Economising on heating: miserly scrooge or just plain common sense?

[Forever Changes]

Yeah, however low you can handle. A lower CH temp (like under 50 but as low as you can manage - even 40C) will be more efficient. For combi hot water (ie not those with tanks, who need to worry about legionnaires) probably 50C is as low as you're gonna want. But the CH uses most of the gas so that's the best one to get low.

Well I never really touch the boiler dials - I just set the thermostat to what temp I want. And if I'm only going to be in one room I'll usually turn the radiators in the other rooms off.

I've just changed both the heating and hot water dials to 50c on my boiler

 

[CFC]

I'd recommend setting the CH down to 40C if you only have it on in a few rooms. It'll improve efficiency.

Ironically, having the radiator on in a few more rooms might actually be cheaper because it enables the system to 'lose' heat as it pumps around, and so ensures the CH water coming back to the boiler is cool enough to fully condense. What you don't want to see is steam leaving the boiler - that's wasted heat energy going out into the atmosphere.

 

[CFC]

I should point out it can take a while to get used to having low radiator temperatures. Most people are used to them being really hot and heating spaces really quick.

But with modern boilers you actually want the radiators luke warm, but on for a much longer period of time. Though it can seem annoying waiting longer for the room to get to temperature, you also experience fewer draughts as the room becomes more evenly heated, with fewer hot spots causing less pronounced convection (airflow), and a more consistent temperature throughout the day.

 

[Bleaney]

I think it's been pretty mild generally so far in the UK this Autumn. I've genuinely not needed any heating in the evenings so far, and have just heated the one radiator in the bathroom in the mornings for 30-60 minutes to take the chill off while I do my bathroom ablution things, naked in the chill of the early mornings.

 

[stardust10]

@Bleaney definitely agree there's still flowers blooming it's usually frosty by now

 

[entheologian]

I had a similar experience years ago. A very expensive, no longer made Jacket that was in my closet had mold all over it. I was living where I had no control over temp/moisture. But that jacket was worth more than anything extra we would of spent on power that year - ignoring everything else in the house that was destroyed.

Dehumidifiers actually use surprisingly little power for what they do. Definitely the best way you can spend energy in terms of a healthy home. I have what if call a medium sized unit that takes about 5-10l out of the air a day if high moisture. It only uses 300w on its highest setting which is only 7kwh a day. You won't get anywhere near the benefits you get from that dehumidifier spending 7kwh on anything else.

Main issue with them is they are quite expensive and most people aren't educated on the matter so don't appreciate the value.

7kwh a day isn't much less than leaving the heating on minimum

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

Loving the weather atm, so warm but fresh with all the autumn colours.

 

[Bleaney]

I gave in today and have put the heating on in the evening. It's 13 degrees Celsius inside again, as it was yesterday, and I swear I don't feel so good. Maybe reading articles about what rooms that are too cold do to your health, (as well as your home and possessions,) has made me imagine that my blood pressure / heart feels odd, sitting in a room this cool for a prolonged time, or maybe it really does feel odd.

https://www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support/heat-and-health

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63602501

I did try to see how long I could go without heating. I could have saved literally hundreds, if not thousands of pounds if I could have lasted. By putting the heating on obviously I will now have much less money to spend on nicer things, but as I can actually afford to put it on, it seems the only sensible thing to do as it's just not worth potentially damaging ones health.

I was born at the beginning of the 1970s, and this is going to be the biggest drop of living standards that I have ever known whilst being in full time work. Apparently this is going to be the biggest drop of living standards / disposable income anyone in the UK has known since just after the 2nd world war. I'd like to think that I've been through enough humbling experiences not to have an especially entitled attitude. But still I do kind of feel entitled to be able to heat ones home without breaking the bank. And I don't think that's unreasonable. Maybe we are a soft generation. But I don't really think so, I think this has to be sorted out. Things are only going to get worse for at least 6 months, maybe even the next few years. Who know how long this situation could go on for.

 

[Ismene2]

Well my heating switched on when the room gets below 12C. So it's layers, layer & layers. But I'm using maybe £1/day of gas at the moment. It's those damned standing charges. For 6 months of the year I pay more in standing charges than in energy - what a rip off.

Thank ofgem - they capped a price on the bills so the gas companies put it all on the surcharge - just fill it up and pull it back - junkie style

 

[Ismene2]

I was born at the beginning of the 1970s,

My god you are getting on a bit you coffin dodger..

 

[Forever Changes]

Put only the bedroom radiator on + thick duvet + hot water bottle + laptop to watch or browse + drug of choice =

 

[Ismene2]

Put only the bedroom radiator on + thick duvet + hot water bottle + laptop to watch or browse + drug of choice =

Fill it up and pull it back! I would add a dog to cuddle too.

 

[G_Chem]

Fill it up and pull it back! I would add a dog to cuddle too.

Problem solved. Go adopt 6 dogs and have them cuddle you. We solve the heating problem and animal adoption problem all in one swing.

-GC

 

[Bleaney]

Put only the bedroom radiator on + thick duvet + hot water bottle + laptop to watch or browse + drug of choice =

I generally dont use the bedroom radiator at all. I'm fine with a cool - cold bedroom. Sleeping under layers of several blankets if neccessary.

What I plan to do this year is have only the bathroom radiator on in the mornings for my shower etc. And only the living room and hall radiators on in the evenings. I'll have to wd40 the valves though as they are fucking stiff. If that doesnt work its going to be a pain trying to turn them on and off each day.

 

[Fertile]

I'm layered up and 13C, I think, is about as low as it's safe to go. You are risking heart attack and similar if you go down any more. I tried going down to 10C but ended up shivering so much that it wasn't possible to sustain. But to be fair - 13C seems OK after 10C.

I AM interested to see the death toll in nations that have seen a 250% increase in gas prices. I guess it will ben the elderly and infirm BUT a few young, healthy people will be mown down.

 

[CFC]

A reasonable heated blanket/sheet can be bought for about £20. Might be an option for those who can't afford to heat their spaces properly. PLEASE make sure that you try to keep relative humidity under 60% (preferably under 50%) though if you can't heat your space, as too much humidity will allow black moulds to thrive. A draught of fresh air is essential, even when it's utterly freezing.

 

[Bleaney]

My god you are getting on a bit you coffin dodger..

I dodged a few coffins in the 2010s it's fair to say. Probably used up more than my 9 lives, more by luck than judgement, on several occasions.

I think it would be kind of ironic to have survived and learnt from all of that, only to then end up dying due to a lack of heating.

 

[Ismene2]

A reasonable heated blanket/sheet can be bought for about £20.

Thats cheap cfc. I went in argos last week and got an electric blanket for £50 for the bed and an electric overthrow for £60.

I would recomend em tho - no need for heating with an electric throw wrapped around you.

 

[stardust10]

Was talking to someone tonight who doesn't use her heating at all ever for the environment they just layer up. It's bcoz they were used to living outside in winter though - fair play to them!!

 

[Bleaney]

Was talking to someone tonight who doesn't use her heating at all ever for the environment they just layer up. It's bcoz they were used to living outside in winter though - fair play to them!!

Which country is this? If it's anywhere as cold and damp as the UK that can't be good for her health.