Gas Fire or Central Heating? Which is cheapest to run?

Leodogger

northernsoul said:

At a gas rate of 3.94p / kwh.
For my Vaillant 837 28kw boiler on the 20/12/21 , 21/12/21 , 22/12/21 , 23/12/21 the cost for 15 hours respectively were £2.71 , £1.95 , £2.23 , and £1.91 
Once up to temp (18C) it costs between 10p and 12p per hour.
For my Canon Coalridge fire costs are consistent per hour , they do not depend on temperature or sun.
On setting 1 - 4p / hour

On setting 2 - 6.5p / hour

On setting 3 - 10.7p per hour

Setting 2 or 3 achieves the same 18C as the central heating depending how cold it is.
As you can see , once the central heating is up to temp , the whole house is heated for the same price as the fire heats 1 room (the lounge).
I therefore try to keep it on setting 1 at about 16/17C

Are you saying you use both central heating AND fire, or you use only the central heating as it costs the same as the fire setting on 2 and 3?    We use our central heating (when on at 18c) but doesn't that cost of 10p and 12p per hour depend on how many rooms you have to heat or how big your property is to heat?   We only have a small bungalow with 2 beds, 1 living room, a kitchen and a bathroom.

markin

Leodogger said:

northernsoul said:

At a gas rate of 3.94p / kwh.
For my Vaillant 837 28kw boiler on the 20/12/21 , 21/12/21 , 22/12/21 , 23/12/21 the cost for 15 hours respectively were £2.71 , £1.95 , £2.23 , and £1.91 
Once up to temp (18C) it costs between 10p and 12p per hour.
For my Canon Coalridge fire costs are consistent per hour , they do not depend on temperature or sun.
On setting 1 - 4p / hour

On setting 2 - 6.5p / hour

On setting 3 - 10.7p per hour

Setting 2 or 3 achieves the same 18C as the central heating depending how cold it is.
As you can see , once the central heating is up to temp , the whole house is heated for the same price as the fire heats 1 room (the lounge).
I therefore try to keep it on setting 1 at about 16/17C

Are you saying you use both central heating AND fire, or you use only the central heating as it costs the same as the fire setting on 2 and 3?    We use our central heating (when on at 18c) but doesn't that cost of 10p and 12p per hour depend on how many rooms you have to heat or how big your property is to heat?   We only have a small bungalow with 2 beds, 1 living room, a kitchen and a bathroom.

That's why we cant tell you whats cheaper you just have to test it and take readings.

Leodogger

markin said:

Leodogger said:

northernsoul said:

At a gas rate of 3.94p / kwh.
For my Vaillant 837 28kw boiler on the 20/12/21 , 21/12/21 , 22/12/21 , 23/12/21 the cost for 15 hours respectively were £2.71 , £1.95 , £2.23 , and £1.91 
Once up to temp (18C) it costs between 10p and 12p per hour.
For my Canon Coalridge fire costs are consistent per hour , they do not depend on temperature or sun.
On setting 1 - 4p / hour

On setting 2 - 6.5p / hour

On setting 3 - 10.7p per hour

Setting 2 or 3 achieves the same 18C as the central heating depending how cold it is.
As you can see , once the central heating is up to temp , the whole house is heated for the same price as the fire heats 1 room (the lounge).
I therefore try to keep it on setting 1 at about 16/17C

Are you saying you use both central heating AND fire, or you use only the central heating as it costs the same as the fire setting on 2 and 3?    We use our central heating (when on at 18c) but doesn't that cost of 10p and 12p per hour depend on how many rooms you have to heat or how big your property is to heat?   We only have a small bungalow with 2 beds, 1 living room, a kitchen and a bathroom.

That's why we cant tell you whats cheaper you just have to test it and take readings.

Point taken !

northernsoul

Leodogger said:

northernsoul said:

At a gas rate of 3.94p / kwh.
For my Vaillant 837 28kw boiler on the 20/12/21 , 21/12/21 , 22/12/21 , 23/12/21 the cost for 15 hours respectively were £2.71 , £1.95 , £2.23 , and £1.91 
Once up to temp (18C) it costs between 10p and 12p per hour.
For my Canon Coalridge fire costs are consistent per hour , they do not depend on temperature or sun.
On setting 1 - 4p / hour

On setting 2 - 6.5p / hour

On setting 3 - 10.7p per hour

Setting 2 or 3 achieves the same 18C as the central heating depending how cold it is.
As you can see , once the central heating is up to temp , the whole house is heated for the same price as the fire heats 1 room (the lounge).
I therefore try to keep it on setting 1 at about 16/17C

Are you saying you use both central heating AND fire, or you use only the central heating as it costs the same as the fire setting on 2 and 3?    We use our central heating (when on at 18c) but doesn't that cost of 10p and 12p per hour depend on how many rooms you have to heat or how big your property is to heat?   We only have a small bungalow with 2 beds, 1 living room, a kitchen and a bathroom.

