are open plan kitchen/diner/living room more economical for heating?

carnelian

Is there any rule of thumb for whether it costs more to heat a house with an open plan layout downstairs or whether its energy efficient to open up the walls as much as possible so you don't have a separate hallway, kitchen, dining room and living room?

Its a 1970s, concrete floored, flatroofed terrace - so the ceilings are low and the windows aren't huge. the cavity walls have been insulated already.

my mum says open plan would be drafty and expensive because all the heat would go up the stairs as you couldn't close off the living rooms from the stairs, but I can't figure out whether she is right or not.

any ideas how to do know?

thanks for reading!

PasturesNew

Small rooms would be cheaper to heat as you've the option of only heating the one you're in. If it's open plan, including the stairs, then all heat will rise so it's likely to be cold downstairs and too hot upstairs.

And then there's the steam/damp/smell to think about from cooking - how will you extract that without it stinking the whole house out and without you losing heat.

nickj_2

hot air rises , so any warmth created would go upstairs , if you can close of the stairs that would be better , you could use a heat recovery system to ensure damp air is expelled

jellie

My stairs come off the lounge. Mostly in the winter after using the kitchen and dining room for cooking and eating the evening meal, the heating goes off and I have a gas fire on in the lounge. The heat does rise and helps keep the bedroom and bathroom plenty warm enough until bed time. My house is double glazed and well insulated.