Cutting my gas use by 19%

ItMightBeUsefulOneDay

I'm not with SP but it's only a matter of time before my supplier hikes up their prices by an inflation-shattering 19% :eek: or more. So I thought I'd get ahead of their game and gain some ideas here on NOT handing over more of my hard earned to line the pockets of the fat-cat directors holidaying on some distant tropical isle :mad:.

First thing to go is the gas fire. The last few years have seen me use this less and less in the winter and this latest round of hikes means I'll never light it again. I can get a reasonable (not limitless) supply of wood (free) so I'm thinking of a simple open fire. Other than having to fight to light the thing, does anyone have any experience of doing something like this?

Next thing is the heating. I think I already have the basics covered - heating on when it's sub-arctic and not before, thermo at <20 degrees, loft insulated - have I missed anything?

Lastly, is it better to heat the water once per day to shower in OR do two shorter heating runs even spaced through the day (morning and evening) so it's not trying to heat the water from such a low temp?

Pink.

Hi ItMightBeUsefu,

I've moved your thread over to the Gas and Electricty board where you should get more advice.

Pink

oldtractor

showers not baths, not everyday either. boil the kettle and fill up a thermos so you dont have to keep boiling the kettle. wear lots of layers indoors.

HappyMJ

I'd put the hot water on for the least amount of time possible so you are almost running out each day. Set it to finish it's half an hour period of heating just before you are going to take a shower. Or in my case in just use the +1 hour button whenever needed. Only disadvantage is that I don't have hot water on demand at the sink or the bathroom basin. I'll have a shower then do the washing up with the remaining hot water and if any left I'll do a load of clothes.

grizzly1911

Rather than an open fire think about a log/multifuel burner.

They tend to be more efficient and allow you to control the heat output. Slow warm rather than rapid cook and then nothing. Also through flue heat exchange.

I am pretty sure they can be plumbed in to supply hot water.

Is the loft sufficiently insulated and also cavity walls if you have them. Supplier and local authority grants available.

Don't use electric heating sources and showers other than foe a minimum.

Premier_2

ItMightBeUsefulOneDay wrote: »

...I can get a reasonable (not limitless) supply of wood (free) so I'm thinking of a simple open fire. Other than having to fight to light the thing, does anyone have any experience of doing something like this?...

Ensure the Chimney is free of any obstructions, and best to get it swept first.
Also remember to keep it regularly swept - wood produces an awlful lot of soot.
Have you found a chimney sweep? How much will they charge? Does one even exist local to you now? It may be cheaper to just keep the gas fire.

...
Lastly, is it better to heat the water once per day to shower in OR do two shorter heating runs even spaced through the day (morning and evening) so it's not trying to heat the water from such a low temp?

In simple terms, the less the boiler is lit, the less gas you use.
However, 2 x 0.5hours will cost the same as 1 x 1 hour (assuming the boiler stays lit continuously). You may prefer to have 2 smaller amounts of really hot water than some really hot water in the morning but cooler in the evening.
Remember, any heat lost by the water will be generally heating the house anyway
Also take care to heat the water enough to avoid the possibility of legionaires developing.

grizzly1911

Premier wrote: »

Ensure the Chimney is free of any obstructions, and best to get it swept first.
Also remember to keep it regularly swept - wood produces an awlful lot of soot.
Have you found a chimney sweep? How much will they charge? Does one even exist local to you now? It may be cheaper to just keep the gas fire.



In simple terms, the less the boiler is lit, the less gas you use.
However, 2 x 0.5hours will cost the same as 1 x 1 hour (assuming the boiler stays lit continuously). You may prefer to have 2 smaller amounts of really hot water than some really hot water in the morning but cooler in the evening.
Remember, any heat lost by the water will be generally heating the house anyway
Also take care to heat the water enough to avoid the possibility of legionaires developing.

Ours comes on twice at the moment. Heats to 55c, insulated jacket foam cover, used for one shower in the morning one at night and a couple of lots of dishwashing max. It does cool off during the day. " Units a week.

Legionnaires would be pretty unlucky in a home environment methinks, but sums up the current mood on these threads nicely:)

oldtractor

I have a muti fuel stove [log burner] , i put pans of cold water on top and when they are hot use them for washing up,making tea and coffee and washing myself, any tme hot water is needed. FREE hot water. only works in winter though as stove not lit in the summer. still,its a big saving.

ziggyman99

Open fires are VERY inefficient - I once saw figures of +20% to -20%! How can you get a minus figure? Simple. An open fire needs lots of air. It can drag it from the rest of the house. If these rooms are heated it's heated air that disappears up the chimney.
The easiest and quickest way to save money is insulate. It also has an incredibly fast payback time. My loft insulation is to Swedish standards (450mm?). Forget the UK figure for insulation. It's rubbish.
If your boiler is old and has a pilot light it will cost you up to £90 a year just to have the pilot on! A modern boiler will give you significant savings. Add weather compensation to that boiler and a further 12% can be saved.

So, block up the chimney (small vent needed), insulate the house and fit a modern boiler with weather compensation. Savings? I reckon at least 40%. I know, I did it.

grizzly1911

ziggyman99 wrote: »

The easiest and quickest way to save money is insulate. It also has an incredibly fast payback time. My loft insulation is to Swedish standards (450mm?). Forget the UK figure for insulation. It's rubbish.
If your boiler is old and has a pilot light it will cost you up to £90 a year just to have the pilot on! A modern boiler will give you significant savings. Add weather compensation to that boiler and a further 12% can be saved.

So, block up the chimney (small vent needed), insulate the house and fit a modern boiler with weather compensation. Savings? I reckon at least 40%. I know, I did it.

Yep I've got 500mm in 50% of my roof space. I over ordered some insulation at 170 to top up only to find that it was at 170 anway and I had too much. that and cavity wall certainly help distribute and keep the upstairs warmer last winter..

Also a good insulated water tank plus tank jacket is a good idea.

ItMightBeUsefulOneDay

oldtractor - I'd love to get a wood / log burner, but I'm struggling to justify the cost past the OH. This is still a possible though and I like the idea of being able to warm water on it too. I'm using words along the lines of "investment" and "lifetime's use" but they still cost a pretty penny.

ziggyman99 / grizzly1911 - I'm going to take a look in the loft again to see if I can add more loft insulation, that stuff makes such a difference (going from 0mm --> 270mm did anyway) and seems cheap enough. The walls are being assessed by some dude from the energy company soon.

I've turned the boiler down so it comes on only once per day now, just enough I hope to provide hot water for the shower. I'll spend the summer tweaking it so it runs out just as everyone is finished. I know it's a total luxury but I guess this means no more hot running water whenever I turn on the tap - luke warm is about the best it will get. We'll get used to it. Now I wonder about heath robinson-esque solar water heating...