Gas fire vs gas boiler vs 5 woolly jumpers!

flutterbybutterfly

My husband is very frugle with our heating and decided about a month ago that the central heating WILL NOT go on until October half-term at least.

At the sudden unanticipated drop in temperatures I though my dh would reasses the situation - but oh no he's sticking to his guns!

He has given one concession - that the lounge fire can be lit in the evening.

My query is based on an average large detatched 4 bed home (10 years old) is it really cheaper to use the fire than to put on the heating for an hour???

If anyone knows the answer that would be great!

Magentasue

I know the answer to this one. You want the heating on ... so the heating should go on. Obvious really. I think central heating is usually considered cheaper than a gas fire..

oldskoo1

Gas fires do use a lot of gas but to heat a house up from cold also uses a lot.

It must be freezing there. The only thing you can do is test it. Read your meter, run the gas fire for however long you need then re-read the meter. Do the same with the central heating and compare the two figures.

But to be honest its too cold not to have the heating on when its 5degrees outside (in the mornings). Your house its going to trap sunlight heat from the day and if it has good draft protection should keep it fairly warm so it won't be 5 but its probably 14-16 which is coooold.

lemontart

jumpers are defo cheaper and invest in thermals and hot water bottles

whatatwit

I think as part of the energy saving exercise, you should feed him a cold meal at night.

olly300

The temperature is fluctuating a lot. So you shouldn't need the heating on tomorrow.

Personally blanket bans on when the heating should go on or off are stupid with the current climate. If the temperature is cold enough then put the heating on. If the weather forecast for the next day states it's going to be warm then the night before turn the heating off.

BTW It depends on your boiler and amount of insulation in your house. With my current condensing boiler it's cheaper to use the central heating. With my brother's much older boiler it's cheaper for him to heat the main room with a gas fire.