Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

kippers

pmorrisjones wrote: »

I spoke to chap who came to service our combi boiler (who had on the side of his van that he was an eco plumber - didn't know this when I booked him). When he asked me what I did I said I always switch off after I have used boiler and back on again for showers.washing up etc. I asked him was this right or was it cheaper just to leave on. He said switching off is the cheapest way to do this. Hope this helps.

I have a combi condenser boiler but i don't know what you mean when you say you switch off after you have used the boiler? Does this mean you have to re-light the pilot light each time you switch off? Also, i have been told the water temperature will always be 55 degrees and there is no way to turn this down. I find this temperature very hot. We used to switch our old gas system off in the summer and just use the electric shower but now we can't so we are using far more gas in the summer now we have our new boiler.

nicki_2

I have "wallmounted gas flued heaters" in the bedrooms. They look like this :


I was told 6p per hour to have them on full as well, but that was nearly 4 years ago! I try not to use them at all unless I have to as even on the lowest heat its too hot overnight!

Rather interestingly I was told recently that these shouldn't be fitted in homes anymore, but central heating should be done instead Personally I'd rather have central heating anyway as I'd prefer the drier air of that then the moist air I seem to have with these heaters due to only having heating in the livingroom, and two bedrooms. The condensation in the other rooms is a nightmare, especially the hallway which actually has condensation running down the walls on very cold days

ceridwen

Ah - see what you mean. Mine doesnt look owt like that - so I guess mine counts as "gas fire" then. Reet...sorted now. (That looks like a cosy room though.)

Now - on the subject of heating generally. There is a blog (well - being me - there is always a blog - I do seem to know quite a few ). Not one of the ones I resonate with - but people might like to read her 12 August posts on this subject:

http://sharonastyk.com/

1sttimer_2

We have a creel in our kitchen so that the clothes dry really well. Only thing is that you have to remember to take them down if you're cooking any fried food or curries - unless you like to be reminded of them when wearing your clothes:p

Our house has very high ceilings (Victorian) and large rooms which do take a bit of heating up, but we manage quite well with the temp at 18c. If I'm cold, I just put another layer on. DD is expecting a little one next month so I don't know how that will go down when visiting us with new baby. They live in a tiny house which is far too hot for me!

Money_saving_Diva_2

We don't have central heating, we just have a very efficient gas real flame fire in the lounge and background heaters in the bedroom and 'office' where I use the computer. We usually hold off lighting the fire for the first time til mid october but in the spirit of this thread are going to aim for November 1st at the very earliest.

We already have knee rugs and long heavy curtains to keep out the drafts and I have found with the doors shut and a couple of candles lit, the lounge can warm up nicely. Plus the candles smell nice which is always a bonus!!

We have an emersion heater for hot water from a cold tank in the loft so in the winter the water does cool down a lot faster, but we try and keep it off as much as possible and boil kettles for washing up etc. Luckily the power shower has its own heater so we can indulge there a little more. (as long as we stick to the 5 min rule!)

So just wanted to say thank you for laying down the challenge and making us have to think about it!

Diva. x

Tran

Does any one know roughly how much it costs to boil a full kettle when starting with cold water? I'm curious to know and want to prove to my OH that switching the kettle on and wandering off while it boils and then needing to re-boil it to make you cup of coffee, is a waste of time & money!

Thanks

Magentasue

Tran wrote: »

Does any one know roughly how much it costs to boil a full kettle when starting with cold water? I'm curious to know and want to prove to my OH that switching the kettle on and wandering off while it boils and then needing to re-boil it to make you cup of coffee, is a waste of time & money!

Thanks

Depends on kettle (watts etc) but mine uses 0.15 units to boil a full kettle from cold (about 2p when I worked it out last year). Less than half that for two cups of water. Not sure about the reboiling because I haven't tested that.

Thing is 2p isn't very much so it doesn't make a convincing argument. But (as I said to OH who was always boiling a full kettle for a cup or two), if you do that 5 times a day, every day, that's about £4.50 a quarter WASTED. Add to that the lights left on, the oven preheated for an hour because you changed your mind, the fridge door left open by the kids ... It makes sense to save where it's easy to do so.

gizmocoe

Hiya - great thread and lots of ideas, thank you.
I am a bit confused over solar showers - are they any good or not? Your experiences please.... (I'm hoping we've yet to have summer!)
Thank you in advance hopefully.

[Deleted User]

don`t bother now gizmo, I got mine for £4 and I use it for warming water for dishes. It works very well in the sun and esp without a cold wind, which cools it. Summer has all but gone for this year

sammy_kaye18

I had a slight revelation last night.

Boyfriend was sat playing on his computer game whilst i was sat bored int eh dark so i decided to read me book but was feelign cold so grabbed me blanket. Anyway i put on a small cheap spotlight thing we got from argos (you knoe the littel lamps with the bendy neck? hang on................voila one link to a picture of my exact lamp!)http://images.orgill.com/200x200/4041562.jpg

anyway i was sat reading and was lovely and cosy - its surprising how much heat the little lamp gives off. when it isnt so cold - its rained non stop here all week - i tend to sit on my chair with my back to my Terrarium and find there is enough light from that to read my book with.