This years heating plan (opinions please)

iammumtoone

Hi All

I really need to make some savings this year on heating costs so was considering doing the following

Oil rad in living room to come on 6.30-7.30am cost 16p (using ec 7)
(I think this will be cheaper than turning on the gas ch but would welcome advise on that)
Gas central heating on max 3 hours at night 5pm-8pm (if inside temp drops below 18 deg)
Can top up with oil rad in just the room we are in cost 36p hour (std rate)

I am not worried about myself I will brave the cold but I have a 6 year old so house does need to be comfortable for him. I am also aware that I need to heat the house otherwise I will have bigger problems with bust pipes etc. What is the minimum amount of heating I can get away with to avoid this?

My situation is I live in a pre 1900s mid terrace, insulation is not very efficient aluminum double glazing (some of the panes need replacing).

I have gas central heating. Combination boiler about 13 years old, the radiators are alot older than this all single width style. I have no room thermostat so ch is either on or off (it does have a timer on the boiler which I can control).

Any advise on the cheapest and most efficient way to heat my home would be appreciated. I currently pay £48 per month on gas.

Thanks

matelodave

It's not what you pay - it's how much are you using. Read your meters to make sure that you are actually paying enough or too much. A regular reading, ideally once a week will give you a good idea of what you are using and enable you to see where you can economise (turn off all the standby stuff when you go to bed or are out of the house). Give the reading to your energy supplier every month to ensure that your bills accurately reflect your usage.

It's really easy to fit a thermostat to the heating system (a wireless progammable one is only about £35-40 ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Salus-RT500RF-Programmable-Room-Thermostat/dp/B003ERP1LE/ref=sr_1_1/275-5257782-3130731?ie=UTF8&qid=1378982178&sr=8-1&keywords=salus+wireless+thermostat - ) which would help control the boiler and probably keep you more comfortable without wasting energy. They also have the benefit that you don't forget to turn the heating off or down

You might be able to get a grant to improve your loft insulation if it is below standard (sometimes you can get it done for free, check with your energy supplier)

Wywth

Don't use electricity at standard rate to heat your house when you have gas.

36p (presumably 2 kWh) of standard rate electricity would by you about 10 kWh of gas ... even with an old boiler that is say only 60% efficient, that still results in 3x more heat from the gas for the same money.

iammumtoone

Thank you my electric is pre-pay so I know that is correct but the gas is worked out by the gas company on my last years bill. I will read the meter once I start using the heating, keep a note each month and let them know to see if they can amend direct debit.

I didn't realise I could get a wireless thermostat, I assumed I would need wires all over the house! I think that will be worthwhile as I would be much happier leaving gas on if I could set the thermostat to a low level. Just need to try to get hold of an electrician now to see what they would charge to fit (I assume I need an electrician? or would it be a gas engineer)

Thanks again

iammumtoone

Is there an easy way I can test how much my gas costs to run? Is it as simple as reading the meter, turning it on for a set time, re-reading the meter and calculating from there?

matelodave

Wireless stats are very easy to install. The receiver unit is located next to the boiler and wired into it and then the thermostat unit can be anywhere you like within about 30 metres so you can shift it around to find the optimum place for it. You don't need a separate timer if you've got a combi boiler and you can have several on/off times & temperatures during the day

We've got one in each room to control our underfloor heating and they sit on shelves or the dressing table in the bedroom.

Both my daughters have fitted the Salus units in their respective houses (both with combi boilers) and they have made a real difference to the comfort and heating costs. A big benefit is that if you turn it up a bit if you feel a bit cold, it will revert back to it's original settings at its next switching time so you can't leave the heating turned up because you've forgotten it.

NowRetired

When I used to work I had my heating to come on when I got up and off when I went to work and on when I came home etc.


Then I retired and it is on from 8 am to midnight.


And despite what everyone says about using horrendous amounts of gas, I don't.


the first year I was in my house, 1991 to 1992 I used 23,000 kWh of gas.


Since then I have increased the insulation in my loft from 50mm to over 300 mm in some parts, had a new door to replace the single glazed wooden door.


Last year I used 18,932 kWh of gas.


Make of that what you will.

st999

Why do you have economy 7 if you have gas?

iammumtoone

st999 wrote: »

Why do you have economy 7 if you have gas?

Good question, it was like that when I moved in and I have never changed it (have changed supplier but kept it the same). I do use it, I do all my washing using it, this time of year I can put the machine on when I get up but when the clocks change I will set it on a timer. Also charge all my gadgets in that time (but I'm not sure if that makes a lot of difference)

iammumtoone

NowRetired wrote: »

Then I retired and it is on from 8 am to midnight.

I take it you have a thermostat?

iammumtoone

I have been thinking and have a new plan

I will get a thermostat fitted (I am sure bank of dad will help with a low cost loan to pay the fitter).

I will still use oil rad (on timer) for the morning heat (using ec 7). I can then have boiler on 24/7 with the stat set low and increase the temperature for a couple of hours in the evenings. I think this might help as I am sure that heating the house from cold every day is where a lot of the money is spent.

I will dig out last years bills and monitor as I go along to see it this way helps.