New cold house, old system, high bills - help

pip27

Hello all.
Ive started searching other threads to get some advice but have quickly got confused.
I moved into my house in June. It is a four bed trad semi (1930's). It is insulated and double glazed but does not have central heating. It has separated wall mounted gas heaters in each room (they don't warm the house enough) I can only use the one in the hall and the kitchen as the others are in silly places. The dining room has an old gas fire (the warmest heater in the house) . The lounge has a living flame gas fire but does not produce much heat. The loft has thermostatically controlled electric wall heaters but I hardly use these as they are expensive.
The cooking is all electric and water is heated in an emersion heater tank but this does not have a temperature control or a timer - just an on off switch. My gas is costing about £40 a month and electric has shocked me costing about £410 for the last quarter. I am trying to be frugle with energy saving light bulbs and only using the what i need. I try not to use the water heater at all and shower in the elctric shower. The house is freezing and I sometimes switch on a halogen heater or an electric radiator in the lounge but not for too long.
anyway. My bills seem very high to me for a house that is very cold. I would'nt mind so much if it was at least warm.
I have noticed on other threads people are claiming to have warm houses with gas central heating and only paying £40 a month combined. How are they managing this?
I realise I will have to replace my system but I need all your advice on what to do;
in the short term to improve the current system as cheaply as possible
and in the long term to replace the whole system - what to get - what will it cost.

please help, I am a single parent and really struggling.

Cardew

The average gas/electricity bill in UK is around £100 a month.

Some people claim to be comfortable at room temperatures that would be life threatening to many people.

Given your heating set up, high bills are inevitable I am afraid.

Your gas bills are not high, but your electricity is very high. You need to try to switch more heating to gas. The price of gas is around a third of electricity, and even though your gas appliances might not be efficient, they will be cheaper than electricity unless they are faulty.

pip27

Thanks Cardew. so I need to start saving for a new central heating system.

LisaLou1982

Hi Pip

If you have a child under 16 and/or are receiving certain benefits you may qualify for a grant towards a new central heating system. Goto https://www.warmfront.co.uk to see if you qualify

moonrakerz

pip27 wrote: »

I have noticed on other threads people are claiming to have warm houses with gas central heating and only paying £40 a month combined. How are they managing this?

Don't believe everything you read !

pip27

Thanks for your posts. Have just applied for the warm front grant. Fingers crossed.