Heating question

bmthmark

Hi

I have a combi boiler and can't decide which is the best way to manage the heating.

Should I set the wireless themostate to a minimum temp for example 17c and if the temp drops below that the heating will kick in. Or should I keep the heating off and just turn on when its feeling cold?

in the past I have turned it on when feeling cold, however my plumber said this is not the most efficient way as it takes a while to heat up the property.

What does everyone else do?

Thanks:beer:

SplanK

Common misconception that heating on all the time at a low rate is better than heating up a house from cold. Loads of threads/articals about it.


The general concensus is, only turn it on when you want the heat!

Debbie_Savard

>What does everyone else do?<

I have a Digistat +3RF that handles the weekday/weekend programming, with multiple target temps in each 24hr period.

vacheron

The fabric of the house will always lose heat to the outside until the temepratures equalise, so only turning on the heat when you need it should cost less.

However it will take a lot of time and energy for your heating to warm the fabric of the house back up to temperature again, so you could be waiting a long time once you feel cold before the house feels comfortable and uniformly warm again.

It all boils down to cost vs comfort/convenience.

Debbie_Savard wrote: »

>What does everyone else do?<

I have a Digistat +3RF that handles the weekday/weekend programming, with multiple target temps in each 24hr period.

Ditto. Mine heats the house up to 21C between 06.00-07.30 on weekdays, switches off through the day, and then switches back on at 21.6C from 16.00-22.00.

On weekends it stays at 20.6C from 07.00-16.00 then rises to 21.6C from 16.00-23.00.

googler

A few years back, we got into the habit of leaving the heating running all day, rather than being off during the working day, and kicking in half an hour before getting home. Control via boiler temp panel and TRVs on each radiator.

We saw a saving of around £200 a year in the heating bill.

So my vote is for "set the wireless themostate to a minimum temp for example 17c and if the temp drops below that the heating will kick in. "

magn8p

I agree with googler. It's down to the EPC rating of your house. If your house's EPC has a good EPC rating around 70 and can retain heat you are better off leaving it at a minimum of 18 when not at home and raise it when you need the warmth.

On the other hand if your house has bad EPC as a result of a very bad boiler (which isn't your case) or bad through out insulation you are better off heating only when you need it.

All the best.

Ainsley1

Given the losses are greater the higher the temperature difference, I am also (in general) a heat when or just prior to need.
If my heating was on continuously then I would have huge losses when Mrs Ainsley, a fresh air fanatic, has doors and windows open!

A big however though it does not pay to have a room/building cool so much that condensation or just moisture in general, seeps into walls soft furnishings and the like. Apart from the damage it will do it takes an awful amount of heat to dry out again (latent heat of evaporation or something!!)

bmthmark

Thanks all

I'm swaying towards the turn it on when needed method, this is what I have done in the past. Its just that my plumber mentioned that its better to leave it on. Hence why I asked the question.

I've got a smart meter, so I may test both ways and see which works out more expensive.

I have really high ceilings so it seems to take ages to heat up, I've improved the loft insulation and also replaced the windows and new boiler. I've only lived in the place for a short period so i'm still working out what's best.

Gloomendoom

Ainsley1 wrote: »

A big however though it does not pay to have a room/building cool so much that condensation or just moisture in general, seeps into walls soft furnishings and the like. Apart from the damage it will do it takes an awful amount of heat to dry out again (latent heat of evaporation or something!!)

We have the central heating our village church on all the time set so that the temperature never drops below 12 degrees. The cost of the gas used is a fraction of what we would pay in maintenance and repairs if the building was left unheated.

The temperature is raised when the building is occupied.