Heating/AC

[papapaints]

I have a 2 story home with 2 HVAC systems (natural gas). We live downstairs, rarely go upstairs unless we have company.
Question - Should we turn the upstairs unit on in winter? Will that cause our gas bill to increase? If answer is yes, what temp should we set it on? Our downstairs is on 68. Thanks.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

Do you have winter? then don't turn it off. set it to 55 if you don't want to use it.

 

[TractorJeff]

How much downstairs heat gets (rises) upstairs?
I wouldn't want it to get Musty smelling up there or pipes to freeze if there is plumbing up there.
For what its worth, our situation is opposite, we live upstairs and rarely use the downstairs. We keep it at 60 down there so when you come in it feels warm plus we don't have to worry about the pipes freezing.
It'll get damp down there as cold moisture laden air sinks filling the lower floor.

 

[Full Throttle]

The colder it is upstairs the faster the heat will transfer from downstairs. You create what is called the stack effect, much like a chimney...you literally create a flow of air. I would keep 60/65

 

[Showkey]

Not enough info............depends on climate. If you set the upstairs at 50-55* and the lower level at 65-68* it’s possible the upstairs unit might never run. Or only run on very cold days ?????

I have a similar setup in cold climate only the basement is a separate unit. If I set the basement at 68-70* the main floor unit rarely runs.

During cooling season it’s a completely different senerio.