C/H to be turned off or left on at low temp when hall is empty?

usignuolo

Been having a discussion here about the c/h in our local community hall in the winter. Should it be turned off or left on at low temperature when hall is not in use?

I say it should be left on and hall will then heat up quicker when it is turned on full when hall is in use but there is a very vociferous group who say the central heating must always be turned off when hall is empty as leaving it on in any form is much more expensive in terms of gas used. Problem is it can then take a while to heat up and groups using the hall complain.

This debate has got more heated with the recent British Gas announced price rise as we have a gas c/h system in the hall. Is it much more expensive to leave it running at a low level when the hall is empty? Any views?

HappyMJ

usignuolo wrote: »

Been having a discussion here about the c/h in our local community hall in the winter. Should it be turned off or left on at low temperature when hall is not in use?

I say it should be left on and hall will then heat up quicker when it is turned on full when hall is in use but there is a very vociferous group who say the central heating must always be turned off when hall is empty as leaving it on in any form is much more expensive in terms of gas used. Problem is it can then take a while to heat up and groups using the hall complain.

This debate has got more heated with the recent British Gas announced price rise as we have a gas c/h system in the hall. Is it much more expensive to leave it running at a low level when the hall is empty? Any views?

You should demand the hirers of the turn it off when they leave and if not used for the next few hours. If the hall is rented out again then someone must go in at least 2 hours before the hiring time starts and turn the heating on. It is much more expensive to heat a large open space when not needed. All of the heat will be wasted and your money received from the hirers will be wasted. Are you charging a winter premium for hall hire? My local hall charges an additional winter premium for heating of about £2 per hour.

Mojisola

usignuolo wrote: »

Been having a discussion here about the c/h in our local community hall in the winter. Should it be turned off or left on at low temperature when hall is not in use?

I say it should be left on and hall will then heat up quicker when it is turned on full when hall is in use but there is a very vociferous group who say the central heating must always be turned off when hall is empty as leaving it on in any form is much more expensive in terms of gas used. Problem is it can then take a while to heat up and groups using the hall complain.

I've been to meetings like this where everyone had to sit around in the coats and hats and the hall only just started to feel warm when we were packing up!

Groups will look for other premises after a few meetings like this.

daveyjp

Are they also arguing the kettle is left on so hot water is ready when they arrive? The heating is no different.

The problem with community halls is they are generally very badly insulated and the heating installation is inadequate to get heat into the building quickly.

The heat of the people is more effective at warming the space than the heating system, thats why these places are warm when people a leaving.

usignuolo

We do not have a full time caretaker and certainly no one who lives near enough to pop in and out and adjust the heating two hours before the next booking on a regular basis.

You are right that it is not particularly well insulated which is at least partly why it gets cold very quickly when the heating is turned off in winter. Then the groups who have booked it complain they did not book a cold hall which can take up to an hour or more to fully heat up after the heating has been off for say 24 hours.

I am not suggesting the ch be left full on when it is empty, just turned down low so that if it gets very cold it will fire up and keep the place tolerably warm.

HappyMJ

usignuolo wrote: »

We do not have a full time caretaker and certainly no one who lives near enough to pop in and out and adjust the heating two hours before the next booking on a regular basis.

You are right that it is not particularly well insulated which is at least partly why it gets cold very quickly when the heating is turned off in winter. Then the groups who have booked it complain they did not book a cold hall which can take up to an hour or more to fully heat up after the heating has been off for say 24 hours.

I am not suggesting the ch be left full on when it is empty, just turned down low so that if it gets very cold it will fire up and keep the place tolerably warm.

It'll still cost far too much to keep the place tolerably warm with no one in it. Your bills will be very large. Maybe you could give the keys to the hirers two hours before their booking so they can turn the heating on themselves...or maybe use a timer so the heating comes on two hours before they need it.

macman

The longer it's on, the more it costs. If it's left on so low that it doesn't rise above the ambient temp, then it won't cost anything-but nor will it heat the space. Simples!

Mojisola

HappyMJ wrote: »

It'll still cost far too much to keep the place tolerably warm with no one in it. Your bills will be very large.

Maybe you could give the keys to the hirers two hours before their booking so they can turn the heating on themselves...or maybe use a timer so the heating comes on two hours before they need it.

This is indisputably true. Heating the hall while empty will be very expensive - and a waste of energy.

However, you're running a business and, if your customers aren't happy and have the option of going elsewhere, you might find the income reduces unless you can find a compromise such as Happy suggests.