All day, or on timer?

LCFC_Foxile

Hi fellow Moneysavers,

Can anyone tell me whether it's better to leave your gas central heating on at a lower temperature during the whole day, or is it better to have it at a higher temperature, but on a timer (ie. only on at certain times, & for a certain number of hours a day)?

So, it's scenario A :

7am to 10pm - on all day at a low temp

Or scenario B :

7am to 11am; 2pm to 5pm; 6.30pm to 10pm - on timer, at a higher temp.

A friend mentioned that it's better to do scenario A, because scenario B means that the boiler has to 'fire-up' each time.

Cheers...

davetrousers

lol this has been done to death on another thread

espresso

Mistryman wrote: »

Hi fellow Moneysavers,

Can anyone tell me whether it's better to leave your gas central heating on at a lower temperature during the whole day, or is it better to have it at a higher temperature, but on a timer (ie. only on at certain times, & for a certain number of hours a day)?

So, it's scenario A :

7am to 10pm - on all day at a low temp

Or scenario B :

7am to 11am; 2pm to 5pm; 6.30pm to 10pm - on timer, at a higher temp.

A friend mentioned that it's better to do scenario A, because scenario B means that the boiler has to 'fire-up' each time.

Cheers...

Read the various other threads on this but does your friend really think that the boiler will be on continuously from 7AM until 10PM?

What does "it's better" mean? What's a low temperature and what's a higher temperature?

LCFC_Foxile

Thanks chaps - I will "digest" the info on the other thread!

John_Pierpoint

It depends on:
Your level of insulation.
Heat Source,
Its efficiency.
Diurnal range outside.
Orientation of the building & windows.
Sunshine.
Draught proofing.
Wind.
Your heat exchanger (wot).
Family attitudes.
etc etc etc.
There is no simple answer unless you are using 30% efficient radiant electric heating (The other 70% gets chucked in the river at the powerstation, because you live in a country with a short term attitude to natural resources, unlike Scandinavia (eg Danemark).
Now we have "peak oil" and the birds are coming home to roost in a fuel bill coming through your door soon.
Previous thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=581593

Cardew

Mistryman wrote: »

Hi fellow Moneysavers,

Can anyone tell me whether it's better to leave your gas central heating on at a lower temperature during the whole day, or is it better to have it at a higher temperature, but on a timer (ie. only on at certain times, & for a certain number of hours a day)?

So, it's scenario A :

7am to 10pm - on all day at a low temp

Or scenario B :

7am to 11am; 2pm to 5pm; 6.30pm to 10pm - on timer, at a higher temp.

A friend mentioned that it's better to do scenario A, because scenario B means that the boiler has to 'fire-up' each time.

Cheers...

There simply is no way to answer your query.

It largely depends on 'how low' is your low temperature and 'how high' is your high temperature; plus dozens of other factors.

If 'low' is 10C and 'high' is 25C you can safely assume 'on all day' is cheaper;)

Most people(posssibly your friend) base their 'on all day is cheaper' theory on the the mistaken belief that it takes less heat to keep a house warm than heat it up from cold - and that 'urban myth' comes up time and again.

Anyway keeping the boiler on all day would mean the boiler 'firing up'(as your friend terms it) all day.

Blue76

Hi Mistryman

I am currently trying the all day option. My heating comes on at 6.00am and off at 10.00pm. I do however have the a room thermostat in my living room (set at 15C) which turns the heating off when this is reached. When I come home from work I find that the house is so much warmer than had the heating only come on perhaps an hour beforehand. I have done some usage comparisons with the same period last year and seem to be using about 75% this time round.

As everyones homes and gas usage are different if you want a definite answer I would suggest trying it week about, taking readings at the start and end of each week to see which works best for you