RE: Is it cheaper to leave your heating on?

[Nigel Giddings <nigel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gary,

I think you may have touched on how heating 24/7 can be cheaper than
heating a few hours a day...

By heating 24/7, but at a little lower temperature the balance could be in
your favour.

Taking my parents as an example at the other end of the scale, they have a
digital thermostat (only 1 which is the first issue) which they use to
turn the heating on and off with. I regularly see it set to 24 degrees as
they try to heat the house up 'quickly'. Then they turn it off as the
house is now too hot, until it gets too cold... the additional energy use
for 3 degrees above what is required is significant especially if you only
need to raise the temperature 10 degrees or so above outside temperatures
during the spring / autumn.

By controlling the temperature across many zones accurately you prevent
this temperature over-shoot which is wasted energy.

Therefore accurate controls 24/7 are probably better than fiddling with
the thermostat constantly?

I would also suggest you are more likely to tune down the heating to the
minimum you are comfortable with if the general sense is one of it being
warm 24/7. It feels warm when you come in from a cold outside and you are
more likely to have it just right, not too hot or cold, something you are
unlikely to achieve if it is always getting warmer or colder...

Nigel

-----Original Message-----
From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Gary Jenkins
Sent: 01 March 2013 20:03
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Is it cheaper to leave your heating on?

I had to run my system on 24H due to a faulty boiler and was shocked to
find that the quarter Dec/Jan/Feb  that i ran it 24H was only 60% of the
previous quarter (Sept/Oct/Nov)- i.e. warmer months. However,  I was
turning down the valves downstairs overnight and setting them back up in
the morning which would also have an effect, but I have been left with the
feeling that it is cheaper - but naturally it depends on many factors,
size of house, type of boiler, insulation etc.

One day I will do a proper test, but my impression is that it potentially
can be less expensive - in terms of gas anyway. Its worth trying.


On 27 February 2013 09:01, Howard <howardsixtynine@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> **
>
>
> I've heard this a few times, and it sounds like an old wives tale to
me.
> Apparently it can use less energy leaving your heating on all the time
> than if you have it on a timer. Basic physics says this is rubbish,
> but there is something about it keeping condensation out of the walls
> and so improving their insulation.
>
> If there's anyone out there who has good data to confirm or disprove
> this, it'll be someone on Automated Home. Have any of you tried it out
> and got some conclusive results?
>
> Thanks
> Howard
>
>
>


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