Heating Temperature

[muchlovex]

Not sure if this question has been asked before, so apologies if it has.

Is it more efficient to have heating on continuous on say 19 degrees or is it best to have it on the timer?

[marje]

I have mine on all day so that I have a constant temperature. If it's turned off it takes ages and more gas/elec to get your home warmed up again.

[Old_Geezer]

If it goes off and on then the temperature will drop during the off times at a rate dependent on how well insulated the house is. During that time the heat loss will reduce as the temperature difference between inside and outside reduces.

This lower rate of loss means you will be paying less, since, were the temperature kept at max, you would be using energy to keep it topped up for the whole period. Whether it is significant I do not know.

When the timer turns it back on it will use energy to raise the temperature back up again, but obviously not as much as keeping it high would have done.

Basically you get what you pay for. If you are happy with the reduced temperature at some times of the day, then put it on a timer and you'll pay less. If you want to know it's always warm, keep it on permanently during the colder months.

I suspect the efficiency of the system remains the same throughout.

[Mosaic]

It also depends on the structure of your property and how well insulated it is - solid stone walls may heat up slowly but retain heat, uninsulated aerated brick will be like living in a tent and need constant warming.

[Wak]

If you take a reading of your gas meter at a certain time at the weekend and leave the heating on continuous for one week and then take another meter reading at the same time the following weekend you will know how much gas you have used.
Repeat the above with the heating on the timer and then compare readings of total gas used weekly for each method.
Bear in mind that a very cold and snowy week could make quite a difference between readings. Try and compare two similar weeks weatherwise.

[boxtops]

Ours is on all the time, we keep it between 17-19 degrees.

[woofgang]

One person I know who was an economist and mathematician did the calculation for her house and found it cheaper to keep it on all the time but she had a large victorian house. I have got thermostatic rad valves, i keep the temp on 22 all day (I am retired) but the rads are on very low in spare rooms, low in the dining room and high in the lounge only

[bookbinder]

This topic has indeed been asked previously. I did an experiment in my house, over 2 winters, and it was cheaper to keep the heating on all the time (24/7) than to have it switching on and off twice a day. If you would like more details, just ask.

[johnk]

When we had regular power cuts in the 70s people who had their heating on permanently made massive savings. The heat lost through walls and roof are dependant on the temperature difference between the inside and outside, the greater the difference the more heat is lost and has to replaced by using more power so if heating is not on permanently you use much less energy. This thing about keeping the heating on permanently is a myth

[woofgang]

Johnk that is going to depend on how well the house is insulated?