working out the cost...

In_Search_Of_Me

hello lovely pepys and happy new year!

I am trying to work out how much it cost to run my fan heater, mainly in an attempt to scare myself into not using it!! I am on scottish power capped rate online dual fuel and the heater is a proline fan heater, 2000w heater. Can anyone tell me roughly what it costs to run it for an hour?

Many thanks if you can...also any ideas on reducing the cost of my heating...sitting here in socks and jumper and have turned the thermostat down but unsure what else to try!! I live in a 1 bed flat and currently pay 100 a month so definately should be able to reduce this as often at work in the day!

Cardew

A 2000w heater will use 2 units(kWh) an hour when it is running all the time - say 24p an hour depending on the rate you pay.

However most fan heaters have a thermostat - see:

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/262854/PROLINE-FAN20?cm_sp=FeatureEnd-_-Heaters-_-position1

This means the heater turns on and off depending on the room temperature, so it is impossible to say how much less than 2 units an hour it will use.

The only way to reduce expenditure on heating(and keep the same temperature) is to improve insulation or get a cheaper tariff.

Magentasue

2000w = 2kwh = 2 units or kwh for every hour it's on. Less if it cuts in and out . Cheaper to use your gas heating.

In_Search_Of_Me

when its on its on all the time and (loathe to admit!) I have the gas on too although have lowered the thermostat!! How do I know what the 2kwh an hour costs? Whenever I look at the scottish power website my brain shuts down as so many numbers/equations.....

Magentasue

http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/Home_Energy/Product_Prices/



You need to know which tariff - probably 25p -30p an hour for 2kwh. Electricity is three or four times more expensive than gas so I'd turn your heating up a bit and ditch the fan heater.

In_Search_Of_Me

Thanks magenta sue - I did look at that but the numbers got me! (am mathematically dyslexic so a page of numbers=brain shutdown!) I am on online capped dual fuel, monthy ddm if thats any help plus live in wales! sorry to be a dunce!

Magentasue

I think you would be close enough if you used 13p per kwh for elec and 4p per kwh for gas.

27col

The logic of having gas heating and then using an electric heater escapes me. Turn the room stat up a bit and ditch the electric heater. Gas is much cheaper to use than electricity. If you are still a bit chilly, then do what you are already doing and wrap up a bit. Set the timer for two periods, morning and pm/evening. If you come in during the day time off period then all you need do is to press the button on the programmer and the boiler will fire up. What are you getting for this £100 a month that you are paying. It seems a lot for a one bed flat, if it is for gas and electric. If you stop using the electric heating you should notice quite a difference in the bill.

In_Search_Of_Me

Thanks for working it out ms - much appreciated!

27col I know its ridiculous and its not at all logial so I wouldnt try and work the logic out on that one!! Its just one of those comfort things that I've had since a teenager! I am much improved as do now put a jumper on and socks but still cant get rid of it compleatly!

The whole point of working out how much it is was/is an attempt to change as knowledge is power and I'll think about using it more than when I couldnt calculate the cost - ie now I know that it will cost me 20 a month to just run it at night and this will make me less likely to use it! Part of the problem is that I have it on at night as "white" noise...its not necc about being hot/cold tbh...just need to find cheaper ways of comfort...hotty botty here I come!

Again thank you sue for doing the geeky math for me...I just get tied up in knots!