Best way to heat a single room

SteveEB

Things are quiet at work just lately so we're being asked to work more and more from home to save on company car mileage and fuel. But now that it's getting cold I'm wondering what the cheapest way of heating my 'office' would be.
Do you think it would be cheaper to simply put the central heating on or to buy an electric heater to heat just the room I'm working in. It's quite a big, cold bungalow so it seems crazy to heat the whole place when I'm just in one room all day. If you think an electric heater would be best, which type? Argos seem to do a number of different ones, like fan, convector, oil filled, oil free etc.
Looking forward to your replies.
Steve

Premier_2

Get your employer to pay you!

If they want to save money by not heating their own offfice, as well as saving money on not paying for fuel or wear & tear on a car, then the bets they can do is pay for your heating.

If that doesn't work, think about making a tax relief claim to cover the extra expense.

SteveEB

I wondered if someone would suggest that.
My job usually involves going out to our customers sites but there's a lot less work about for us at the moment so my employer prefers us to stay at home 'on call'. It's quite nice to be at home most of the time (especially when the weather was good) so I don't want to rock the boat by asking them for money as they'll probably just spit the dummy and insist I go to the office to be 'on call' instead. If I have to go to the office rather than a job then my mileage there and back is classed as private mileage so I can't claim for the fuel and it's a 60 mile round trip. However, I'll look into making a tax relief claim. I've never done that before.

I'd still prefer to get opinions on my original question of heating the room though.

Cardew

This question comes up many times.

Yes it is "crazy to heat the whole place" so surely the answer is to turn off the radiators in the rooms you don't need to be heated?

Depending on the price you pay for gas and electricity, and the efficiency of your boiler, gas CH is normally a third to a half the price of electricity. If you spend a lot of time in your study then gas wins.

Ken68

Wouldn't cost a lot, Steve, to do a trial.
Central heating on...take readings every hour.
As against , say, using a halogen heater the next day.
Note down your comfort levels.
When I get up early, the central heating goes on, some rads get switched off and the halogen goes on for say half an hour or less.

dooby

Our office at home is really cold, I think we feel it more as we're sat for a while rather than moving about so we wrap up warm and use hot water bottles.


Apparently, the trick is not to get too cold in the first place.

SteveEB

Thanks for the replies.
I'd like to do a trial but it would mean buying a heater specifically for the purpose so I wondered if anyone else had done a similar trial.
Does anyone have an opinion on whats the most efficient type of electric heater.
Steve

Andromeda

I'm currently using an Ingenix halogen heater which heats up a room quickly (I'm in the same position as you, only need one room heated whilst I work on the computer) You can find them on Ebay. I haven't had any complaints with mine so far.

I also turn off the rad in my hall as it's just money literally going out the front door.

Ken68

When up and about, Steve, you must move between kitchen and diner and lounge and toilet and office and maybe outside, then inside, doubt you actually need to heat but one room and the minute you open the hot room, the heat will travel to the colder part of the house anyway.
I manage all day with no heating, except for the initial powering up in the morning.
You could go for a jog, maybe to get warm, or stay in bed with an electric blanket.
Now they ARE cheap to run. Singles are 70Watt could use as a throw. Cost about £14 same as a halogen heater.

KimYeovil

Ken68 wrote: »

When up and about, Steve, you must move between kitchen and diner and lounge and toilet and office and maybe outside, then inside, doubt you actually need to heat but one room and the minute you open the hot room, the heat will travel to the colder part of the house anyway.
I manage all day with no heating, except for the initial powering up in the morning. […]

There are these architectural features known in the trade as 'doors' and 'walls.' Many domestic premises have them. The correct use of the 'door'* can help immensely in alleviating the problem you mention, Ken.

* Unfortunately this technology may not be helpful in homes featuring occupants labelled 'children'.

Cardew

KimYeovil wrote: »

* Unfortunately this technology may not be helpful in homes featuring occupants labelled 'children'.

Or indeed dogs!