Is it cheaper to run central heating, or electric heater?

AmandaPeet

Obviously electricity is cheaper because of solar power but gas powers … Obviously electricity is cheaper because of solar power but gas powers are on raise.It is more common for households living without mains gas to heat their homes using either heating oil or electricity as the fuel source.Gas is likely to be cheaper than a portable electric heater for most homes. HVAC SchoolsRead lessRead more

electricity is a lot more expensive than 5 years ago when this thread was made......


Edit: damn you, now I look like the necro thread bumper
(edited)

dont see that working as the boiler will consume a lot initially and then very little?

morales

would it be cheaper though? even with just 1 room needing to be heated, i … would it be cheaper though? even with just 1 room needing to be heated, i still wonder if the boiler option wouldn't be cheaperRead lessRead more

You problem you have with only heating one room, is that the heat loss to the rooms that aren't heated in increased significantly.

Also, if you get hot water from your boiler too, it would be more efficient if the boiler had been in use than not.

1KW for say 12 hours a day = 12 KW/hours - depending on your tarrif is 12x 20p = £2.40 per day = £72 per month. That's making a lot of assumptions, such as the heating accurately using 1KW as you state and your energy costs from your supplier.

Based on my bill 17/11/09-05/03/10 we used £51 of gas, this is for heating, cooking on a gas hob and hot water including a shower. We have a 3 bed house with a baby in it. Roughly works out at £17 per month.

It's safe to say that the boiler is the cheaper option - someone correct me if my rough calculations are wrong.

StevenBrown

electricity is a lot more expensive than 5 years ago when this thread was … electricity is a lot more expensive than 5 years ago when this thread was made......Edit: damn you, now I look like the necro thread bumperRead lessRead more

well done now i feel ancient

I don't imagine you get any heat from the flat above, as heat rises.

If you mean is it cheaper to run a boiler with the flat mostly heated, against running a single electric heater to heat one room, I guess the answer is no. If however you want a decent amount of heat in all rooms using these methods as a comparison, then the boiler is cheaper.

Simple test.
Note the electric and gas meter readings.
Heat the room for one hour using electric heater, workout cost of electric used by new meter reading.
Heat the room for one hour using boiler, workout cost of gas and electric used by new meter readings.

Electric heaters are notoriously inefficient. You should be able to work out the cost of both if you have the technical details of the boiler. I'd wouldn't be surprised if you could heat the whole flat with the boiler for less than one room with the electric heater.

If there are four of you then they will all pay a quarter anyway ?
If they complain tell them it needs to be on to protect from frost / burst pipes

moob

If you mean is it cheaper to run a boiler with the flat mostly heated, … If you mean is it cheaper to run a boiler with the flat mostly heated, against running a single electric heater to heat one room, I guess the answer is no. If however you want a decent amount of heat in all rooms using these methods as a comparison, then the boiler is cheaper.Read lessRead more

would it be cheaper though? even with just 1 room needing to be heated, i still wonder if the boiler option wouldn't be cheaper

tangramman

If there are four of you then they will all pay a quarter anyway ?If they … If there are four of you then they will all pay a quarter anyway ?If they complain tell them it needs to be on to protect from frost / burst pipes:)Read lessRead more

got to be considerate really don't i, plus its not insignificant to have the heating all day for a week