Heating, Which Kind Is Most Economical?

[RATTER15]

We are looking at renting a property in North Wales, it currently has LPG central heating which I imagine is very expensive to run, it also has open fires. The problem is really the Mother in law's room, she is 96 and very frail and the room will need to be heated most of the year. What would be the most practical form of heating for one room?

[woofgang]

I have got a thermostatically controlled oil filled radiator with a timer on it that is pretty good for heating just one room. Its on casters so can be moved around easily, not very big.
its this one
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4150509.htm
without a timer is cheaper

[RATTER15]

Thanks woof, we have those at work for emergencies, they could well be the answer. Thanks.

[ummmm]

Was it you or Carakeel that posted a picture of her? Your MIL looks fabulous x

[RATTER15]

Yes ummmm, Carakeel put it on FB, she really is lovely, we took that picture that day because she was so alert and very bright looking, the pic was taken a few weeks ago, she has unfortunately deteriorated since.

[ummmm]

I'm sure she still looks fab. She's a lucky lady.

I see so many people in my nans care home that have no-one that goes to see them.

My aunt is like you. My granddad died in October and my aunt still goes and visits the other patients in the care home.

Sorry for not answering the question x

[RATTER15]

Ummmm, she really is a lucky lady, she gets spoiled every day and all of her carers love her to bits, as do we.

[EDDIE51]

To get back to the question, there are only 2 possibilities.
Electric heaters or bottle gas heaters. Of the 2 electric would be cheaper.

[RATTER15]

Thanks Eddie.

[whiskeryron]

We have LPG & a couple of years ago we had Solar Hot Water panels fitted, we are very happy with this system & are able to leave the C/H on every day & are using about half the gas we were using before.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Choosing-a-renewable-technology/Solar-water-heating

WR.

[jomifl]

If you have mains electricity then an air souced heat pump (reversable air conditioner) would be cheapest to run. For the consumption of 1kw of electricity it will pump 3Kw of heat into the room and provide cooling in the summer(if that happens). The units are not expensive if you buy and install them yourself then get them filled with gas by an aircon specialist. You will have to include the installation costs into the running costs though and at a rough guess for anything less than a couple of years use any kind of electric heater would probably be cheaper because of the low start up costs. All resistive electric heaters have the same efficiency though some are better at putting the heat where you want it. The more diffuse the heating the better, when we installed underfloor heating we found the room comfortable 2C lower than previously because of the reduced draughts.

[The Builder]

Assuming your LPG is in a big tank in the garden...... you might want to keep it as a back-up. Turn all other rads off, but keep Mother's steaming away.
Not terribly efficient, but consider that if you ask them to "uplift" (THEIR jargon) the tank because you don't need it, they will charge for this, and give you no allowance for whatever gas is in it.

Don't get me started on The C***R LPG company ..... :o(((

[jomifl]

I found that if Calor want their tank back badly enought they will come and take it without even asking :-)

[jomifl]

enought..enough...enoug...enou.. take your pick

[The Builder]

Jum ... I guess you're right providing the contract has run out. If it hasn't. they still expect you to keep paying.
That's what happened the last time I was involved with them. Maybe they've seen the light ;o)

[The Builder]

...er........ "Jom" ^^^

[jomifl]

Builder , it was a very long time ago, and they possibly knew that I had no dosh. Jum...jom ...jim...whatever :-)