Will turning radiators off save my energy?

Widelats

I have 5 radiators in my home, i have switched all the unimportant ones off and left my living room one on, will this save me money on gas or is it exactly the same if i turn all the radiators on?

Might seem like a dumb question to some, however i am new to gas combi boilers and don't know what i'm doing yet, i hope someone can give me some info please, thanks.

Cardew

Yes, the more you turn off the lower the gas bill. (That is why it cost less to heat a 1 bed flat than Buckingham Palace;))

Each radiator contains a certain amount of water. When it is switched on, you have to heat that water. So heating 2 radiators costs less than 3 radiators etc etc.

Widelats

Brilliant, thanks a lot Cardew.

Owain_Moneysaver

Yes it will save you money, but

- if your boiler is only running one radiator it may run less efficiently than when running a full load
- your heated room will loose heat to the unheated areas of the house
- unheated areas of the house may suffer condensation

So you may not save as much money as you hope (i.e. your gas bill won't go down to one-fifth).

Certainly down down the rads in rooms you don't use, but it can be better not to turn them completely off.

grahamc2003

Just make sure you don't turn the rads off in any room with a thermostat controlling the boiler.

afaiia, you shouldn't be able to turn off the rad in the hallway if you have a thermostat there.

Cardew

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Just make sure you don't turn the rads off in any room with a thermostat controlling the boiler.

afaiia, you shouldn't be able to turn off the rad in the hallway if you have a thermostat there.

That is so with some CH systems - and is mandatory on new installations.

However many systems(mine for example) have TRVs on all radiators, including the room with the wall thermostat. It is not necessary if you have an ABV fitted.

Automatic Bypass Valve
What is an automatic by-pass valve?
An automatic by-pass valve is designed for use in domestic central heating systems. Its purpose is to maintain constant pump pressure within the system.
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What are the advantages of an automatic by-pass valve?
An automatic by-pass valve ensures minimum water flow rates through the boiler. It reduces system noise associated with high pressure pumps. It eliminates the need to fit an uncontrolled radiator to act as a system by-pass and it also increases system efficiency.(my bold) The automatic by-pass valve also aids the operation of thermostatic radiator valves.

penrhyn

Don't forget to keep all the connecting doors closed.

collingbone614

I have the old kind of boiler that uses a hot water tank and for some reason it's not possible to switch off one of the radiators (the one in the bathroom).

Cardew

omnirife wrote: »

I have the old kind of boiler that uses a hot water tank and for some reason it's not possible to switch off one of the radiators (the one in the bathroom).

The 'old type of boiler' that heats a hot water tank is called a system or regular boiler and is certainly not an old fashioned concept.

Boilers that heat Hot Water(for taps etc) directly are called 'combi' boilers. These in general are better suited to smaller properties and their big disadvantage is a limited supply of hot water - particularly in the winter.

Many people prefer a system boiler.

Anyway regardless of combi or system boiler, that doesn't affect controls on the radiators.

Under modern regulations you must not have a TRV(thermostatic radiator valve) on one radiator in the room where the wall thermostat is situated.

Some systems were designed leaving off a TRV or valve on the bathroom radiator as people like it that way to warm towels.