Cheapest way to heat a house?
Discussion
Bobley said:
White duct tape over ventilators (although make sure you dont go too far with that one).
That's a Very Bad Idea. Ventilators are there for a reason and need to remain unblocked. If they are blocked you could end up with a build-up of nasty gasses, lots of stale and smelly air around and seriously bad mildew in the bathroom (and elsewhere) - and if you are in a rented flat you don't want to give your landlord good reasons to withhold your deposit when it comes to moving-out time. Stopping unintended draughts is a very good idea, but don't take it further than that.
Oli.
http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/...
free loft and cavity wall insulation. Is your immersion heater on permanently?
free loft and cavity wall insulation. Is your immersion heater on permanently?
Edited by TLandCruiser on Wednesday 1st October 10:07
The immersion heater isn't to blame. Typically I switch it on when I get home from work and off again when I go to bed. I follow this pattern all year round but the shocking bills only crop up when we use the storage heaters and fan heaters.
Basically the heaters are as follows:
Lounge: One large storage heater and one fan heater masquerading as a fireplace.
Hallway: One small storage heater.
Kitchen: Fan heater mounted on wall.
Bedroom 1: One large storage heater.
Bedroom 2: one medium sized electric heater.
Bathroom: One heated towel rail.
The storage heaters, electric heater in BR2, and the fan heaters are the only things that are on during the months when heating is necessitated and this is when the big bills come in. Typically the storage heaters are never set to higher than '3' on the input.
Basically the heaters are as follows:
Lounge: One large storage heater and one fan heater masquerading as a fireplace.
Hallway: One small storage heater.
Kitchen: Fan heater mounted on wall.
Bedroom 1: One large storage heater.
Bedroom 2: one medium sized electric heater.
Bathroom: One heated towel rail.
The storage heaters, electric heater in BR2, and the fan heaters are the only things that are on during the months when heating is necessitated and this is when the big bills come in. Typically the storage heaters are never set to higher than '3' on the input.
MitchT said:
The immersion heater isn't to blame. Typically I switch it on when I get home from work and off again when I go to bed. I follow this pattern all year round but the shocking bills only crop up when we use the storage heaters and fan heaters.
Basically the heaters are as follows:
Lounge: One large storage heater and one fan heater masquerading as a fireplace.
Hallway: One small storage heater.
Kitchen: Fan heater mounted on wall.
Bedroom 1: One large storage heater.
Bedroom 2: one medium sized electric heater.
Bathroom: One heated towel rail.
The storage heaters, electric heater in BR2, and the fan heaters are the only things that are on during the months when heating is necessitated and this is when the big bills come in. Typically the storage heaters are never set to higher than '3' on the input.
No way to add a timer for the immersion heater to run during the Economy 7 period instead? Basically the heaters are as follows:
Lounge: One large storage heater and one fan heater masquerading as a fireplace.
Hallway: One small storage heater.
Kitchen: Fan heater mounted on wall.
Bedroom 1: One large storage heater.
Bedroom 2: one medium sized electric heater.
Bathroom: One heated towel rail.
The storage heaters, electric heater in BR2, and the fan heaters are the only things that are on during the months when heating is necessitated and this is when the big bills come in. Typically the storage heaters are never set to higher than '3' on the input.
Storage heaters are crap, I have them, I never turn them on. But I can put up with the cold.
Keep doors shut and only heat the room your using, (your living room), im not sure what the best type of heater is to get (oil, fan, convector whatever) but i just use a dimplex convector on low to take the chill off and in the midst of winter i wear a jumper, my apartment is well insulated though with cavity wall etc, it cant get drafty though but you need a bit of air flow to stop condensation.
Keep doors shut and only heat the room your using, (your living room), im not sure what the best type of heater is to get (oil, fan, convector whatever) but i just use a dimplex convector on low to take the chill off and in the midst of winter i wear a jumper, my apartment is well insulated though with cavity wall etc, it cant get drafty though but you need a bit of air flow to stop condensation.
MitchT said:
The immersion heater isn't to blame. Typically I switch it on when I get home from work and off again when I go to bed. I follow this pattern all year round but the shocking bills only crop up when we use the storage heaters and fan heaters.
Basically the heaters are as follows:
Lounge: One large storage heater and one fan heater masquerading as a fireplace.
Hallway: One small storage heater.
Kitchen: Fan heater mounted on wall.
Bedroom 1: One large storage heater.
Bedroom 2: one medium sized electric heater.
Bathroom: One heated towel rail.
