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What do think is the cheapest way to heat my ancient old house.
runner2014
Posts: 20 Forumite
I rent a 2 bed stone place built in the 1830s. So its not exactly modern building materials. 
It doesn't have double glazing, prone to ceiling damp/condensation upstairs. It does have central heating, a fireplace and I have a convector heater in my bedroom.
I find the fire cosy, wood is upfront cost, so at least the heat is paid for. It heats up the front room but thats it. If I had a free source of wood i'd have it roaring. The first winter I used it, last winter I didn't use it once as I thought the few pound I spent each time on logs would be better spent on the central heating, which keeps the bathroom, kitchen warm,whereas they are freezing otherwise . The thermostat is in the front room, so if the fire is on, it switches the central heating off but this means everywhere gets cool.
Also, I like chilling out in my bedroom not the front room at night. The convector heater is much warmer than the small central heating radiator, meanwhile the big radiator is on downstairs.
Based on all that how would you manage the heat in this house, if you lived here, and what should I do to keep it the warmest at the lowest possible cost? Should I just use the central heating very low and use the convector heater, should I bother with the fire etc. I hope this makes sense!:rotfl:
Before this for 8 years I rented a place with no central heating and it was baltic, so I don't need it super hot now, but I just haven't grasped how much or when to use central heating. I currently only put it on manually without the timer and have the thermostat at 16c. I also have the hot water very luke warm as I have an electric shower.
It doesn't have double glazing, prone to ceiling damp/condensation upstairs. It does have central heating, a fireplace and I have a convector heater in my bedroom.
I find the fire cosy, wood is upfront cost, so at least the heat is paid for. It heats up the front room but thats it. If I had a free source of wood i'd have it roaring. The first winter I used it, last winter I didn't use it once as I thought the few pound I spent each time on logs would be better spent on the central heating, which keeps the bathroom, kitchen warm,whereas they are freezing otherwise . The thermostat is in the front room, so if the fire is on, it switches the central heating off but this means everywhere gets cool.
Also, I like chilling out in my bedroom not the front room at night. The convector heater is much warmer than the small central heating radiator, meanwhile the big radiator is on downstairs.
Based on all that how would you manage the heat in this house, if you lived here, and what should I do to keep it the warmest at the lowest possible cost? Should I just use the central heating very low and use the convector heater, should I bother with the fire etc. I hope this makes sense!:rotfl:
Before this for 8 years I rented a place with no central heating and it was baltic, so I don't need it super hot now, but I just haven't grasped how much or when to use central heating. I currently only put it on manually without the timer and have the thermostat at 16c. I also have the hot water very luke warm as I have an electric shower.
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Is it gas fired central heating?
You mention things like damp and condensation, so I'd probably leave the central heating on at least low to keep the place at a good temperature, then 'top up' with the fire and convector heater when needed?
It's not efficient to have the hot water luke warm for one, and also can be unsafe (needs to be around 60C to make sure bacteria is killed)
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We get so many posts about the price of logs, for the last bloody time, logs cost nothing.4kWp, South facing, 16 x phono solar panels, Solis inverter, Lincolnshire.0
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We get so many posts about the price of logs, for the last bloody time, logs cost nothing.
Logs cost nothing, as long as you ask permission of the land owner. Wood scavenging can be illegal without permission and deadwood is vital part of woodland habitat. If everybody does it, then it becomes a problem as we are seeing in certain parts of the country.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-25757948
If you want, pre-dried wood, ready to burn, it will cost. And if it does not cost you in money, it will in time and effort.
Regarding your property, as you rent, I would ask the landlord to let you fit a wireless thermostat. That way you can take it out of the room that is overly warm, find a good place for it and it will then maintain a more consistent temperature throughout the house.
Regarding cost, remember that electricity can cost (at current prices) 4 to 5 times as much as gas. So (taking into account the efficiency of the boiler) any gas heating, should be cheaper than the electric equivalent. What age/efficiency is the boiler? What type?
If you are struggling with damp. Investing in a good dehumidifier should help resolve and or mitigate that issue. However, ensuring that areas prone to condensation (kitchen/bathroom) have good ventilation is the best initial solution. Ensure extractor fans work or windows are open when those rooms are in use.
Do the radiators have thermostatic valves? That can also help manage the heat requirements in each room. You have to ask the landlord to install them.
You say the small radiator in the bedroom does not get very warm. How warm a radiator gets is not related to it's size. What setting do you have on the boiler water temp dial. This determines how hot a radiator gets.
If you want to understand all the parts of a central heating system, I made a post in this thread a while back going through it all and how to use them. See post 2.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/55368920 -
And still not free unless you value your time at £zero/hour.CashStrapped wrote: »Logs cost nothing, as long as you ask permission of the land owner. Wood scavenging can be illegal without permission and deadwood is vital part of woodland
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And still not free unless you value your time at £zero/hour.
Exactly....that is why I wrote.....;)CashStrapped wrote: »If you want, pre-dried wood, ready to burn, it will cost. And if it does not cost you in money, it will in time and effort.
Although, I suppose you could time it with the dog walk....:D0 -
We get so many posts about the price of logs, for the last bloody time, logs cost nothing.
They may cost you nothing but most of us pay for them in some way or another. Presumably somebody is good enough to regularly dump a load of seasoned logs on your drive?
I have access to free wood but even zero rating my own time, logs certainly aren't free. The capital cost of chainsaws, PPE etc. plus the cost of related equipment, upkeep, oil and petrol for the saws and transport means that the logs I use for heating my house are far from free.0 -
Walking the dog with a wheelbarrow full of logs! :rotfl:CashStrapped wrote: »Exactly....that is why I wrote.....;)
Although, I suppose you could time it with the dog walk....:D0 -
On the log thing, if you've got somewhere undercover to store wood to let it season and dry, and don't mind spending time with an axe/crowbar/whatever, builders skips are a decent source of wood - either old stuff out the house eg roof timbers or the pallets their materials come on. Ask if you can have it - most of them are delighted to let you take it as it reduces what they're taking to the landfill and their subsequent costs. I regularly get wood from the builders doing work round us tgis way.
It's still not 'free' though - my time for one - and obviously this is for the longer term, not this winter, to let it dry out properly.
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If you've got the space, rocket mass heating. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_mass_heaterThe mind of the bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract.
Oliver Wendell Holmes0 -
Gloomendoom wrote: »They may cost you nothing but most of us pay for them in some way or another. Presumably somebody is good enough to regularly dump a load of seasoned logs on your drive?
I have access to free wood but even zero rating my own time, logs certainly aren't free. The capital cost of chainsaws, PPE etc. plus the cost of related equipment, upkeep, oil and petrol for the saws and transport means that the logs I use for heating my house are far from free.
Always remember that wood (logs especially) warms you twice. Once when you chop it and again when you burn it.
I'm lucky enough to have access to free wood on a friend's farm, but I have to transport it 80 miles. I've invested in a trailer, chainsaw, axe, etc, but it's certainly been worth having a woodburner installed."There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe a 'Princess Coronation' locomotive in full cry. We shall never see their like again". O S Nock0
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