Electric Radiator Costs. Leave on or off?

StuffTheCap

I have three electric radiators in my two bed property that's electric only. It's not well insulated so it can lose heat quick.

The rads have a thermostat on them so when it reaches the temperature, it will turn off and only kick back in to heat the room back up to that temperature.

I was wondering if it would be more cost effective to leave the electric radiators ticking on at 18° or set them up on a timer to kick in at certain hours (0600-0800 / 1800-2200)

Theoretically in my head, it will spend less time/use less kwh to keep ticking on at 18° than to be constantly on for the several hours it takes to bring my room/house from a low temperature to 18° every morning and evening. Is that right?

Any experience or knowledge would be grateful.

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

StuffTheCap said:

I was wondering if it would be more cost effective to leave the electric radiators ticking on at 18° or set them up on a timer to kick in at certain hours (0600-0800 / 1800-2200)
Theoretically in my head, it will spend less time/use less kwh to keep ticking on at 18° than to be constantly on for the several hours it takes to bring my room/house from a low temperature to 18° every morning and evening. Is that right?
Any experience or knowledge would be grateful.

It's the other way around.

It will take less energy to bring it up again to 18C than it would to keep it at 18C permanently.

Your property loses less heat when the property is colder. If it was as cold indoors as outdoors, it wouldn't lose any heat at all.

markin

If you own the flat or can get the landlord to do it the advice would be to insulate better and use night storage heaters on E7 tarrif.

Are the currently any worth while E7 tariffs?  or are you already on one and heating in the day on expensive day rate power?

Aylesbury_Duck

StuffTheCap said:

I have three electric radiators in my two bed property that's electric only. It's not well insulated so it can lose heat quick.

The rads have a thermostat on them so when it reaches the temperature, it will turn off and only kick back in to heat the room back up to that temperature.

I was wondering if it would be more cost effective to leave the electric radiators ticking on at 18° or set them up on a timer to kick in at certain hours (0600-0800 / 1800-2200)

Theoretically in my head, it will spend less time/use less kwh to keep ticking on at 18° than to be constantly on for the several hours it takes to bring my room/house from a low temperature to 18° every morning and evening. Is that right?

Any experience or knowledge would be grateful.

No, use the timers.  Think of it like a kettle.  You wouldn't think it economical to keep your kettle simmering away at boiling point so it's always ready to make a cup of tea - you'd boil the water when you want the drink.  This is not much different.  If you leave heating of any type on when you don't really need it, it will cost more than only putting it on when you do.

StuffTheCap

Aylesbury_Duck said:

StuffTheCap said:

I have three electric radiators in my two bed property that's electric only. It's not well insulated so it can lose heat quick.

The rads have a thermostat on them so when it reaches the temperature, it will turn off and only kick back in to heat the room back up to that temperature.

I was wondering if it would be more cost effective to leave the electric radiators ticking on at 18° or set them up on a timer to kick in at certain hours (0600-0800 / 1800-2200)

Theoretically in my head, it will spend less time/use less kwh to keep ticking on at 18° than to be constantly on for the several hours it takes to bring my room/house from a low temperature to 18° every morning and evening. Is that right?

Any experience or knowledge would be grateful.

No, use the timers.  Think of it like a kettle.  You wouldn't think it economical to keep your kettle simmering away at boiling point so it's always ready to make a cup of tea - you'd boil the water when you want the drink.  This is not much different.  If you leave heating of any type on when you don't really need it, it will cost more than only putting it on when you do.

Ah okay, that's a good point. Thanks for replies. Maybe it was just the placebo in my head that came up with the idea.