Huge bill and elec heating

something_girl

I’ve been in my bungalow for 6 months, gas central heating in the main house but upstairs in the loft conversion is my daughter 2 long thin rooms. I hadn’t really realised when I bought that was no heating up there. So she has a little halogen heater but it’s probably on most of the time. Last combined energy bill was £178 month (majority electricity) and bill a few days ago is £257 for just one month, again mostly electricity. 

Can anyone suggest a much more efficient way of keeping the upstairs rooms warm?
Thank you

Spies

All electric heating costs basiacly the same to run as 1kw electricity = 1kw of heat.

I'm really not sure what the answer is I'm afraid other than getting the central heating extended into the loft? 

Robin9

@something_girl   Agree that your long term solution is to extend the gas heating.

Are your bills correct ?   Are the meters reads Actual or Estimated : Do they agree with the reads you have been providing to your supplier ?

Ebe_Scrooge

I have to agree with the previous comments - the long-term solution will be to extend the gas heating into the loft.  Of course, you do have to weigh up how much this will cost vs the payback period.  Is your daughter likely to be there for some time, for instance, or is she of an age where she'll be off to university/whatever in the not-too-distant future?

If the electric heater has been on pretty much constantly, using peak-rate electricity, and with the weather turning colder, unfortunately the figures you've quoted are not particularly outrageous.

I guess one obvious thing to investigate would be the insulation.  If it's a "proper" loft conversion that was done by a reputable builder, one would expect the insulation to be up to scratch.  But I wonder whether it's possible to add any more insulation without too much disruption?  Don't know, you'd have to do a bit of investigating, but it might be worth looking into - in general, increasing the amount of insulation will give you the biggest saving for the lowest outlay.

theoretica

The simplest way of cutting use would be to have the heater on for less time - does it have a thermostat or timer? 

Brewer21

Assuming you have another bedroom downstairs?? Move your daughter down, alternatively extension of the gas  heating system to those rooms. Electric is a no no for heating if an alternative is possible. Gets quotes for said work and weigh up the costs against future savings, energy prices apparently are only moving one way.

Brie

If insulation is required but is impossible or very difficult what about a change in room style?  Hanging heavy curtains on the walls would insulate and would hide something more industrial behind.  If you/she were creative about it it could end up looking nicely medieval.  But maybe with the addition of fairy lights to brighten the effect.

coffeehound

Hi, I wonder if you have other electrical items contributing to the usage.  A 1 kW heater on permanently for a month would cost about £144 at 20p a unit.  So assuming it isn't on literally 24 hours a day, there might be other things bumping up the electric consumption.  Also, how much are you paying for your fuels per unit?

Robin9

Electric Shower;  ?

markin

Leaving the door open to let the heat in would be a instant fix, unplug it an hr and take meter reading to see its only that using power, was it advertised as a bedroom or storage room?

kazwookie

Is it a proper loft conversion?

If so it should have the correct insulation.

I suggest you bring your daughter down from there, into the main part of the house, either in to a spare room or convert a room / lounge area as her bed room, then put a decent loft hatch up. Unplug / turn off any 'heating ' up there.