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Original poster

To still not understand the best way to use central heating?

73 replies

CherryCake54 · 15/10/2023 11:44

Can someone please settle the yearly debate about gas central heating once and for all?

Is it better to leave the heating on low majority of the day?

OR

Is it better to put it on at regular intervals throughout the day as and when needed?

I try to figure this out every year in various ways but I'm still none the wiser.

Please help!

OP posts:
35965a · 15/10/2023 12:28

I have it on a timer and thermostat around 20-21 It comes on 6.15am and goes off at 8am. On v cold days I’ll set it to come on approx 6.30pm to 8.30pm as well.

Last year when it was below -6 for a few days the water pipe on the boiler kept freezing so I kept it on for about 3 entire days 24hr a day.

Obviously the thermostat means it’ll go off and come on between those times if it gets up to temp.

Seems to work fine for us this way and isn’t too expensive.

RandomMess · 15/10/2023 12:29

I would get a master thermostat added to your system.

We have one plus thermostat valves on the radiators. So we have the rooms in use lots set number 3 on the valves and the ones not used/used little on the frost protection or #1. Then the master thermostat and timer sets when it comes on which is 3 times a day.

Daftasabroom · 15/10/2023 12:30

@CherryCake54 If I follow the rule of 'just put it on when you're cold', it ends up being on for an hour (lovely), so then switch off for an hour (doesn't stay warm - cold again), so heating back on again. And I'm kind of doing this all day. The insulation isn't terrible it's fine.

Put it on when you need it or a little before.

If your is cooling down quickly your insulation absolutely isn't fine.

DRS1970 · 15/10/2023 12:37

You're significantly better switching the heating on a short while before you need it. Changes in temperature are also good for your home and promote some air movement, and helps keep some moisture in the air, which is healthier than constant hot dry air

pizzaHeart · 15/10/2023 12:42

You can put thermostat on if you have not got one. I’m not sure if it’s plumber or electrician you need but the thermostat itself cost about £50

jupitermonket · 15/10/2023 12:43

@margotrose
Ha! That’s all seems freezing to me! 🤣
15 degrees in the morning at this time of year is what I’d maybe expect in deep winter. And 18 degrees is probably my low point when I insist heating goes on to warm it up!

Badbadbunny · 15/10/2023 12:44

The boiler doesn't "work harder" to warm up from cold. It's basically got two "modes", being on or off, as controlled by the thermostat which is an on/off switch.

If the system is cold, the boiler will just be on longer until it warms up - that's not "working harder" it's doing exactly the same, but just being powered up and operating for longer time.

Tumbleweed101 · 15/10/2023 12:45

I tend to use timed when it is still relatively warm during the day but cold in the morning and evening. Then in a cold snap I will keep it on but control via thermostat. At night or if we are out I will keep thermostat around 15C and when we are home between 18-20C, it seems to work ok for us both in terms of warmth and affordability. We use oil heating.

mogsrus · 15/10/2023 12:50

No, the boiler has no idea without an external stat how warm your house is, it just maintains the temp in the pipes.

Mumof2teens79 · 15/10/2023 12:50

CherryCake54 · 15/10/2023 12:24

I just have a boiler and thermostatic valves on each radiator. I don't have a separate thermostat on the wall anywhere like I see in some people's houses. Does the boiler container the thermostat to regulate the entire house?

When people are saying 'the heating clicks on when the house falls below X degrees' is that because you have a thermostat located somewhere?

Or should my boiler know when the house falls below X degrees?

You need a separate master thermostat. If you don't have one then you definitely don't want the heating on all day as it will just keep running and running.

My combi boiler does have controls for the heating and hot water temp....this controls the maximum temp the water is actually heated to, so you can make sure the hot water and radiators are not scalding hot. The lower the setting here the more the boiler has to pump to rapidly heat the house. So if you want the house to heat quickly from cold and only run heating a few hours a day I guess you want this higher.

