gas use heating on all day versus timed?

molerat

Do the comparison yourself, don't compare with others.  I found there was very little difference in consumption either way. And as above, I heat my house to how I am comfortable, cost is a secondary concern.  Someone I know complains all the time about the cost of energy and how they can't afford to heat the house ....... but still smokes 20 a day !

Qyburn

One thing is 100% certain, a building needs more heat to keep it up to temperature 24/7 than it would need if heated only during certain times of day. That's simple physics. What is less certain is whether thar needs more energy input, or more cost, as this will depend on the peculiarities of the exact heating system. 

Keep_pedalling

It very much depends on individual circumstances. Until recently we lived in a 1930s semi with solid brick wall which would rapidly cool down once the heating went off, we are now getting to grips with underfloor heating in a modern, EPC A rated, bungalow. With a combi boiler providing heating and hot water, everything else is electric. 

I have set a minimum temp of 19 degrees C in the living areas over night and 22 - 23 from 05:30 to 22:00. A couple of nights ago outside temperatures ranged from 5 to 10 degrees C. At 05:30 the heating came on for just under 5 hours then stayed off the rest of the day as the temperature did not fall below 22 degrees. kWh used 36.8 cost £2.09,  24 hour temp range in the living area 21 - 24 degree C. 

In the old house it would cost a fortune to maintain this sort of temperature all day and the boiler would have to be working a lot harder and more often.

Chrysalis

matelodave said:

being on for three hours a day is meaningless if the boiler is chewing its way through 10-15kwh an hour compared with a boiler that might be idling away for 10-12 hours but only using 2kwh an hour. 

The only way to get a meaningful comparison is by trying the different modes of operation for a week at a time and recording the daily energy consumption and the outside temp. Trying to compare your house, heating and lifestyle with the bloke next door is a waste of time.

Some boilers cant generate enough heat to idle for long periods, combination of low efficiency and high heat loss, remember not all properties are the same.  I think comparison subjects on GCH cost and running time are difficult as its not the same for every property.  Too many variables at play.  Type of boiler, configured temperature, insulation (efficiency) of property, radiators, piping etc.

I showed my smart meter data to a friend for that 24 hour period, and he showed me his, they looked totally different, his boiler was idling a lot like you described, mine was at full pelt almost for the entire period.  The boiler was unable to get temp in to the high teens so even if I had room thermostats set to lets say 18C, it still would have just ran and ran as was incapable of getting to that temperature.