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

richardc1983

Also a great article to read that goes into more detail. https://www.heatgeek.com/benefits-of-low-temprature-heating-systems/

QrizB

All these arguments have their limits.

Imagine I have a holiday home that I visit at weekends. Should I keep it warm all week when I'm away? Or just set frost protection?

Then imagine I don't visit it at all for three months. Should I hear it for that period too?

No matter what your heating system, there will be a duration of absence where it ceases to be economical to heat it.

For some, that could be an hour; for others, a working day; others still, a weekend.

richardc1983

QrizB said:

All these arguments have their limits.

Imagine I have a holiday home that I visit at weekends. Should I keep it warm all week when I'm away? Or just set frost protection?

Then imagine I don't visit it at all for three months. Should I hear it for that period too?

No matter what your heating system, there will be a duration of absence where it ceases to be economical to heat it.

For some, that could be an hour; for others, a working day; others still, a weekend.

The video covers that and all aspects. 

Ultrasonic

Heinzbean said:

using it caveman styley 

09-01-20  i used   43 ft3. month

this next year i was using it  setting the thermostat to 18"

07-01-21  i used    60 ft3 month  so much higher usage....

This year back to caveman styley  will record the usage....

I've not thought of it as 'caveman style' before but like you I've tested and I definitely use less energy if I just turn my heating on/off manually as required. Wherever I set a thermostat there were are always times when the heating comes on when I feel I don't need it, and times when I feel cold that it doesn't. Actively choosing to switch the heating on will I think inherently lead to energy saving though as it always makes me think 'do I really need it on'?

Other major savings are only heating the rooms needed, and when a thermostat is used to set it lower. I keep seeing people mentioning a 21°C thermostat setting which seems very high to me. 18°C should be a very comfortable temperature for most I'd have thought. Do people turn heating on in the summer when it gets below 21°C?

QrizB

richardc1983 said:

UnfzB said:

All these arguments have their limits.

Imagine I have a holiday home that I visit at weekends. Should I keep it warm all week when I'm away? Or just set frost protection?

Then imagine I don't visit it at all for three months. Should I hear it for that period too?

No matter what your heating system, there will be a duration of absence where it ceases to be economical to heat it.

For some, that could be an hour; for others, a working day; others still, a weekend.

The video covers that and all aspects. 

Unfortunately his presentation style has me switching off after 60 seconds.

I might have to go back and see if there are subtitles.

richardc1983

QrizB said:

richardc1983 said:

UnfzB said:

All these arguments have their limits.

Imagine I have a holiday home that I visit at weekends. Should I keep it warm all week when I'm away? Or just set frost protection?

Then imagine I don't visit it at all for three months. Should I hear it for that period too?

No matter what your heating system, there will be a duration of absence where it ceases to be economical to heat it.

For some, that could be an hour; for others, a working day; others still, a weekend.

The video covers that and all aspects. 

Unfortunately his presentation style has me switching off after 60 seconds.

I might have to go back and see if there are subtitles.

There's a written article but it is more in-depth... 

https://www.heatgeek.com/benefits-of-low-temprature-heating-systems/ 

Northern_Wanderer

It was an interesting video. I do actually have mine on all day as I am home mostly and I do not function well when cold. My usage is not excessive, works for me. Upstairs TRVs set low at 2, no heating in spare room with door shut. I used to have thermostat at 20.5 and used one rad in living room. But have been experimenting this winter with turning the themostat to 19.5 and using both radiators in living room on max. Seems to be using less gas and actually the living room is a more even 22C (different non heating related thermostat). I do sometimes turn up thermostat in cold evenings for a short time as heat loss in living room is more than hallway where thermostat located. Always keep my living room door shut so that is my cosy room. I set thermostat to 18 when I go out. Heating on from 7am to 10.30pm but have just changed that to 10pm as I am worried about bills with the increases.

I guess people feel temp differently. I spend all winter with two pairs of socks, two pairs of trousers, two fleece jumpers and have a blanket for lounging. Use a cherry stone heat bag when required. Been known to have fleece on in summer!

All I can say is if I've been away, it can take until the next day before the house heats up properly with heating going full pelt, so I agree that the house stores heat when heated constantly. If you are out a lot you might not want to do that.

Ultrasonic

One thing I do often forget is that many have thermostats fixed to the wall in unhelpful places like hallways. My thermostat is wireless so I can have it in the room I want (my lounge) whilst my hallway can remain much cooler.

richardc1983

Northern_Wanderer said:

It was an interesting video. I do actually have mine on all day as I am home mostly and I do not function well when cold. My usage is not excessive, works for me. Upstairs TRVs set low at 2, no heating in spare room with door shut. I used to have thermostat at 20.5 and used one rad in living room. But have been experimenting this winter with turning the themostat to 19.5 and using both radiators in living room on max. Seems to be using less gas and actually the living room is a more even 22C (different non heating related thermostat). 

There's the reasoning behind that as well. Another good video for consideration... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpTVIeUh04E&t=0s 

Article to link with it... https://www.heatgeek.com/weather-compensation-or-load-compensation/ 

richardc1983

Ultrasonic said:

One thing I do often forget is that many have thermostats fixed to the wall in unhelpful places like hallways. My thermostat is wireless so I can have it in the room I want (my lounge) whilst my hallway can remain much cooler.

yeah it was designed to be in the cooler room so that it didn't shut off too early. I had my thermostat moved from my hall into my living room for the reason you say above BUT I moved it back. The radiator in the lounge is bigger and thus the room warmed up quicker and then meant that the heating shut off to the rest of the house. Having it in the hall means the room warms slower due to a smaller rad but the heating stays on that little bit longer before modulating down or going off.