The cost to run a 4 bed detached house!

kezibell

I recently moved into a 4 bedroom detached house and just had my first quarterly bill for gas and electric, for the period October, November and December - I have just picked myself up off the floor after reading my bill is £700!
My heating is on for 3 to 4 hours in the morning and then 7 hours in the evening.
Can anyone let me know if this bill sounds about right for a 4 bed detached??

Fire_Fox

How much your energy bills are depends on the house - how well insulated is it? - how warm you like it and, of course, how long you leave the heating running. Why do you need the heating on for 11 hours every day? Are you putting warmer clothes on? Is it a very draughty house and you are trying to heat the entire street?

melbury

I would say probably yes because you are having the heating on quite a lot.

Magentasue

Are the readings on the bill estimated or actual?

If actual, as said, there are a lot more factors than the size of the house and how much the heating is on. You have the heating on a lot so how warm you have it will count for a lot. Also, you haven't said how much for electricity and how much for gas.

kezibell

the CH comes on at around 6.45 am until 9.30 am and then is back on for when my kids come home from school at 3.00 pm until 10 pm. I've turned off radiators in all bedrooms and only have them on in the 2 bathrooms, landing, living area and kitchen. Thermostate in hall is set between 20 and 21.
I'm with Scottish Power but can't find any record of what product or tariff I am on, but will ring them tomorrow to check. ....

kezibell

I'm afraid this bill was based on actual readings! In fact the electric was £293.99 and the gas was £471.70, so a grand total of £765.69!!!!

Lillys_mum

I would knock the heating down a couple of degrees. Ours is set at 17/18 at the most and sometimes then I turn it down a bit further as it is warm enough.

peachyprice

Not that excessive really, when you think you're exposed on all 5 aspects.

Magentasue

Do you need to have the heating on for so long? Who's in until 9.30am? You could make savings turning it down when you can.

You're using a lot of electricity too - and that's by my standards! There's me, OH and four carbon fiends - we use more in the winter but haven't hit £200 a quarter yet.

ArsenalFC

If you really want to cut down on energy spending then you and everyone else need to make changes.

Lower the thermostat by a few degrees
Heat 1 bathroom only for the children
Heating the kitchen, is that really necessary?
Wear more clothes.

Also read many threads on here as so many people are asking the same questions and gets more or less the same answers.

Most of these procedures to lower energy consumption are common sense.

stevehead

Promise yourself that you won't go through another winter like this, and make a concerted effort to fully insulate your home by next September.