Which is cheaper to run-gas fire or central heating?

Question

If we are in the front room is it cheaper to have the fire on with no heating or the heating on throughout the house? We live in a small 2bed terrace with tiny radiators. The fire is more effective for us if downstairs but is it more economical?

not looked it up, don't know where to start. Only been in house a couple of months (first house!)

Answer 1

central heating is cheaper, i tried it
looked at gas reading when both were off, lit 1 fire on full, for 30 mins and took reading, then put central heating on for whole house for 30 mins, and the central heating used alot less gass than the 1 fire did, so now we don`t use the fires at all

Answer 2

It is cheaper to run central heating if your rads are to small why not change them for modern double radiators as they are more economical to run than the old single ones. Make sure the insulation in your loft is at least 10 ins thick, you dont say if you have double glazing if not it would be a good idea to have it. Hope this helps. ps you can turn your fire on just to warm the room then let the central heating take over to keep it comfortable. keep safe and keep warm and keep all doors closed.

Answer 3

During the coldest part of winter, it is better to run your central heating continiously on low to prevent the pipes from freezing. That way your home stays at a constant temp too and opening indoor doors won't cause heat to escape.. Using the gas fire will be expensive for such a small area as heat will escape. Use your central heating on low and just turn up for really cold snaps.

Answer 4

Central heating set at lowest combined with limited gas fire in main room would be most economical in cooler weather.
Alternately, a small gas fire in the main room, doors to other rooms closed off would be most cheap approach.

Answer 5

hi, im in the same boat as you, i keep my central heating on constant at around 22-25 degrees once the temperature falls it automatically lights up to get to room temperature again, if you keep turning it on & off all the time its going to be expensive. i understand your using a gas fire it may be cheaper to run but you will not recieve the benefits from it like central heating, and please please be carefull and have plenty of ventilation for your gas fire as carbon manoxide is a killer you may feel yourself but are you with all those gas fumes floating around the room
hope this helps

Answer 6

My central heating is gas, I've found it cheap to have the central heating on and it also heats up the whole house.

Answer 7

The central heating is cheaper

Answer 8

Just an extra thought, a gas fire will probably use more gas but a boiler needs electricity to run. I don't know how much electricity a combi boiler uses, but I excepct it's around 1 or 2kW every hour which is quite a bit.

Answer 9

Central heating is cheaper and it is better for your house to be fully heated as this helps prevent dampness and other costly problems.

Answer 10

definitely central heating. at least then its heating the whole house.

gas fires are poo they don't chuck out any heat and you have to stand really close to get warm and normally end up burning your leg or something !