2006-11-04 16:14:46 · 8 answers · asked by louise 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
It depends on how low low is and how high high is. Kilowatt hours are the standard measurements for power expendature pricing. The bill is calculated by multiplying power (kilowatts) by time (hours). If there is twice as much power for half as long, your bill will not change.
2006-11-04 16:30:31 · answer #1 · answered by Biznachos 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A horrible question and so involved too.
Starting at the beginning with the boiler.
It has a poor calorific efficiency to begin with and the optimum of this is when the boiler's thermostat is normally half way.
Given this is the most wasteful link in the chain it should be operated at this setting for the best results.
This statement is based on the boiler's output matching the heat lost by the house at freezing point outside temperature.
It follows if the house is too hot in some areas it must be cold in others, so now we are relying on the walls to heat somewhere else? Bad economics.
This also applies to the external and internal walls where it takes 72 hours for a house to arrive at temperature stabilisation.
Since this is the first requirement before we can run our boiler at its best, then it follows the quicker this happens the better.
Leave the hot water on continuously with a manufacturing lagged cylinder that has its own thermostat control.
Time your rads to come on twice a day starting at 3pm and finishing 3am, then start again at 3am to ten am.
This way you can use the warmest daylight winter hours to take some of the load without making the house too warm.
You will have to alter your setting if your boiler's output has not been calculated correctly.
I have also proved this mathematically taking into account the different factors for different walls including internal ceilings and roof. Length of pipe runs, distances between hot water usage points and pipe lagging all play their part.
Try it yourself it's only the temperature differences and U factors that change, but it does take about four hours after you have all the information.
Note- I think thermal efficiency might be expressed in another way today and not U factors?
2006-11-05 04:01:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It really depends on the heat losses.
If you have the heating on high for shorter the inside temperature will be higher than with the heating on low.
So on high there will be a greater difference between the inside and outside so greater heat loss from inside to outside. With the heating on low the heat loss will be lower but for longer.
It still looks the same until you add the fact that the fuel used to raise the temperature of a room is the square of the increase in temperature. Therefore it will be cheaper to run the heating on low for longer and not to let the temperature inside to fall below the dew point.
The best way to reduce the fuel used is to reduce the heat loss - to the outside by insulation.
2006-11-07 17:17:14 · answer #3 · answered by Andy S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, a lower level with longer duration is more efficient overall, snice the amount of Joule heating of the ductwork and plenum is minimized.
2006-11-05 02:07:19 · answer #4 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cheaper to be off and wear a coat or wrap up in a quilt... but I think low for longer
2006-11-05 00:19:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is cheaper having your heating on lower for longer
2006-11-05 00:28:57 · answer #6 · answered by nightrider 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it dont matter if you have it on high or low you still get a big bill no matter what you do. i have tried it all an it dont make a differance.
2006-11-05 00:33:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
just Chuck a couple of pensioners on the fire that will save us all money
2006-11-05 00:24:04 · answer #8 · answered by cyberhighbenator 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