Energy myth-busting: Is it cheaper to have heating on all day?

Heinzbean

i have all the KWH information used last year. so will be able to compare.

The unit prices I have used are the new capped expensive prices as well....so cant compare in £££.

My point was my radiators get hot after 20 minutes some peoples dont. ie crappy heating systems.

QrizB

Heinzbean said:

i have all the KWH information used last year. so will be able to compare.

The unit prices I have used are the new capped expensive prices as well....so cant compare in £££.

My point was my radiators get hot after 20 minutes some peoples dont. ie crappy heating systems.

But sadly, your opening assumption is wrong. Your boiler will not deliver 24kW for an hour and so does not cost 96p/hr to run.

How many kW of radiators do you have in your house?

BUFF

Heinzbean said:

My point was my radiators get hot after 20 minutes some peoples dont. ie crappy heating systems.

Not necessarily. They may have condensing boilers & are running them at lower flow/return temps to maximise efficiency. 

Heinzbean

 8 radiators............

dont actually know the ratings . i think they  were the recommended sizes when i installed them. Two in the living room i just

installed two slightly bigger same size as windows.The ones they recommended  would have looked stupid (to small).

But my experiment will be measured in KWH.......no proof the house is as warm as it was last year. Probably a completely inaccurate experiment . Just make me feel better not paying these massive gas and electric price rises.

I see it quite simple electric light on it will cost you money electric light off doesn't cost you money.

Gas boiler fired up its costing me 96p per hour gas boiler not fired up its costing me  £0.00

So the less its fired up the less its going to cost me.

QrizB

Heinzbean said:

 8 radiators............

dont actually know the ratings . i think they  were the recommended sizes when i installed them. Two in the living room i just

installed two slightly bigger same size as windows.The ones they recommended  would have looked stupid (to small).

OK, let's be mildly pessimistic and assume they're all 1.5kW. That's 12kW of radiator. The highest output your boiler will sustain is 12kW (plus DHW, but let's ignore that for now).
12kW at 4p/kWh is 48p/h.

Heinzbean said:

Gas boiler fired up its costing me 96p per hour gas boiler not fired up its costing me  £0.00

Gas boiler driving your rads at their full rated output will cost you 48p/hr. Gas boiler modulated down to 25% will cost you 12p/hr. And if you turn your flow temperature down, the boiler will be more efficient *even if it runs for longer*.

Heinzbean

So my primitive system that i fitted 26 years ago ..........boiler replaced  once to a 24 kwh condensing boiler........

With a basic 26 year old mechanical stat........could be improved by better  controls . and a better understanding of central heating systems...........and set up properly....i should have read the manual........I find this out just as gas boilers are getting the boot.

QrizB

Please do continue your experiment, your results will be intersting to several of us.

Heinzbean

my thinking was mainly to not pay these new high gas and electric prices.

I assumed i could work  out kwh   for gas the same way as electricity...Obviously not.

I will carry on with it because it will cost me less.................. I think..............

Heinzbean

Anyhow experiment over as i have records from last year . I used the heating in the primitive method. This was before i had new double glazed doors and windows, loft insulation , thick insulation under my laminate flooring etc. So if i left it on the stat it would probably been on forever and eventually blown the boiler of the wall.

Primitive 20  Minute blasts Two different suppliers so i have applied Latest  4.01 kWh for gas to keep things accurate.

09-01-20  i used   43 ft3. / 1356.8kWh   / 43.77kWh Per day.     x   4.01 =  £1.75 x 31 =  £54.25 Monthly

09-02-20  i used   45 ft3. / 1419.9kWh  /  45.80kWh Per day.     x   4.01 =  £1.87 x 31  = £57.97 Monthly

using technology.1 year later after home improvements. Using heating on the Thermostat.

07-01-21  i used    60 ft3  /1893.2kWh  /   61.07kWh   Per day    x   4.01 = £2.44 x 31 =  £75.64 Monthly +38%

07-02-21  i used    62 ft3 / 1956.31kWh/   63.11kWh   Per day    x   4.01 = £2.58  x 31 =  £79.98 Monthly +38%

Wow these figures are very close to my original guestimate. (primitive)   £1.86  x 31 =  £57.66 Monthly
                                                                                                  (Stat     )   £2.66  x 31 =  £82.66 Monthly.
                                                            
 
 3 bedroom 1930's brick built house. 2 occupants always in house.
 

 From previous bill.   Annual Usage    Electricity= 2654.4 kWh

                                                            Gas         = 7909.0 kWh

                                                            Which used to be £744 for G and  E.

Heinzbean

Just noticed all figures are less daily rental rates. so i  removed the guestimated  amount as this had daily rates added.

Anyhow experiment over as i have records from last year . I used the heating in the primitive method. This was before i had new double glazed doors and windows, loft insulation , thick insulation under my laminate flooring etc. So if i left it on the stat it would probably been on forever and eventually blown the boiler of the wall.

Primitive 20  Minute blasts Two different suppliers so i have applied Latest  4.01 kWh for gas to keep things accurate.

09-01-20  i used   43 ft3. / 1356.8kWh   / 43.77kWh Per day.     x   4.01 =  £1.75 x 31 =  £54.25 Monthly +daily charge.

09-02-20  i used   45 ft3. / 1419.9kWh  /  45.80kWh Per day.     x   4.01 =  £1.87 x 31  = £57.97 Monthly +daily charge.

using technology.1 year later after home improvements. Using heating on the Thermostat.

07-01-21  i used    60 ft3  /1893.2kWh  /   61.07kWh   Per day    x   4.01 = £2.44 x 31 =  £75.64 Monthly +daily charge. 

07-02-21  i used    62 ft3 / 1956.31kWh/   63.11kWh   Per day    x   4.01 = £2.58  x 31 =  £79.98 Monthly  +daily charge .


                                                            
 
 3 bedroom 1930's brick built house. 2 occupants always in house.
 

 From previous bill.   Annual Usage    Electricity= 2654.4 kWh

                                                            Gas         = 7909.0 kWh

                                                            Which used to be £744 for G and  E.