[Finance] Is this the cheapest way of running central heating? Can't find an answer on the internet

[Mustafa II]

If I turned off all the rads in my home except the one in the room I'm in - with the thermostat next to me - would this be the cheapest way to run central heating?

The internet has mixed views about this - what does NSC think?

 

[Bald Head]

If I turned off all the rads in my home except the one in the room I'm in - with the thermostat next to me - would this be the cheapest way to run central heating?

The internet has mixed views about this - what does NSC think?

I suppose your not heating so much water ,must be cheaper in my view,but im no expert.

 

[Seagull27]

No.

Cheapest way would be to turn it off and put another coat on.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Turn them all off and put another jumper on!(says me sitting on the radiator in a t shirt )
Wow, great minds an' all that

 

[Fungus]

Surely some / lots of the heat from the boiler would be lost from the pipework around the house, even with the other radiators turned off? I’d be surprised if this was an efficient solution.

 

[Mustafa II]

Surely some / lots of the heat from the boiler would be lost from the pipework around the house, even with the other radiators turned off? I’d be surprised if this was an efficient solution.

I would have thought that as the water isn't motive that it would prevent loss of heat, as opposed to the water flowing throughout the house?

 

[Birdie Boy]

I'm sure I read on Octopus or BBC or somewhere this is the best way. Makes sense, why heat a room that your not in?

 

[beorhthelm]

I would have thought that as the water isn't motive that it would prevent loss of heat, as opposed to the water flowing throughout the house?

water goes round in a circuit, one rad to the next. each themostat controls water coming off the circuit into that radiator. yes all the pipework would be heated, but also yes it's probably the cheapest way to run the heating. plus a wooly jumper.

 

[Bald Head]

According to The Energy Saving Trust it is cheaper .

 

[BN9 BHA]

water goes round in a circuit, one rad to the next. each themostat controls water coming off the circuit into that radiator. yes all the pipework would be heated,

Not always, it depends on the type of heating system and how the pipe work is run around the property.

 

[Bodian]

Might be the cheapest - but it is then hardly, by definition, 'central heating' is it?

I guess the proper question would be 'Is it cheaper to run central heating for just one radiator - or to have an electric powered oil-filled radiator (or similar)?'

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Probably, but the rest of your house will be cold, damp and mouldy.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

This thread is useless without a poll.

 

[Bozza]

I gave up on this question last winter due to the conflicting advice.

One view is to only heat the rooms you need to heat, turning off the radiators in the others. This logically makes sense to me since the water is still as warm as possible when it returns to the boiler, hence requires less energy to get it hot enough to send back around again.

But, for boilers like ours - a condensing (not combi) boiler - it seems that you want the water to be cool when it returns to the boiler, in order to facilitate condensing which is how the boiler works efficiently. I admit I have no idea how this works as it just seems completely illogical!

 

[Bodian]

I gave up on this question last winter due to the conflicting advice.

One view is to only heat the rooms you need to heat, turning off the radiators in the others. This logically makes sense to me since the water is still as warm as possible when it returns to the boiler, hence requires less energy to get it hot enough to send back around again.

But, for boilers like ours - a condensing (not combi) boiler - it seems that you want the water to be cool when it returns to the boiler, in order to facilitate condensing which is how the boiler works efficiently. I admit I have no idea how this works as it just seems completely illogical!

All (modern) combi boilers are condensing boilers. I think?

 

[BN9 BHA]

All (modern) combi boilers are condensing boilers. I think?

Correct but he’s saying he’s got a condensing boiler that isn’t a combi.
I have a condensing boiler that’s not a combi, it’s a system boiler. (Similar to a combi but connected to an unvented hot water cylinder)

 

[A mex eyecan]

I'm sure I read on Octopus or BBC or somewhere this is the best way. Makes sense, why heat a room that your not in?

to save it getting damp??

 

[Bry Nylon]

I saved a FORTUNE in heating oil during last December’s cold snap by turning off the heating and toughing it out.

Imagine how I laughed when the house got so cold that the pipes in my loft froze then burst at 1am and flooded half the house and f***ed the electrics.

“Oh, you silly old sausage,” I thought to myself as the dining room ceiling collapsed.

 

[chickens]

to save it getting damp??

I think that’s very much the argument against doing it. If the property is well ventilated and doesn’t suffer from any damp issues then just having the one rad on might make sense.

If after a few days/weeks/months you’re noticing mould forming (often near/around the windows where there’s condensation occurring) then I would be taking the economic hit and not allowing mould to spread, it can can cause or exacerbate respiratory issues etc.

If mould does appear, a bleach solution followed by drying the affected area is (I believe) best, but get the heating back on in the affected rooms sharpish.

 

[chickens]

I saved a FORTUNE in heating oil during last December’s cold snap by turning off the heating and toughing it out.

Imagine how I laughed when the house got so cold that the pipes in my loft froze then burst at 1am and flooded half the house and f***ed the electrics.

“Oh, you silly old sausage,” I thought to myself as the dining room ceiling collapsed.

Sorry to hear that, hope you were covered and have been able to get things back into shape. Water seems to be to be the ultimate destroyer, because you can’t immediately replace things, you have to wait for all the affected areas to fully dry out before you can do any remedial work.