Help calculating electricity savings using hot water bottles instead of elec heater

moneymaker2010

I had a moment of insight this morning as I awoke freezing with a swollen/sore tonsil due to the cold.

I had turned on the elec heater and had to leave it on for 3 hours to warm the room.

I then decided no more! and resolved to buy two hot water bottles.

I filled them once as soon as I got back and placed one in my front and one by my back and sat back to my computer toasty warm. This little trick kept me good for 3 hours. I think I even took them out before 3 hours was up wanting to cool down. The second time I know I had to take them out less than an hour after filling and left them in my room probably providing passive heat for the duration of their warmth. I have just repeated this process for the third time today and it isn't far off late evening so 3 fills will last a day and it's been a REALLY cold one so don't think it'll get much lower than this. Even if it does the bottles would withstand the challenge I think.

I just checked and my kettle is 1850 watts. I had to fill it twice for each bottle although in future I think I could get away with one fill for both. I timed the kettle and it took 2mins 40 from start to finish although I had just done previous boil one and it wasn't a full load. So maybe doing a full load from cold would be about 3-3.30mins'ish but then it would only be one. For now though let us take the calculation of 2 x 2.40 @ 1850 watts. I have my head around water calculations now but still have to figure out elec properly.

I don't know the precise make of the electric heaters but I know they are two bars (they have to buttons which is what I presume to be the bars anyhow) and I had been running them for like 3 hours in the morning (both bars) then for a hour or two on and off maybe 3-4 times through the day. Say 5 hours total per day on average. I don't have any documentation and I rent the flat so don't know what the precise makes are though I'm hoping someone could take a guess.

So could someone prehaps hazard a calculated estimate at what my daily savings will be considering I will only require those said kettle fills to keep me warmed through these cold cold winter days?

Also I'd highly recommend this technique for any fellow scrimpers .

molerat

1 kettle costs .08 units of electricity. 2 bottles 3 times a day = 6 kettles = .5 units a day. A normal 1 bar fire costs 1 unit per hour. 5 hours x 2 bars = 10 units a day. Kettle = 5p and heater = £1.00 at 10p per kWh.

moneymaker2010

Thanks (thanked)

PlutoinCapricorn

This post is fascinating. Many people seem to think that central heating, air conditioning and a tropical atmosphere are the norm, but they make me feel ill and stifled so I am interested in alternatives. Keeping costs low is important too.

I am lucky in that I have a very small, south facing flat in a built up area with other flats around and above me, so I don't get the arctic temperatures some people have to suffer.

Pullovers and shawls and hot water bottles, not to mention hot drinks and soup, work wonders. I also have a halogen heater, which cost me £10 many years ago. I try to keep it in reserve for the coldest days. It heats me not the room, and I often need to turn it off when I get too hot. It does not seem to use a lot of electricity.

I also warm my hands on my laptop!

Ken68

I use an electric blanket throw, rated at 80w and 3 settings . From what I can see the commercially sold heated throws are just 'covered' electric blankets with the usual thermostats and safety features.
The lowest rating I have seen is 69watts for a single, so roughly 10pence a day, though a lot less portable.

KimYeovil

Don't forget to add in the cost of replacing foetid clothing, mouldy curtains, rotting carpets etc in your analysis.

moneymaker2010

Yes although my new flat is great it is ****ing freezing compared to my old 5th floor apartment.

My tonsils have been going wild in the mornings due to the cold as they seem to flare up any time I'm in the cold for a prolonged period. Past two days I have been rudely awoken by feeling like my throat has razor blades in it which seems to evapourate as soon as I warm myself up.