Does this mean I can never have my heating on?

Loisx

I'm with scottish power and whenever I have my heating on overnight by the time I wake up the gas has ran out.

The house is absolutely freezing, I've had every radiator bled and serviced and I only ever put my heating on half.

I can't not have the heating on because it gets so cold it sets off both my sons asthma/croup. Even I wake up with a sore throat in a morning and a frozen nose!

Is it something I'm missing or is this the norm these days with energy?

Are electric radiators safe to use overnight? Also is there anything I could do to make the house/cold air in the house warmer? Wearing jumpers etc just isn't enough its mainly the breathing cold air that worries me.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

I take it you're on a pre payment meter? If so, why? It's much cheaper to be on the cheapest direct debit tariff.

Why does your house get so cold? Most properties remain comfortable with the heating on only for a few hours in the evening and in the morning. Waking up with a frozen nose is unusual.

Loisx

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

I take it you're on a pre payment meter? If so, why? It's much cheaper to be on the cheapest direct debit tariff.

Why does your house get so cold? Most properties remain comfortable with the heating on only for a few hours in the evening and in the morning. Waking up with a frozen nose is unusual.

It is pre-payment meters. To be honest I changed over to pre payment because I couldn't afford my bills in bulk. They were so high. Obviously because I have to use the heating so much. I've switched providers so many times and I just couldn't afford the bills.

The house seems pretty average, its a 3 bedroom semi detached, had a new damp course 6 years ago and was all lined and replastered downstairs. The windows are double glazed. I just don't get it?

lindens

how much money/credit are you putting in the meter? just put more in or am i missing the point somewhere?

Loisx

lindens wrote: »

how much money/credit are you putting in the meter? just put more in or am i missing the point somewhere?

I put £10 in that lasts for 2 days if I'm lucky. If I cook, get a bath, do the washing up its even worse.

Andy_WSM

Loisx wrote: »

I put £10 in that lasts for 2 days if I'm lucky. If I cook, get a bath, do the washing up its even worse.

If you are leaving the heating on overnight then £5 a day isn't totally unreasonable, although you could try a lower temperature to see what you can get away with,

Energy IS expensive now. Sad fact of life. Most people budget for their Winter bills by paying the same amount every month through the year so it evens out. £100 a month isn't uncommon for utilities and if you want heating overnight too, maybe more. As you are not spreading your bills over the 12 months, yes it will seem very much more expensive.

Nada666

£5 is just about enough for the standard two hours in the morning and four hours in the evening. If you expect it to last all night, too (and possibly daytime?)... are you being realistic? If you want to use a prepayment meter then you need to save up hundreds of pounds over summer (or be prepared to spend the extra in winter.)

Set aside fifty or a hundred pounds to see for a week or two whether your expectations are unreasonable or if there is a problem with your infrastructure. Read your meter (using the meter units count rather than money in) and see what various heating patterns use.

Once the heating is on for a couple of hours and up to temperature how much do you use from hour to hour to maintain it?

Do you have controls on your radiators? Can you turn down the bedrooms? Are you opening windows and doors during the day to air and dry the house?

If you have a closed house then with three occupants breathing, washing, washing clothes, air can be damp - a dehumidifer is a possibility - it can make lower temperatures more comfortable. (But test just the heating usage first.)

sheffield_lad

Good posts from the guys above, just to add you may want to check if your meter is collecting standing charges from the summer months and you were not making regular top up's. This 'could' be a reason for high usage if it is collecting at a high rate.

Just a thought
GL

KTF

How much were you paying before when you were not on pre-payment meters?

£10 every 2 days is around £150 a month and you would have to be using a lot to have that as your monthly DD payment.

KTF

Loisx wrote: »

They were so high.

How much is 'high'?

Were you giving the company monthly rmeter readings?

leeruddecology

£5 a day sounds very expensive indeed.

I understand your sons have croupe so you want a warm stable environment. But not a hot dry environment I take it?

Perhaps you should get a thermometer and tell us what temps you have. A min max one would be good to see how freezing is freezing in your home.

My temps never go below 15 degrees and up to 18 during 4-5 hrs of the day. But prob only reach 18 for a couple of hours in the Eve. This is electric and heating and hot water costs me about 7-10 units a day. Units cost between 9-14p. I have a 2 bed flat. Show or bath each day and temps as above.

5£ a day for would cripple me.

Direct debit would be cheaper and sounds like you want regular payments and warmth. Therefore one way or another you want it warm. So your pre payment method isn't working for you. It's obviously more expensive as well. Sounds like you can afford fiver so a fiver on DD would get you more energy.

Electric bed blankets all round and hot water bottles?