24 hours a day?

[rolyatescort]

Hi Guys, i have a potterton puma combi feeding 8 rads (4 up, 4 down). I live in a mid terrace that gets flipping freezing without the heating on. Its Double-Glazed (brand new) and has 10" of new loft insulation.
Would you expect that it would be cheaper to leave the heating on 24 hours a day or to have it on timer but having to heat the house from freezing cold all the time so therefore presumably working harder all the time it is on?

 

[breezer]

that is the 6million dollar question.

turn it down (not off) when you go out and up when you come in (thats what ours does)

 

[ChrisR]

Heat loss is more at higher temp, so off when you're out is best.

 

[oilman]

that is the 6million dollar question.

$6MILLION!!!! that's a bit steep, if you had that much you wouldn't care about the cost of heating.

Programmable thermostats allow you to lower the temp during the day, but as ChrisR says, turning it off is cheapest, though it will take longer to get the temperature up, or you need a bigger system to do it quickly. If you only have 8kW (such as a Rayburn) it stays on all the time and the house (or part of it) will be warm. If you have a 30kW boiler you can heat the house from cold much quicker. If you're in all day a small system will keep the temp up (and you pay for the fuel) If you are out, it's cheaper to turn it off but you need more power to get warm fast enough.

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

Programmable room stat is best way to go so the house doesn't freeze and keeps the chill off.

 

[ChrisR]

I'd agree with that- mine goes to 16 at night.

 

[oilman]

I'd agree with that- mine goes to 16 at night.

Though it's more expensive than turning it off. (But hey!, if you've got a combi who cares about expense).

 

[rolyatescort]

Programmable room stat is best way to go so the house doesn't freeze and keeps the chill off.

My system has no room stat at all, how easy is it to add one and has anyone any recommendations for one that is suitable?