What's cheaper - All day heating or twice a day?

scopey

We're having an argument in my office.

- Is it cheaper to set the thermostat at 20 degrees all day?
-Or turn the heating on and off at night and in the morning at a higher temperature?

Please help this argument MSE

Thanks
Sam

lynni_2

I'd like to no the answer to this also, I usually have it on twice a day - but lately because its freezing outside i've been keeping it on constant!

suki1964

Surely it depends on if there is anyone actually at home during the day???

When I worked full time my heating came on in the mornings for an hour and then again 30 mins before we came home - and off again at 9pm. Weekends it was put on and off as required, no point in heating the house if we were out all day shopping or whatever.

anotherbaldrick

When it is really cold (like now) I think it is best to keep at least a minimum amount of heat on in the house, say 16 deg and then boost it up in the late afternoon or evening when we sit down to watch the box. Otherwise it takes a long time to warm the fabric of the house and contents.

runninglea

twice a day keeps me warm!!:T

Nick1986ukmids

keep it on as its cheaper and takes less gas than keep switching on the switch to warm up, i keep mine on at 17c on the dail and works perfect.

welda

Nick1986ukmids wrote: »

keep it on as its cheaper and takes less gas than keep switching on the switch to warm up, i keep mine on at 17c on the dail and works perfect.

Say tomorrow you take note of current gas metor reading before heading for work, on you're return, take another reading.

Thursday do same jotting down metor reading, then switch system off. Programe to switch back on say 1 hour before you return home from work, take final metor reading, I bet you use more therms on Wednesday than you would on Thursday.

:beer:

Owain_Moneysaver

It is always cheaper to switch it off. Heat loss is proportional to the temp difference between indoors and outside, so the warmer your house is the more energy you have to use to keep it at that temp.

stampede

I've tried it both ways & not found much difference between the two to be honest.

macman

Nick1986ukmids wrote: »

keep it on as its cheaper and takes less gas than keep switching on the switch to warm up, i keep mine on at 17c on the dail and works perfect.

It may be warmer (or at least it will come up to temp quicker), but sure as hell it isn't cheaper.
This question has been done to death on the forum.
If your boiler is on and burning gas, it's costing you more money
All you need to do in cold weather is adjust your programmer to switch on the heating earlier, so that it has the extra time to bring the house up to the required temp from the (lower) ambient temp.
If you leave it on all day it will cost you dear, unless you have a house that is 100% insulated and loses no heat at all.

Canucklehead

Good morning: See here.

Canucklehead