Does turning off radiators save gas?

DARYALS

Hi,

Can someone please answer this question for me. I have several unused rooms within my house, would turning the radiators off in these rooms save on my heating bill and gas usage?

Regards

A

beckyw_2

I turned a radiator off in an unused room and now I can't get it back on whatever we try. I'd leave them on very low!

Tharweb

DARYALS wrote:

Hi,

Can someone please answer this question for me. I have several unused rooms within my house, would turning the radiators off in these rooms save on my heating bill and gas usage?

Regards

A

Do you not have thermostat valves? This site suggests you turn them off to save on heat http://www.cornwall-switch.org/what-else-can-i-do.htm but it's looking at it more from the greenhouse effect angle rather than money saving.

I wouldn't turn mine off completely as I would worry the rooms might get damp.

Cardew

The answer to the question is a resounding 'Yes' it will save money.

The principle of CH is:

1. The boiler heats the water that flows around the system and through the radiators. It tries to keep the water at the temperature set on the boiler.

2. The radiators are designed to lose this heat in warming up the room. The greater the surface area of the radiator the quicker the water in it loses heat(and the warmer the room gets)

3. The boiler has to run longer to keep the water in the system at the correct set temperature and thus uses more gas.

4 Shut off any radiator and the water doesnt flow through the panels of the radiator and thus the temperature of the water in the system doesn't lose heat as quickly as before.

5. The boiler doesn't need to run as long to maintain the water at set temperature and thus uses less gas.

Not only is it better to turn off radiators in unused rooms but it saves a lot to turn off radiators in bedroooms during the day and put them on some while before you go to bed if you like a warm bedroom.

across

thanks cardew that is a great post you've done there!! i am going to turn mine off in day upstairs as my gas bill yesterday was outragous to say the least thankyou very much for that info! :j

paddytt

We have more than HALVED our oil usage since moving in 3 years ago by:

1. setting the heating controller to only heat up water for 1 hour before we typically use it;

2. setting the central heating to only come on when we are in the house and need it;

3. fitting thermostatic valves and insulating the loft.

Despite oil doubling in price, we are paying less.... best single Moneysaving idea that we have done. :beer:

regards

TT

moneysavingplumber

It is more efficient which is why energy efficiency guidelines stipulate fitting TRVs on all new systems. The only word of caution I would give is that with traditional valves you get a weeping from the packing nut if you adjust them frequently or after a long time. On quality valves the gland can be re-packed and tightened, but on budget valves they can't and will need replacing.

molerat

paddytt wrote:

3. fitting thermostatic valves and insulating the loft.

And that is the one that probably saved the majority of it

Tharweb

Central heating on during the day. How rude!!! I manage with the gas fire in the lounge (I'm not tight...it's Money Saving ). I'm not heating up the whole house for a couple of rooms. It's an incentive to do lots of housework as that keeps me warm.

Even better, I go round to my parents who are on Stay Warm and "stay warm" there. :snow_grin
Must admit though, I don't hang around too long in the loo...brrr!!! :snow_laug

black-saturn

Thanks, I have always wondered these questions too :rolleyes:

DARYALS

Thankyou all very much, I have now turned off 3 radiators and hopefully this will save money. I'm moving soon so I will put on TRV on all new radiators in the future! Thankyou all once again!