Advise on Central Heating temperature/schedules & Cost Savings & Supplier

Bucki

Hello All

Apologies in advance, this is a topic & inquiry to seek advise.
Will attempt to be as descriptive as possible and give a breakdown of my inquiry, how to be more effective & cost saving and potentially better supplier?

So ... let's start:

• Property: 18years old, a 3 floor house with 11 radiators
• Boiler: Ideal Vogue Max 18kW (new).
• Thermostat:  Ideal Halo System WiFi Thermostat
• TRVs: Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat v3+

Note:

• the system boiler's max temp is set to 60c
• don't think I can go lower because there is a cylinder tank due risk of bacteria build up

Silly question:

Is it more efficient to set the Thermostat at 20c and leave it run on constant temp OR rather schedule times where the boiler runs at X degree for X amount of hours and switch off (maybe reduce to 16c for when nobody is at home alternatively through the day?

What's the most effective way to ensure the boiler is modulating, not wasting energy and ultimately safe money?  Scenario: set 21c on thermostat for an hour or set 25c for an hour, assuming the 25c will heat up radiators quicker but also spend more??  Fun part: how does someone calculate by how much extra £ you would spend for the 4c difference?

Tried to look around for the best/optimal schedule templates out there whilst a lot say: keep the bedrooms between 18-20c and living-room at 21c whilst other suggest to leave the thermostat at 20c and boiler will just modulate when needed? 

Not to complicate it further but how is OpenTherm/Weather Comp supposed to aid in all this?


Furthermore:

What approach you guys taking when it comes to saving money and be efficient and ultimately not freeze to death lol. ?  Is there "the best reasonable" energy supplier out there ... as I am with E.ON on NextFlex Assist tariff at following rates:

Electricity 25.33 p/kWh
Standing charge: 58.65 p/day

Gas 6.25 p/kWh
Standing charge: 34.12 p/day

*just been notified the rates will increase for electricity and slight decrease on gas.

• Does boiler still burn gas and use kWh even when the thermostat is set on 15c whilst room temp is between 17c-19c throughout the night?
• would expect to burn gas when it goes below the 15c, right?
• or would it need to be manually switched or or set temp to Zero .C degree to avoid usage unnecessarily?

In regards to suppliers: what to look out for? what to aim for? any hints or tips?


Would appreciate your patience and advise on this.
Thank you in advance.

QrizB

I'm not sure starting three separate threads about your central heating system is the best way to approach this.