The cost of heating a house WITH A TWIST

Quimbyf

All,

I have read the posts on thermostat / 2 times per day etc and I totally understand the principals, however, I think that there are always too many unknowns to be totally clear as to which option is cheapest.

I accept that of you have a fully insulated, highly efficient, minimum heat loss building and you are using “Timed heat cycles” with a carefully positioned thermostat to ensure that even the timed heat cycle was only in fact using energy to get to the required temperature, and then switch off it should be the cheapest way to heat a building like that.

In reality most people don’t have a house like that, and therefore the above might not really work as well as expected. There might however be additional beneficial heat sources that do come into play in the “non-idea house” that could be taken advantage of.

I rent a property, and therefore I am not going to spend money on insulating it more than I can rake back during my tenancy, which means in reality I will be spending nothing. I have however put all my empty boxes in the loft, which I am lead to believe can help with insulation. (If not at least they are out of the way)

So this house has an oil fired combi boiler, it has radiators in all rooms, the Dining room, and the living room also have wood burning stoves, there is a thermostat, with time functions, in the hallway (I think this could be the coldest part of the house). My wife and I work from home, I will be using the Living room, and my wife the dining room for our work, the kitchen is off the dining room without a dividing door, just a walk through. We both like to be warm and toasty, but not boiling. In our last place we had a Rayburn (oil fired) and once it got a little cold this had to stay on all the time as it took an absolute age to warm up from cold, so we have been used to the “24/7” heating style. Here I think it might be a little different.

I would like to have a consistent temperature through the day, but I don’t think the “Timed heat cycle” will be the most efficient or cost effective way of doing that, based on the fact we have additional heat sources available. I would like to work out a cunning plan which will allow me to have the heating on from say 5am to 10pm at a comfortable working temperature (~20C), then in the night switch to a low temperature. (~16C), but allow me to supplement the daytime temp with the wood burners when required. (These bad boys heat up mega quick), and take advantage of any days when it’s light warm and sunny. To me this would argue for the “24/7” heating style still, but by using the thermostat and setting up my time zones, as well as using the other heat sources carefully I should get a constant comfortably warm house at a reasonable cost, I hope!

This may be a dumb thing to mention but I will be heating up water at 5am with the start of the “Warm” part of the 24hr heat cycle, and again at about 5pm, I can’t see a more efficient way to do this bit. In the morning this should be the most efficient use of the boiler as it’s performing two functions, how can I extend this to the afternoon? (I’m not sure I can but willing to listen to options).

By the way rather than contain the heat from the wood stoves to only the two rooms we were heating when they got to the correct temperature, I would allow the excess heat to escape into the house by the cunning use of doors……

So I look forward to seeing if my proposed scheme has some merit, all comments welcome.

HappyMJ

If you are home all day then having the heating on all day is fine. I'd set your night temperature lower than 16 though that is quite high. I would be asking the landlord to insulate the property or you apply for a grant. How much insualtion do you have at the moment?

Quimbyf

Happy,

I think there is sufficient insulation, just that if I owned the place I would prob go mad on it. So what temp do you think for overnight, and do you have any comments on anything else I posted?

HappyMJ

Quimbyf wrote: »

Happy,

I think there is sufficient insulation, just that if I owned the place I would prob go mad on it. So what temp do you think for overnight, and do you have any comments on anything else I posted?

It's up to you but I'd let it drop to about 12. You will be under the covers and asleep you won't feel it. Then time it to increase back up to 18 just as you wake up then manually turn it up to 20 later on in the morning after you are up and about.

What you have said is fine but if you are going to use secondary heating then just leave the thermostat at 18 all day and let the wood burner take it higher.

The water settings are fine. Supposed to be set to just finish heating the water a few minutes before you use the water.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

What you are proposing seems sensible.

However I am not sure why you have the phrase 'The Cost of Heating a house' in the title of thread. You haven't given alternative methods of heating to compare costs, merely a sensible explanation of your Modus operandi!

There is no question that if the heating is off for any period(i.e. timed) it will save money over your 24/7 heating on scheme; albeit at the expense of comfort, and you have explained why you want it to be on all the time.

G_M

I would not under-estimate the value of insulation. I understand as a tenant you don't want to spend money but
a) it's always worth discussing with the landlord. He may be willing to insulate either with/without the help of grants. A well insulated property will help attract future tenants, and add (however minimally) to the value of the property

b) You can insulate yourself very cheaply. OK, you may/may not 'make back' the full cost, but it'll make life there more confortable which also has a value.

B&Q/Homebase sell subsidised loft insulation at £3 per huge roll. 3 rolls will do a 2/3 bed property. What's £9?
Clingfilm or similar on windows?
Draught-proofing costs peanuts.
Tinfoil/bubblewrap behind radiators.
etc etc