Is it cheaper to put the heating on high for a short time or longer at a lower temperature?
By This Is Money, Ask The Experts
|
Is it economical to run a gas boiler fed central heating system at max temperature and therefore get to a set room temperature quickly and then turn off the boiler?
Or is it better to have the heat coming from the radiators for a longer period by setting the boiler at a minimum temperature.
Also does running a boiler at max temperature have detrimental effects on the boiler?
Basically, Is it cheaper to whack the heating on high for a short amount of time or longer on a lower temperature?
G.W, via email
Keeping warm: Is it cheaper to put the heating on high for a short amount of time or low for a longer period?
A home energy expert, from not-for-profit energy group Ebico, replies:
A house will heat up from cold more quickly the hotter the radiators are.
On the face of it, therefore, operating a boiler at maximum means a warm home, quicker.
However, the efficiency of a central heating system – and this is particularly true for modern condensing boilers – depends a very great deal on the correct matching of boiler power output to the size and number of radiators.
So, key to keeping your home warm with the central heating system at minimum cost, is having the correct boiler installed in the first place, and then using the correct power output setting.
If you set your boiler output too high, then the temperature at which the water returns to the boiler after circulating through the radiator system will be too high for it to recover much heat from the boiler’s exhaust gases (the process that normally makes condensing boilers much more efficient).
Try operating the boiler with as low an output setting as is consistent with achieving the required warmth in your home in a reasonable time.
Do be aware, however, that operating at low boiler output temperatures will also mean that water in your domestic hot water tank will take longer to warm-up too – so a little trial-and-error will be required.
Home Energy Expert is a free energy advice service from Ebico, the UK’s only not-for-profit energy company and National Energy Action, the UK’s leading fuel poverty charity, committed to improving the quality of life of low income households and campaigning for warm homes.
Home Energy Expert has teamed up with This is Money to answer any burning questions about energy in your home. If you want to improve your energy efficiency and save money then email your question with Home Energy Expert in the subject line to: editor@thisismoney.co.uk.
For more information click on to: www.ebico.org.uk
To get maximum efficiency is to turn radiators in the rooms you spend most of your time, turn all of the upstairs off. Put the boiler on when the temp drops below 15 degrees for 1 hour manually when required. We've cut gas consumption by -50% instead of using the thermostat combined with timer settings of 5am-7.00am, 11am-12pm, 7pm-8.30pm everyday which was one of the most efficient way of running on an auto cycle. Gas prices are so high now you have to weigh up consumption with cost of total comfort.
- Saying how it is, London, 21/4/2012 18:49
Report abuse