How Long Do You Keep/not Keep the Heating On

Golfforall I still look at it. Used to compare and analysis it just now that I have had to turn the heating on as WFH. Was lil scared to see as I can see things jumping in price everywhere. I have had to use the heating much more these few days.

Golfforall I suspect that many who haven't been checking their energy consumption over the past few weeks are in for a very nasty shock when their bills arrive. My consumption has rocketed and probably would have been worse if I hadn't been aware of how much it was costing.

davidstockport Agree , I always check my usage and even factoring in the price rises I was shocked to see how much I am using during the recent cold spell . At least 20% more than the previous fortnight .

I've always checked on a monthly basis , now with the smart meter I can see it on a daily basis . May not be pleasant to know , but it's there . Hence my analogy with the unopened bill . Must be even worse for those on prepayment meters , my heart goes out to them .

Howmuch Don't worry too much about the running cost of IHD (in home display) for smart meters the average cost will be about £1 a year if left plugged in - but if you do decide to unplug it remember it can be plugged in temporarily for you to check consumption etc., although it is best to wait over half an hour for accurate gas readings. (gas meters only transmit data to smart meter at intervals - electricity readings are virtually instant).

My gas meter's outside - and there's no way I'm going out there to check the readings

davidstockport £1 I did not realise it was that much, definitely not plugging it in. I like to check the daily usage occasionally online but cut my electricity consumption by 50 percent and gas by 30 percent last year in preparation.

Howmuch If £1 a year (1p every four days) bothers you too much you might try switching your fridge (not freezer) off during the worst of winter, that's what I've done... I don't see the point of paying to keep the inside of fridge cold when it's warmer in there than it is outside.

I read some years ago that Inuits (formerly know as Eskimos) use fridges to stop their beer from freezing.

davidstockport I'm afraid that is really poor advice ! A fridge will only use electricity when it needs to cool to about 5C (that's when the compressor will run) . If your fridge is in a room less than that it is indeed safe to turn it off ,even open the fridge door .

However I doubt anyone's kitchen is below 5C ? probably at least 15C ? Therefore food stored within will go off quicker , your milk etc will go off in a couple of days rather than a week or so .

Years ago (before central heating ) we had Larders with cold slabs etc , but we knew then how long food would last . Sadly that knowledge has disappeared from modern society .

You could theoretically just use the fridge as a cupboard and put all the perishable stuff in a box and leave it outside during a cold spell such as this . Then bring the milk in , wait for it to defrost etc etc . How much expensive heat disappears from the house every time you go in and out the door ? We rarely have a period of weeks of really cold weather as now (its ending tomorrow !) ,so you'll have to switch your fridge back on and work out whether all the faffing about actually saved you any money (which I doubt ) .

Golfforall My kitchen (no actual heating) is roughly just above outside temperature except when cooking. I have in previous winters switched it off without any loss or deteriation of food. At the moment my milk, two four pint bottles, is actually next to an outside door and actually cooler than it would be in the fridge (if it was on).

I grew up in an age and area where very few people had fridges, any food I have that requires a very low storage temperature is stored in my freezer, freezers were even rarer even fifty years ago.

I don't think you noticed some tongue in cheek humour in my reply to Howmuch who was worrying too much about an IHD costing about £1 a year to run (I suspect his comment was tongue in cheek too).

davidstockport I'm always careful what I put on here as many members might not think it through , or have the experience of bygone days . I could be wrong but I suspect few modern kitchens are below 15 C (that's about what mine is at the moment and it seems very cold to me ) . Next week (we are promised) temperatures will be above the seasonal norm , so having a switched off fridge is not a great idea ?

As I type this the most "Popular " item on the "Deals" section is an electricity guzzling fan heater !!! say no more . I try to give good advice based on experience - But - "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink " .

Golfforall At the present time anything using electricity to create heat (other than perhaps low wattage heat pads, electric blankets or throws) is best avoided if gas is available. I'm not using electric storage heaters this winter, even though they're charged on lower priced nightime tariff, it still works out much cheaper to use gas fires.

I do suspect that in the coming years things might swing the other way.

Leannexxx Looking at the forecast ,from tomorrow night we're going to be sub tropical ,14 -16 degrees till Xmas , then normal winter 5 -10 degrees for the rest of the year . Hopefully it will ease the financial pain for many .

Golfforall where are you to get 14 -16 lol I've just checked and it's saying 8-9

Leannexxx I always trust the BBC - silly me