Keeping central heating on all the time?

kat21

Actually, I said turn the thermostat down? did I not, hmm? well??
it is cheaper try it yourself please then post back
I have and it is
the difference in what you have said is that they assume that you keep your heating on at the same temperature, I posted that you keep the heating on at a reduced temperature, the other missconception is that it says boiler running all the time? it doesnt, the boiler runs less this is because the water in the pipes and theromostate have reached the optium lower setting and it does not fire up as much
please dont take my word I know its hard to beleive, I struggled with it at first.
look heres another instance why do you think that large offices keep there lights on all night? because it costs more to start them up
kat21
yes some things are hard to beleive but like all things until you really try you dont know, you assume. I dont assume I tried it. reducing the temperature to a low setting is cheaper than switching the boiler on from cold. please try it you really will be supprised, I had to eat my words when my brother and I had the very same argument but, I have to admit my brothers right in tests that we both did we found that running the boiler on a lower setting but leaving it permanently on used far less gas
just try it and see
kat21
government sites will tell you that theres weapons of mass destruction! *lol* dont beleive until you try

masonic

I think at this point, we should leave the readers of this thread to make their own minds up. Agreed?

kat21

erm, ok only if I win *g*
kat21
puts claws away:A

Cardew

Kat,
You should come with a Health warning!

Either you talk the biggest load of rubbish of anyone I have seen on this forum, or we really have been taken in by a big wind-up. The latter case would be a relief!

I will try once more!

Offices leaving their lights on all night to save money. Because it costs more to start them up.

Absolute nonsense! Or have you tried an experiment on that?

This myth comes about because neon lamps take a little more power on start up for a few milliseconds.(that’s little parts of a second – less than a whole second) So there is an argument for leaving them on for say 10 seconds rather than turning them on and off.

the other missconception is that it says boiler running all the time?

What on earth do you think the Energy Saving Trust mean by 'running all the time?' Do you not think that means 'switched on all the time' rather than the boiler firing? Or let us put it another way. How would you get the boiler running all the time if that is what you think they mean?

Lastly how many times do we have to say that we do believe you, and that your experiment works – surely you understand that? We really do understand that turning down the thermostat will result in a lower heating bill – especially when the house fabric is warmed up.

So how many times do we have to tell you that your experiment is nothing to do with the question asked?

John_3:16

When was this test carried out if over the last 3 weeks I have never had to have my heating on.

I can understand why turning the stat down would stop the boiler firing turn it low enough and it will not fire at all you can save as much as you want this way. It does not mean it is a comfy heat to live in.

strawberrylane

Cardew - give up, you're flogging a dead horse I'm afraid.

alanobrien

Interesting and FUN thread, thermodynamic laws although in theory unbreakable can be bent a bit with something called thermal barriers...........or more commonly insulation

For instance a (gas) heat source can actually cool its surroundings.....if its travelling fast enough. This is the Joules Thompson effect - very wierd and bendable with simple insulation. The effect can actually work in reverse to if the conditions are right.

Strange thing thermodynamics, we learn more every day with FEA and CFD modelling software and lots of empirical testing.

Getting back to the point it is just possible with enough insulation and isolation from errant thermal differential temperatures that there could be some merit in the ops original suggestion.......although it would be rare.

Play with this stuff all day....dull it isnt.....its what i do

shelly

I try not to get into discussions like this as they tend to go round and round with some saying its true and others not believing a word but I have to say that we have our heating on 24/7 and we use less gas thus saving money by doing so. If we didn't save money then we would go back to having it come on at set times in the day.

kat21

Shelly,
that is what I have found and thats why I have said to the other posters to try it and see after all theres nothing wrong in trying something. Once you have tried then comment back, you may eat humble pie. This is a healthy debate not an argument. With regards to the lighting situation, no its not a myth or otherwise many office lights would be switched off. its the total strike up value of all the tubes. Anyway if you dont wish to try it and male pride gets in the way I will understand. I swallowed humble pie when my brother suggested it to me until I actually tried it! I looked at the figures in disbeleif. I have never had a closed mind I like to try things for myself.
kat21
try it and post back and be honest, try it for two weeks! yes two weeks
one week the usual way take a reading, the next week always on but on a low setting!
please let us all know
:rolleyes:

tomstickland

For a heating system that's always on, then turning down the thermostat will reduce the required engergy input.
Turning the heating off completley for a proportion of the day will also reduce the energy input required.

I think the Grey area comes about because if the heating is completely off then it will be probably be turned up higher for when it is needed, to "speed up" the heating process.

If it was just a case of turning it off/ vs on all time, for the same required temperature then turning it off would save energy.