I am saying that I run them separately. If I run the central heating for 15 hours it's about £2.25 a day (depending on various factors) heating the whole house (2 bedroomed terrace).
If I run the fire to heat the lounge only to the same temperature over the same 15 hours it costs between 97p and £1.50.
Generally, if I run all day I use the central heating.
 If I am out/not cold enough , I just put the fire on 5pm to 10 pm so 5 *10.7 = 54p for the heating I want (lounge only).
For an extra 50p to £1 a day if I want heating on all day and it's cold enough I choose the central heating.
The first hour of central heating costs about 45p then ramps down eventually hours later to cost 10p to 12p per hour , but only when the stat temperature and house fabric is up to temperature. Hope that helps

Leodogger

northernsoul said:

Leodogger said:

northernsoul said:

At a gas rate of 3.94p / kwh.
For my Vaillant 837 28kw boiler on the 20/12/21 , 21/12/21 , 22/12/21 , 23/12/21 the cost for 15 hours respectively were £2.71 , £1.95 , £2.23 , and £1.91 
Once up to temp (18C) it costs between 10p and 12p per hour.
For my Canon Coalridge fire costs are consistent per hour , they do not depend on temperature or sun.
On setting 1 - 4p / hour

On setting 2 - 6.5p / hour

On setting 3 - 10.7p per hour

Setting 2 or 3 achieves the same 18C as the central heating depending how cold it is.
As you can see , once the central heating is up to temp , the whole house is heated for the same price as the fire heats 1 room (the lounge).
I therefore try to keep it on setting 1 at about 16/17C

Are you saying you use both central heating AND fire, or you use only the central heating as it costs the same as the fire setting on 2 and 3?    We use our central heating (when on at 18c) but doesn't that cost of 10p and 12p per hour depend on how many rooms you have to heat or how big your property is to heat?   We only have a small bungalow with 2 beds, 1 living room, a kitchen and a bathroom.

I am saying that I run them separately. If I run the central heating for 15 hours it's about £2.25 a day (depending on various factors) heating the whole house (2 bedroomed terrace).
If I run the fire to heat the lounge only to the same temperature over the same 15 hours it costs between 97p and £1.50.
Generally, if I run all day I use the central heating.
 If I am out/not cold enough , I just put the fire on 5pm to 10 pm so 5 *10.7 = 54p for the heating I want (lounge only).
For an extra 50p to £1 a day if I want heating on all day and it's cold enough I choose the central heating.
The first hour of central heating costs about 45p then ramps down eventually hours later to cost 10p to 12p per hour , but only when the stat temperature and house fabric is up to temperature. Hope that helps

That's great, just the info I wanted, thanks for the advice.   I am finding that leaving the central heating off entirely for a few days is making the bedrooms ice cold and causing condensation on the window sills that run with water and eventually what most people don't take into account is the mould that will result from leaving the heating off entirely in those rooms and chances are the wallpaper will start peeling and mould is very serious for chest infections when you are old.    The Government and these eco-loons think it is great not to use your heating but the result will be thousands being taken into hospital with serious health conditions, if they don't die before they manage to get there !!    This government is storing up heaps of trouble and the protests will get much, much worse than just speeches on the streets and outside Downing Street.  I doubt people will put up with leaving their grandparents and parents to die of the cold or lack of food for long if nothing is done !!

wild666

Leodogger said:

It doesn't help that Octopus has doubled it's electricity standing charge to 50p per day which is profiteering in my opinion since it is for "admin & maintenance" and this has not doubled by global energy rises !!!   Seems they are determined to get their pound of flesh whether or not you use the energy !   The Government should be stepping in to stop this !

18.6p is because of the SoLR situation, OFGEM has to get the money its paid out back from somewhere and who better than the people pay for the energy! 
The thing I am objecting to, if it happens, is that once the money is paid back to OFGEM the SC will not decrease by 18.6p per day but will continue to be collected by the energy companies as will the 11p per day from next April it will continue to be paid to energy suppliers way after April 2028.

Leodogger

wild666 said:

Leodogger said:

It doesn't help that Octopus has doubled it's electricity standing charge to 50p per day which is profiteering in my opinion since it is for "admin & maintenance" and this has not doubled by global energy rises !!!   Seems they are determined to get their pound of flesh whether or not you use the energy !   The Government should be stepping in to stop this !

18.6p is because of the SoLR situation, OFGEM has to get the money its paid out back from somewhere and who better than the people pay for the energy! 
The thing I am objecting to, if it happens, is that once the money is paid back to OFGEM the SC will not decrease by 18.6p per day but will continue to be collected by the energy companies as will the 11p per day from next April it will continue to be paid to energy suppliers way after April 2028.

What is SoLR ?   I hate acronyms !

victor2

Supplier of Last Resort.
It's the process of Ofgem appointing an existing supplier to take on the customers of one that has ceased trading. The new supplier incurs costs, not just limited to carrying over any credit customers had with the failed suppler.

Benny2020

The subsidies were withdrawn a few years ago but the economics are back in favour due to prices rises and some energy suppliers will buy the excess production from you.
I have 4kwp that i get the FIT payments on, i will add to that system soon but will not get the FIT payments on the new panels i just want more electricity.