Leaving heating on all day or programme timer

mz1992

Hi everyone, 

Just curious to what people tend to do when it comes to heating their homes.

We currently have the heating on constant with the radiator thermostatic valves on 2/6 for the rooms we use frequently; bedroom, living room and studies as we both work from home.

Is this more efficient or is having a programme timer better?

Thanks in advance

saveallmymoney

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/energy-saving-myths/

Astria

Every home is different and you have to find what suits yours.

A timer and only heating the house when its needed could be cheaper, but could also cost the same as having the heating on all day depending on what you set the temperature to.

BUFF

Do you also have a room 'stat as well as TRVs?

markin

As you work from home you will get cold with timers on for just 1hr in the morning and 2hrs in the evening, You need to work on heat the human not the the house.

Apodemus

I recently installed a Hive system, as previously the heating was only controlled by TRVs and we had no room stat.  I can't believe the difference this has made.  The boiler is not continuously cycling and since it switches completely off when there is no demand from the Hive thermostat, the pump is not continuously running, saving on electricity use.  Before, we would have left the heating on all day, now we set a minimum through the day and it will only come on if needed (which it hasn't yet).

I would guess that there are many homes where upgrading to modern controls will make as big a difference.  

FreeBear

Apodemus said: I would guess that there are many homes where upgrading to modern controls will make as big a difference.  

A programmable thermostat that allows you to set different temperatures throughout the course of the day/week has the potential to save you 10% or so on heating. In practice, the saving is more likely to be around 4-5%. If you can live with a lower temperature during some of the day (say 1°C less during daylight hours), that will certainly help.

Apodemus

FreeBear said:

Apodemus said: I would guess that there are many homes where upgrading to modern controls will make as big a difference.  

If you can live with a lower temperature during some of the day (say 1°C less during daylight hours), that will certainly help.

Yes it's partly the automated aspect that helps with the discipline of coping with lower temps.   Currently 13.8C in the house!

wittynamegoeshere

I think I'd wake up in panic sweats if the heating was on 24 hours - if not from the stuffy heat then definitely from the worry about the bills.

Having the heating on all the time will absolutely definitely cost more than having it on only when needed.  Even if it has to heat from colder than it would be if on all the time.  Less is always less!

BUFF

Apodemus said:

I recently installed a Hive system, as previously the heating was only controlled by TRVs and we had no room stat.  I can't believe the difference this has made.  The boiler is not continuously cycling and since it switches completely off when there is no demand from the Hive thermostat, the pump is not continuously running, saving on electricity use.  Before, we would have left the heating on all day, now we set a minimum through the day and it will only come on if needed (which it hasn't yet).

I would guess that there are many homes where upgrading to modern controls will make as big a difference.  

Having previously run a system that comprised of boiler/programmer & TRVs only then switched to one incl. a room 'stat I can also attest to the difference that makes. Instead of the boiler potentially continuing to fire & pump hot water round a loop where all the rads (bar one bypass) were closed off because the TRVs had reached set temp. the boiler will get shut down.

The additional control also enables you to make behavioural changes which can again save you money.
A modern controls system will almost always pay for itself in savings over the typical life of a  boiler.

wittynamegoeshere said:

I think I'd wake up in panic sweats if the heating was on 24 hours - if not from the stuffy heat then definitely from the worry about the bills.

Having the heating on all the time will absolutely definitely cost more than having it on only when needed.  Even if it has to heat from colder than it would be if on all the time.  Less is always less!

My heating system hasn't been "off" for years but it hasn't yet fired for central heating since something like April - the room 'stat overides the programmer. That is what controls are all about.