Heating Dilemma

Sammyg

Hi

 I apologise if this has been asked before.

To start with a bit of my background story is, at the moment I only put the heating on when I need it, in the morning to warm the house up, my clothes on the radiator before work and when I have a shower, other then that the heating stays off, I just were my oodie when I am indoors ( a big furry hoodie that you can curl up in), or I have heated throws that I use, with an electric blanket used at bedtime that is used for a bit, I mainly do this to keep costs down obviously beside its only me and I only work Part time, so I can't afford any big bills, probably like everyone else, thus always endorsing the saying heat the human, but I wonder is it better to keep the heating on low about 18/16 all day turning it off at night, or to just continue turning it on when you need it?

Gerry1

Unless you have a heat pump, probably best to set it about 10°-12° when you're not there to prevent damp and mould problems.  Your property insurance or rental contract probably requires this anyway. Then set it a bit higher if you can afford it when you return to take the chill off.

Newbie_John

There is no answer to this question.

Really.

If you switch to TE Lifestyle 5p tariff (or Ocotpus Cosy for  you get 80% disocunt on electricty between 1-6am so you can go bonkers with heating all house.
Or Ocotpus Cosy at 50% cheaper rate (04:00 - 07:00, 13:00 - 16:00 and 22:00 - 00:00) although with 200% between 16-19.

As @Gerry1 mentioned, there could be some savings short term - but they could result in issues long term, yes you save £400 this year but would need to replace a wall in 5 years for £3000    Or health..

Different types of heaters - heat pumps, storage heaters, other electric, gas, different EPC, different insualtions.
All varies, varies.

Scot_39

I heat everywhere but my living room - to 14 max. Living room 16 max.

Its more than enough I find to control dampness and avoid black mould - something I have seen first hand in other homes in my younger days.

Its also a figure I have seen in some health guides / articles to prevent mould - my parents old boiler manufacturer also recommended 14C min (Viesman ?). - the BG replacement - rebadged WB iirc did not.

But lower might be perfectly ok if take care to avoid damp spots - good air circulation - not blocking air circulation on external walls behind large furniture like wardrobes etc - and regularly airing - after showers, cooking, airing laundry indoors etc.

Or buy a dehumdifier instead - I use after laundry days - used to get loads of condensation on windows - now virtually none - and clothes dry quicker.  Cheaper than heating a few degrees warmer - a couple of 2 hr runs - about 1kWh / 25p - can grab a pint plus of water out of the air after a towel / bedding wash.

Which reviews have referred to insurers minimums of around 12 C in past - one of my parents insurers recommended 15 for vacant property at one stage in their blogs - but didn't give an actual policy min absolute number - just an adequately heated type statement.  Nor do many others since (I check for it when switching every couple of years since been made aware some did and some didn't specifiy a number)

FreeBear

Gerry1 said:

Unless you have a heat pump, probably best to set it about 10°-12° when you're not there to prevent damp and mould problems.

I'd go a bit higher than that. 15-16°C works better for me.

But it isn't an easy question to answer. Much depends on lifestyle, method of heating, size of property, and insulation levels.

I keep my house fairly warm, not that the boiler is running all the time - Some days, an hour or two in total, others, maybe as much as five hours. Fortunately, the property will heat up fairly quickly and doesn't lose much heat overnight unless well below zero outside.

Sammyg

Newbie_John said:

There is no answer to this question.

Really.

If you switch to TE Lifestyle 5p tariff (or Ocotpus Cosy for  you get 80% disocunt on electricty between 1-6am so you can go bonkers with heating all house.
Or Ocotpus Cosy at 50% cheaper rate (04:00 - 07:00, 13:00 - 16:00 and 22:00 - 00:00) although with 200% between 16-19.

As @Gerry1 mentioned, there could be some savings short term - but they could result in issues long term, yes you save £400 this year but would need to replace a wall in 5 years for £3000    Or health..

Different types of heaters - heat pumps, storage heaters, other electric, gas, different EPC, different insualtions.
All varies, varies.

Hi Newbie John

That seems good to me, although i am on a fixed Tariff with EDF until November 26 

QrizB

Sammyg said:

That seems good to me, although i am on a fixed Tariff with EDF until November 26 

That's quite a long fix!

What are you paying, and how much are the exit fees if you chose to leave?

Sammyg

QrizB said:

Sammyg said:

That seems good to me, although i am on a fixed Tariff with EDF until November 26 

That's quite a long fix!

What are you paying, and how much are the exit fees if you chose to leave?

Yes it is QrizB, as I’m now coping with all this financial stuff literally on my own due to unforeseen circumstances with no help,  I decided I wanted a long fix so i didn’t have to worry about switching again on top of everything else, also it’s was all so confusing for me,  so I went with it EDF essentials 3 yr Tarriff which required me to get a Smart meter, i recently changed my DDs to around 40 per month to cover any usage,  but my monthly bills just come over 30, I suspect when my friend comes down that will be more hence the 40 per month, so at the moment it’s building credit up, but the exit fee is 200 

QrizB

If you've still got a lot going on and want a quiet life, I'd suggest sticking with your current fix.

Chasing cheap tariffs is something that can wait.

Sammyg

Sammyg said: 

QrizB said:

If you've still got a lot going on and want a quiet life, I'd suggest sticking with your current fix.

Chasing cheap tariffs is something that can wait.

Yes think you are right, although i wasn’t really looking to change, as my I said in my question I just wanted to know is it better to keep the heating on low all day turning it off at night, or to just continue turning it and only on when you need it?

I mean i wasn’t looking to change Qriz, you’ve got it all wrong, besides I’ve got enough to do, as you can see I’ve thankfully still got a while to go yet, I just came on here to asj if people thought it was cheaper to keep heating on all day low or keep it off just turning it on when needed, that’s all? 

jvjack

Am assuming it's electric heating as you thanked newbie john for the electricity night rates that are available. Is this a house or a flat and out of interest what temperature is the living room with or without heating. Not that i have the answers you want. Just that i ponder with lots of others and mess with the heating to find out if should we should have heating on or off like you are asking every winter and never really know. But it depends on affordability. My sums using gas combi tell me i can leave heating on at 16 degrees night and day for maybe an extra £10 to £20 a week depending on the weather , above the cost of coming home and then putting on heating. So it's all about affordability. So it is in my case cheaper to switch it on when the heat is needed but takes ages to get to comfortable heat.