Cheaper to have heating on low or in bursts?

Skyepebbles

I live in an old draughty top floor flat and need to have at least some heating on in the evening. I have a fairly newish gas combi boiler and my radiators are down at half. Does anyone in the know really know whether or not it's cheaper to run your heating continually for, say, 4 hours, or to set it to come on in three bursts?
Cheers!:money:

Pink.

Hi Skyepebbles,

Welcome to MSE

You should get more help with your query on the Gas and Electric board so I'll move your thread over there to see if you can get some replies.

Pink

tomstickland

This question has been debated many times.
My personal opinion, and that of many experts, is that you should turn it on when you need it. Running it all the time will waste more energy.

By this, I mean have it on continuously when you are in the building, but turn it off when you are out.

Cardew

There is no question, as stated above, that the longer you have the heating off, the more money you save.

However the title of this thread is about having the heating on low constantly or bursts. If the 'bursts' are to the same low temperature, then bursts are cheaper.

However if the 'bursts' are to a higher temperature, the question cannot be answered as there are too many unknown variables.

It is like asking will I get to my destination quicker if I drive at a steady speed or flat out in bursts and keep stopping.

sandraroffey

i set mine according to the thermostat. keep the heating on, but turn the thermostat to the temperature you ant. then the thermostat will turn it on and off according to the temperature of your rooms. i was told years ago this was the cheapest way, or when you turn it off then on again, and the rooms have cooled right down. , the boiler has to work harder to bring the temperature back up to what you want.

Gryfon

I keep mine on, but then I have a big cast iron stanley so it would be less economical to keep heating it up every time, and I'm at home all day anyway.

savemoney

If its draughty I would try and draught proof it first. Mind you if its top floor flat you might gets some free heat from flat below

I would only have heating on when I am in and its cold. If you are worried and have some timer you could set it to come on when its very cold say 10c

If you are on I have it set for 20-21c and if it gets warm maybe turn it down 1 or 2 degrees

researcher

My first plan of action would be to reduce draughts and prevent warm air escaping and cold air entering. Then I would use the thermostat - I keep mine at 18c during the day, 20c in the evening and down to 15c when we go to bed. At these temperatures we are comfortable but not hot - we still have to wear long sleves and a jumper, but the rooms never get so cold that they require a lot of heating. Although we work from home our bills are reasonable and it seems the most economical way to heat our home.

Theo_Cupier

sandraroffey wrote: »

i set mine according to the thermostat. keep the heating on, but turn the thermostat to the temperature you ant. then the thermostat will turn it on and off according to the temperature of your rooms. i was told years ago this was the cheapest way, or when you turn it off then on again, and the rooms have cooled right down. , the boiler has to work harder to bring the temperature back up to what you want.

I found that keeping the heating on all day - but controlled by the termostat (and with radiator valves in individual rooms) - on one of the very cold days last week was no more expensive than turning the heating off in the morning, letting the house get cold, and then having the heating work for ages to get the house back up to temperature when it was turned back on in the evening.

My house is pretty well insulated and not draughty, though, so your mileage may vary. If the draughts in your house are basically sucking the heat out constantly then it may be as well to leave it off until you actually want/need it.