He might want to shut the water off as well. Don't know if it would get THAT cold, but water that isn't flowing for a month straight in cold weather could freeze and cause damage to the plumbing, no? ACTUALLY When it gets so cold that freezing of pipes is likely it is best to leave the water dripping so there is a tiny bit of flow in the pipes. ALSO if the bathroom or kitchen pipes are against an outside wall it is a good idea to open the cupboards where the pipes are to let in the warmth of the house. Heater... yeah.. leave set about 55 F Unplug everything else. Looking at the weather... it looks a tad chilly in FL about now... Might I suggest Seattle... lots warmer here right now... high overcast... totally jumpable Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #24 December 7, 2010 Send him to a different college if he doesn't know what to do with an apartment for a month.All replies here contain common sense. Is there a college that teaches that? As my dad would say, he better be really good at soccer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #25 December 7, 2010 Quote Quote Remind him to leave the fridge door open after unplugging it , them things get ripe when the door is left shut! I just asked him if the fridge was cleared out, he said no. Those dorks, I don't know what they're thinking! COOOOL Biology experiment in progress Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites