how to reduce my gas bill!

[71silverfox]

Ive recently moved into a bigger house, and had a new contemporary gas fire put in (real flames over pebbles / driftwood). My gas bill is HUGE for the last 3 months - my question is this - which will cost more to run, my gas fire all night, or central heating? I want to reduce my gas bill, so want to know which is the more efficient to keep warm!

[NORMANTHEDOG]

it is winter you know

[71silverfox]

I know that smart a**e! I still think over �300 for 3 months gas is very excessive for a 3 bedroom house! bear in mind we are only in at the evenings and weekends because we are both at work. All I want to know which costs more to run- my fire or my central heating....

[kaztuz]

Stick with the central heating as you are heating the whole house, therefore the heat will penetrate all of the walls and stay warmer for longer. The gas fire will only be heating the one room and we have a similar style one to you which is 9kw and reasonably powerful.

[winny]

the gas fire will be very expnsive too run as most of the heat dissapears up the chimney they are more for effect i find than for heating requirements

[RAYMAN]

Get cavity wall insulation it retains the heat in the house,ask your power suppliers if they have any deals also ask your council if there any grants.

[kitty1981]

the central heating is cheaper as you heat the whole house evenly where as the fire will warm the lounge but the heat will dissappear into the cooler rooms. my fella wants to put a fire in our house but i wont let him.

[ummmm]

I pay �120 per month all year round for Gas....so doesn't seem that high for me...

[chitchat]

Ummmm - I used to pay �65 per month for both my gas and my electric for a 4 bed house. What are you doing with yours? - heating the street?

[ummmm]

It's a big victorian terrace with massive sash windows that suck out the heat. When you walk past my house you can feel the warmth....

[Hairyplums]

Disconnect the gas mate, throw out the fire and convert it into an open fire, hey presto, cheapo heat, you could use the pebbles in the garden for a water feature, and lets face it those contempory fires are a tad chav.....