I think my central heating isn't up to it

FlorayG

I've been here 2 years. Last winter I was barely home. Now I work from home. Today it's cold first time this year, my heating is set at 19 degrees and the radiators have been on all day and temperature in the living room hasn't reached that,
I know the system is old - gas engineer says my boiler is 20+ years old but still working well. The radiators are the old large single thickness ones. The living room is the largest room in the bungalow and has two huge windows and a patio door, so a LOT of glass probably 50% of the outside walls of this room. I can't feel any draughts from any of them. There are 3 radiators in the living room.
I can't afford to replace the central heating system. I looked into cavity wall insulation and the rep said no point because of the windows.
Any suggestions for improving the efficiency of heating? All the radiators get properly hot. Yes I have a heated throw and I keep warm, but it would be nice not to be paying a gas bill that isn't producing what I need. Thank you

Rodders53

Give us a clue or two or three.

What boiler? Make and model.
What is the circulating water temperature set to (if known). Temperature gauges can be obtained and used if required.
What times do you have the heating scheduled for?
Have you checked and bled the radiators?
What is the outside temperature and where are you located (Orkney, Scotland is different from the mainland and different again to the Scilly Isles for weather and temperatures?
What direction do the windows face?
What glass is in the doors and windows - single pane, double glazed, triple? (If DG what is the spacing bar thickness).

What are your actual gas consumption in kWh (or cubic feet / metres) based on real meter readings over this and last year's monthly reads that you do take, I trust.

Do you have loft insulation?  Is it thick enough?

Fitting thermal blinds and curtains may help? 
Our kitchen (lots of glazing, vaulted ceiling) got a bit too warm this PM due to the solar gain as they are mostly SW facing.  We (partly) close blinds to reduce the solar gain.  The same would apply to keep heat in if we needed to (Id that overnight).

FlorayG

Worcester 24TDi
Don't know circulating temperature but the pipes run under the concrete floor which I know doesn't help
Come on 06:00 until 20:00
All radiators working properly and fully hot ( often too hot to touch)
Outside is only about 4 degrees C, not incredibly cold, I'm in SOmserset
windows face North, West and South - double glazed
Can't compare this year with last year- it's only just got cold and I wasn't home most of the day last winter
Loft insulation was increased to recommended amount when I moved in
I have thermal curtains AND blinds but who wants to sit in the dark during the daytime? Note this room also gets very, very hot in summer

Slinky

You could try sticking some reflecters behind your radiators to push the heat back into your rooms instead of it heating up the wall behind the radiators. You can buy stuff online (Must Have Ideas are one supplier I've seen) or do what we did and cover some large sheets of cardboard with kitchen foil and drop them down the back. Might help a little.

FlorayG

Slinky said:

You could try sticking some reflecters behind your radiators to push the heat back into your rooms instead of it heating up the wall behind the radiators. You can buy stuff online (Must Have Ideas are one supplier I've seen) or do what we did and cover some large sheets of cardboard with kitchen foil and drop them down the back. Might help a little.

I've already done that thanks

Gerry1

If the boiler isn't always running flat out, change the radiators to double or triple panels.  That should be relatively cheap.

FlorayG

Gerry1 said:

If the boiler isn't always running flat out, change the radiators to double or triple panels.  That should be relatively cheap.

'relatively' is the operative word here; I don't have any spare money this winter over a couple of hundred pounds if there is anything I can do with that

MarzipanCrumble

Umm, rather wary of suggesting this, but have you looked at the thread about heating the human?  HertsLad?  

Why I mention it is that you said that no capital to renew CH.  If you could reduce bill then maybe put difference to renewing?? I believe bungalows are notorious heat losers.........

Gerry1

Buy a pedestal fan and point it at the biggest radiator to increase its rate of heat transfer?

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2005766

FlorayG

MarzipanCrumble said:

Umm, rather wary of suggesting this, but have you looked at the thread about heating the human?  HertsLad?  

Why I mention it is that you said that no capital to renew CH.  If you could reduce bill then maybe put difference to renewing?? I believe bungalows are notorious heat losers.........

Yes I'm currently doing that and yes, bungalows being long and low are not very efficient heat retainers. Trouble is, if I turn the heating right down and just cuddle my heated throw then the house gets a bit clammy and I worry about damp.
Interestingly, since it's gone dark and I've closed the curtains and blinds it's now, an hour later, warm in here and the radiators have switched off. So clearly my major heat loss is through the lovely huge windows which were one of the reasons I fell in love with this property in the first place 

born_again

So could you close the curtains on 2 of the windows to help keep heat in & leave one open for light (one facing sun would be best for thermal transfer)
End of the day, you need to reduce the heat loss through the mass of glass. If it's single glazing then up to double, or even triple glazing.

While you mention only having a couple of hundred to spare, how much more are you going to be paying on heating the rooms over winter?