duel fuel bills

[jmccann]

i have just had my duel fuel bill for 7 months ( winter one) and it was �648. i live in a 1930 3 bedroom house, rad's in all rooms , gas fire in living room. heating comes on at 4.30am - 6.00 am then 3.00pm - 9.00pm, gas fire on in evening also, heating on all day at weekends does this seem expensive ? we have a worcester boiler about 8/9 yrs old. Would it be cheaper to have the heating on all day set at a low temperature rather than blasting for a few hours ?

thanks

[andrea81]

I've agonised over this and I have to say I am none the wiser. We have tried having ours on:

All day on low
All day on thermostate at 18'C
Timer

We did it for a quater each time to see any differences, but as our company (as all have) increased their prices so much, it's been hard to tell which was better!

It's all a bit worrying as I pay by DD and I am always still owing at the end of the quater. I pay �50 Gas and �60 Elect each month! ;0(

[Ethel]

I have a 3 bed semi, central heating rads in all rooms and gas fire in living room.

I have the central heating on for one and half hours each morning and evening, put the fire on if necessary or boost the central heating.

I tumble dry all my washing and cook by electicity.

My duel fuel bill is �32 per month by direct debit, so just over �200 for 7 months.

Take readings now and leave the heating as it is. Take another heating the same time next week and leave the heating on low.

Take a final reading at the end of that week and compare.

For a proper test it would need to be longer but should be a good indicator.

[smurfchops]

Have a five bed house, heating on most of the day and evening over the past three months as very cold, around 8.00am till 10.30pm, also kept forgetting to turn off the hot water, I was really worried about the bill, we pay �90 a month DD and our debit was ... �3.75 !! Very pleased. We are with EOn. Over the summer the price should go down as well so we will be well in credit for next winter. Just be careful, turn thermo to 21 (t is getting warmer now anyway) and just leave hot water on for about an hour when u have a wash/shower/bath.should be enough.

[pug100]

The way to cut your heating is to insulate your home fully. Most houses built before 1980 have very little or no insulation and this may be why your heating bills are so high. Don't forget that gas and electricity have shot up too over the last 3 months some suppliers by as much as 15%.

Loft insulation is quite cheap and easy to diy, this is where to start. Next do your cavity walls, there are grants for this from many councils as well as the govt . Next look at your windows and doors and eliminate all draughts. A very good website for tips and guidance is here. Do the home energy check to see wher you can make savings.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/202-1 382860-0800634?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-ke ywords=speaker+switch&Go.x=11&Go.y=14

[pug100]

OOps wrong link
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i _do_today

[Frostygills]

I have a 1920 4 bed detached house, only moved in 6 months ago. Had my winter quarterly bill recently cira �270. We have our heating & water on 4 hours a day. 1 in the morning and 3 at night, all 7 days. The house is freezing on a weekend :(

We have doubled up the insulation in the loft, though major flaw that we have ceiling lights, so the insulation has to have a massive gap around each one, and our walls are solid. Were paying out for new PVC windows (currently wooded, v old double glazing) and a new boiler and tank (current boiler 16 yrs old).

Were hoping that our bills will drop for the short time that we actually have the heating on for. Though, obviously it's a massive outlay for the boiler and windows.