Which is cheaper? Bath or radiators?

***scout***

I don’t have a combi boiler. I live alone in a draughty house. If I put my boiler on it takes around 20 minutes to fill my hot water tank sufficiently for a nice hot bath, which keeps me warm all evening. Does it cost the same amount to heat water as to put the central heating radiators on? I’m trying to keep warm on a budget. 20 minutes of central heating won’t even take the chill off. I don’t have a water meter.

QrizB

A hot bath is almost certainly cheaper than heating a whole house.

Do consider that the bath will make the bathroom humid and damp, if the house isn't heated, you're going to have to watch out for mould.

macman

The best economy you could make is to take steps to reduce the draughtiness, which need not be that costly.

Ultrasonic

Are you thinking of staying in the bath to stay warm? A far better, and cheaper, option would be to buy an electric heated blanket. This sort of thing (just the first one I found quickly, not a specific recommendation):

Velosso Premium Cosy Comfort Electric Throw Bed Sofa Plush Blanket with Multi-Heat Controller - 6 Heat Settings plus Auto Over-Heat Protection (Latte) : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

macman

When you've had your bath, leave the water in it until it's cold. That way, the heat is not lost, but serves to heat the house (or at least the bathroom).

luvchocolate

macman said:

When you've had your bath, leave the water in it until it's cold. That way, the heat is not lost, but serves to heat the house (or at least the bathroom).

Remember to open the window 

markin

The first 20-40min from cold uses the most gas, After that its only maintaining the temp, So the difference from running for around 30min vs 2hr is very little.

All boilers in the last 20 years should be able to modulate the gas rate down, So a 24kwh boiler would modulate down to around 7kwh, look up your boilers manual .pdf. And even then it would only run 5-15min an hr to top up.

Many posters are finding 2hrs in the morning and 2hrs in the evening a good balance of cost and temp.

macman

luvchocolate said:

macman said:

When you've had your bath, leave the water in it until it's cold. That way, the heat is not lost, but serves to heat the house (or at least the bathroom).

Remember to open the window 

That would tend to cancel out the benefit somewhat...