The storage heaters, electric heater in BR2, and the fan heaters are the only things that are on during the months when heating is necessitated and this is when the big bills come in. Typically the storage heaters are never set to higher than '3' on the input.
It will be the electric fan heaters that will be eating the juice.Basically the heaters are as follows:
Lounge: One large storage heater and one fan heater masquerading as a fireplace.
Hallway: One small storage heater.
Kitchen: Fan heater mounted on wall.
Bedroom 1: One large storage heater.
Bedroom 2: one medium sized electric heater.
Bathroom: One heated towel rail.
The storage heaters, electric heater in BR2, and the fan heaters are the only things that are on during the months when heating is necessitated and this is when the big bills come in. Typically the storage heaters are never set to higher than '3' on the input.
Why not get an electricity meter and then you will be able to tell for sure where it is going.
Is the immersion heater just for hot water?
If so, why is it on all night?
It on all evening.
IF you have a TWO element OR TWO Circuit immersion system (aka Econ 7 and boost) install one of these rather than leaving it on all night:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Acce...
That way it can heat overnight on E7.
OR if only on the daytime circuit, then install one of these, 1hr is plenty for a full tank:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Acce...
RE the fan heaters, AC is much more efficient (has a heating mode). But might be hard to install.
IF you have a TWO element OR TWO Circuit immersion system (aka Econ 7 and boost) install one of these rather than leaving it on all night:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Acce...
That way it can heat overnight on E7.
OR if only on the daytime circuit, then install one of these, 1hr is plenty for a full tank:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Acce...
RE the fan heaters, AC is much more efficient (has a heating mode). But might be hard to install.
hornetrider said:
Sounds like a s
t house with just storage heaters. You say it's a rental - move.
Not that easy - we have two cats and finding landlords who'll take pets is in a completely different league where challenges are concerned. We don't really want to move either - aside from the crappy heating it's pretty much perfect. The development is in the best part of town, my neighbour (now retired) worked in the same industry as me and also spent some of his time behind the wheel of a racing car, landlord is actually very good - you never know what you're going to get but this guy is great. The only way would be down from here - I just want to know if there's a way of warming it up inexpensively! All the houses on the development are electric only. Some are mews houses and some are flats. For some reason the whole development was classed as flats and as such the developers were only allowed to install electric.t house with just storage heaters. You say it's a rental - move.longshot said:
It will be the electric fan heaters that will be eating the juice.
That's what we believe as the huge winter bill came after we'd been using the one in the kitchen quite a lot to dry the washing. It's mounted on the wall pointing downward so was ideal if you put the washing on a rack underneath it. The previous quarter we'd not been using it but had been using the storage heaters and that bill wasn't so terrible.longshot said:
Is the immersion heater just for hot water?
If so, why is it on all night?
Because I can't get up in the middle of the night to turn it on or off and we want it on for the cheaper phase of the dual rate cycle. Besides, the immersion heater isn't really an issue. We use it the same way all year round so if it were contributing in any significant way to our costs the summer bill would be scandalous too.If so, why is it on all night?
Edited by MitchT on Wednesday 1st October 18:39
Yes, they only charge up over night. Thing is though - we don't set them high enough to get the house anywhere near warm enough or they'd cost a fortune and, as they only charge up over night and discharge through the day there's not much heat available on an evening. We need to find something efficient that heats the house up as and when we need it. The OH said she's been told about some oil filled free-standing radiators which were supposed to be good, but I'd rather ask on here for anecdotal evidence about the effectiveness of them than rely on marketing spiel that's designed purely to make me part with my cash.
Might be worth investigating getting an Economy 10 meter which can supply low rate power in afternoons and evenings as well as at night:
http://www.electricityprices.org.uk/economy-10/
http://www.electricityprices.org.uk/economy-10/
I would also look at the cooking methods you're using. You may not think these are chewing energy in the colder months, but I'm sure they are.
An £11 slow cooker and a £15 vegetable steamer halved my monthly electricity bill. There's a 2.5 litre slow cooker on offer at the moment for £11.99 in Robert Dyas.
Also LED energy-saving bulbs everywhere, and I mean everywhere. These are expensive to buy, but the costs have come down a lot in recent years. Keep the old bulbs and take the energy-saving ones with you when you leave.
An £11 slow cooker and a £15 vegetable steamer halved my monthly electricity bill. There's a 2.5 litre slow cooker on offer at the moment for £11.99 in Robert Dyas.
Also LED energy-saving bulbs everywhere, and I mean everywhere. These are expensive to buy, but the costs have come down a lot in recent years. Keep the old bulbs and take the energy-saving ones with you when you leave.
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