Central Heating vs. Electric blanket

[Deleted User]

Thanks Graham,

I was thinking about getting one of those small fan heaters but they don't seem to be any cheaper than normal radiators. I have added a few things to my Amazon basket: electric throw, microwavable slippers and thermal gloves so I think with all of them, I can be cosy warm and save on the bills (well I hope so anyway). I think the heating is working, but the room in which I spend most of my time is quite large and so I don't feel the heat warming the room effectively.

penrhyn

What is your heating system, gas or electric?
Running any electric heater (which are all 100% efficient) will cost around 4 times more than using gas.

Is the house insulated as far as practical?

grahamc2003

penrhyn wrote: »

What is your heating system, gas or electric?
Running any electric heater (which are all 100% efficient) will cost around 4 times more than using gas.

Is the house insulated as far as practical?

Well I estimated the cost of an electric wrap at 1/40th the cost of a typical gas central heating. You are saying (whether you meant to or not) that an electric wrap cost 4 times the gas central heating.

I assume you mean the cost of gas is 4 times the cost of electricity for equal useful heat output? Well, that's not correct either, but I'll move on.

The op seems to want or need some very local heating, as she seems to have given up on the whole house heating. (The reason being, she correctly suspects a 100w blanket will keep her warm, wheras the typical 15kw gas ch designed to heat the whole house doesn't.)

If you know of a gas heated wrap, then sure, it'll probably cost less to run than an electric one. Or a portable 1kw gas heater would cost less than an electric one. Got any links to any of those gas appliances?

penrhyn

I was enquiring about the nature of OP's heating system.
Gas fired systems will never be as efficient as electric, so may be I was over egging the comparison.

Rebekah24

I just keep wrapped up warm! Thats the ultimate saver!

Hot water bottle, blanket, few layers, snood..socks, slippers etc

If I had CH I would use it, however E7 is so pricey I keep mine off now

[Deleted User]

I have gas central heating but I'm the kind of person who is most comfortable when really hot (I have an underactive thyroid so that may go some way in explaining why I'm always cold. To me, the house is unbearably freezing but to others it might just be 'a little chilly'.) Graham, you are correct in saying I'm looking for more 'local' heating. As I'm the only person in the house unless I have guests round, I see no point in heating entire rooms which is just costly. I am learning to wrap up warm and have thermal socks, fingerless gloves, a scarf and a blanket on at the moment but still shivering! I'm just wondering now whether an electric blanket or electric throw will be warmer...

Barneysmom

goldilockz, I have an underactive thyroid too, and we both live in barns

[Deleted User]

Barneysmom,
Do you find that you're often a lot colder than other people because of your thyroid?

GillM

:j I'm liking the idea of the electric blanket - my mum (nearly 93) really feels the cold and I think it would suit her. Silly question - overblanket or underblanket?

[Deleted User]

Hi Gill,

It was actually a review from a 92 year old that used an electric blanket instead of central heating that made this idea appeal to me. Basically, the two options are overblankets and heated throws. Underblankets would be no use because, in my experience, they don't heat up as much and are stiffer than overblankets. I like the sound of the Relaxwell heated throw (about £51 on Amazon) or the Dreamland Ready for Bed overblanket (About £66) but not sure which to get. Basically, I'd like the one that gets hotter but I'm not sure where to find this information would buying and comparing both.