I started mine up on October 5th just to warm the house up from 60 degrees (F). Then I turned it back off until last night. Just couldn't stand the thought of a 62 degree shower, but I caught the heat in the bathroom and shut the furnace back off when I was done.
I hate to have the furnace running between April 15 and November 15, but DH sees no reason to 'freeze' when he's worked so hard for retirement; me, I'd prefer warmer clothes and cooler temperatures in the house most of the day.
At $4.00 a gallon for oil, this year I've told DH we're burning the fireplace a lot more. I can heat the living part of the house with just the one fire when the power is out, but with the furnace fan running, the fireplace will keep the whole house relatively comfortable.
Keep warm, everyone!
Love, Smart Red