Central Heating - what's best ?

[Divingminxsy]

As even tropical Weymouth is undergoing a freezing spell, cold enough to need us to break the ice on the chickens water each morning and force the cats to wear their Christmas jumpers, I was wondering what the most economical option was for the central heating which is run by a combi boiler.

Option 1. Leave it on low 24 hours a day so the house never really gets cold.
Option 2. Have it coming on for a few hours morning and evening a day at a higher temperature and then it has to heat up a cold house.
Option 3. Turn off all the heating and fit the entire family and livestock into drysuits. ( Am going to have to negotiate long and hard with O'Three to make four weeny 4 legged ones for the moggs )

Which is best please ?

[uwila]

As the total heat you loose to the outside (and therefore cost of gas or oil) is a function of the difference between inside and outside temperatures and the time this difference exists, the cheapest option is the one where the inside is colder for the maximum amount of time possible. So option 2 is the answer. However, from a comfort point of view, it it takes absolutely ages to get the house warm, you might not want to do this.

[dynarob]

Option 4. Keep warm the old fashioned way (and I am definitely not talking more layers of clothing!)

[SoggyFox]

As the total heat you loose to the outside (and therefore cost of gas or oil) is a function of the difference between inside and outside temperatures and the time this difference exists, the cheapest option is the one where the inside is colder for the maximum amount of time possible. So option 2 is the answer. However, from a comfort point of view, it it takes absolutely ages to get the house warm, you might not want to do this.

so if i kept my house permenantly colder than the outside temperature the leccy company would have to start paying me?

[Pubbloke]

The answer will depend on how much time you spend in the house, how quickly your house looses heat (good/bad insulation) and what temperature you are aiming for.

Why not take a meter reading and run it on option 1 for two weeks and note the reading then do option 2 for two weeks. I understand that varying outside temperature and other gas usage will have an impact but should give you an indication of the best option.

[Frankie Price]

If you've got a frost guard setting on your boiler timer set it to about 15deg C but leave the normal thermostat running temp setting as it is.
This way when the house temp drops below 15deg C when the heating-on timer is set for morning and evening, the frost guard will switch on the heating for a short while during the 'off' period in the daytime and warm the house up. It won't be using as much gas in the day so it'll take less gas in the evening and morning to warm the house to 22deg C.
This uses slightly more gas than 'on in the morning' 'off in the afternoon' 'on in the evening' and 'off at night' but makes the house more comfortable and reduces the likelyhood of condensation in the colder corners of the house.

[Finless]

[BrianG]

UWILA has the right idea, the longer and/or higher you try to keep the house temperature above outside temperature the more energy will be used. Recovery times after an off cycle is dependant on a number of factors such as the method of construction of the building, boiler size, radiator size and location, and pipe size and pump speed. Modern properties should be quicker to recover as building thermal regulations have progressively improved over the years. That said given that the system and building are a given, experiment with switching times to ensure that the home is comfortable to meet your requirements. It is also worth remembering that the house fabric radiates back a proportion of the heat it has absorbed when the heating is off.

[Kalahari Diver]

Emigrate to a warmer climate!
David.

[Divingminxsy]

Finless, my angel, we are all stuffed to the brim with porridge, suet and Kendal Mint Cake and still freezing ! Weedy southerners you know - not used to a bit'o''frost.