But at the moment I have mine lower, so even when on the radiators are not red hot.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 15/10/2023 12:51

Can I ask another central heating question? My living room has 3 radiators. Is it more efficient to have 1 on full or all 3 on low? Or does it make no difference?

mogsrus · 15/10/2023 12:53

if the radiator has rad stats fitted it won’t make much difference

mogsrus · 15/10/2023 12:55

all boilers do is send hot water round & round, that’s it’s main job,

mogsrus · 15/10/2023 12:58

Rad stats operate best in a closed room, so when room gets warm the stat will close & stop only that rad warming any further until room gets lower therefore activating the valve again

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 15/10/2023 12:58

When people are saying 'the heating clicks on when the house falls below X degrees' is that because you have a thermostat located somewhere?

Yes. I thought most people had that! From when it begins to get chilly in autumn, I have my heating on a timer so that it never comes on at night, and the thermostat set to 18 degrees, so during the day it will click on if the temperature drops below that. Although now there's nobody in the house on weekdays between 8 and 4, so I'll have it come on in the morning briefly and then again at about 3:30.

Beautiful3 · 15/10/2023 13:03

I found it costs the same to set my thermostat on 18 degrees. The heating kicks in whenever the temperature drops. It keeps my house toasty.

mogsrus · 15/10/2023 13:10

If a room has 3 rads with three rad stats set at for example 1 2 3. 1 & 2 will close first as the room needs to be warmer for number 3 to activate

Ponoka7 · 15/10/2023 13:14

It depends on the age of your children and what your ideal budget is for heating. It can be cheaper to use it to just walk up the air, then wear warm clothing. I think that it's healthier to run a bit cold.

Original poster
CherryCake54 · 15/10/2023 13:20

Thanks everyone these responses have been really helpful. I think my lack of thermostat is the cause of my misunderstanding. Would you agree (perhaps I'm still confused/wrong)?

Plan:

  • get a thermostat fitted
  • put heating on a timer during all at home/awake hours (cold months)
  • set the thermostat to desired temperature for home
  • thermostat will maintain home to desired temperature (when on), and heating will 'click off' when temperature is steady, turning back on again when temperature falls.

Question:
Do the individual radiator valves essentially do the same job as a central thermostat, but per room?

OP posts:
Macaroni46 · 15/10/2023 13:25

Last year I tried the leaving it on longer but on a lower temp and my bills were eye wateringly high.
This year I'm going to go back to my 'turn it on when I'm cold' routine. But my living room is south facing so when the sun is shining it's lovely and warm, and my house is smallish and stays warm.

Original poster
CherryCake54 · 15/10/2023 13:30

I feel like I'm in the minority of people by not having a thermostat. Just wondering if anybody else doesn't have a thermostat and as a result is just as confused as me as to the most cost effective way to control it?
I accept I may just be being a bit dim on this topic, it confuses me every year!

OP posts:
Original poster
CherryCake54 · 15/10/2023 13:30

Macaroni46 · 15/10/2023 13:25

Last year I tried the leaving it on longer but on a lower temp and my bills were eye wateringly high.
This year I'm going to go back to my 'turn it on when I'm cold' routine. But my living room is south facing so when the sun is shining it's lovely and warm, and my house is smallish and stays warm.

Thanks for sharing your experience of doing this.

OP posts:
BMW6 · 15/10/2023 13:37

Question:
Do the individual radiator valves essentially do the same job as a central thermostat, but per room?

Sort of. Once the boiler is firing it will heat the house to the temperature set by the thermostat, then each radiator will get to the degree of warmth selected by its individual thermostatic valve.

Obviously don't put the central thermostat in a room where the rads are off or low, because the temperature you've chosen overall won't be reached.

Our central thermostat is in our dining room, the coldest room on the ground floor. Our bedroom rads are turned down to 3 as we don't like hot bedrooms.

In winter the central thermostat is set at 18 or 19 from 7am to 11pm, then down to 15 overnight.

JamieandRoybromance · 15/10/2023 13:37

Have you definitely not got a thermostat? Ours is halfway up our stairs on a small section of the bannister rail!

BandicootCrash · 15/10/2023 13:38

Ah, I didn't realise you dont have a thermostat. Definitely look into getting one fitted (and/or have a really good look around first to check that you really don't have one! Understairs cupboard?)