Whats cheaper? heating one room with central heating or a portable?

[inversions]

Hi,

just wondering. If one lived in a small house with gas central heating, is it cheaper to turn all the rads (except one) off and the central heating on to heat just one room or is it cheaper to heat that one room with a portable electric heater?

What do you think?

[theninestarshop]

As a rough guess it'll be the gas central heating...........but it also depends on the type of GCH Boiler / Elect heater you are using.

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[inversions]

Cheers, the gas boiler is an old one, prob about 10 years or so. The elec heater would be a cheap one from Wilkos or similar if I bought it.

[theninestarshop]

Probably the GCH is still the best option, BTW you should get a annual safety check on boilers...especially as it is about 10yrs old, wouldn't want to kill yourself with Carbon Monoxide poisoning !!
Elec fires..Those cheap ones with the heating elements/wires (with/out fan) are the worse for your elec consumption $$$$$, Oil filled elect radiator is better.

regards theninestarshop .... aka Bob the Builder

[inversions]

Cheers again Bob, Re advice on serviceing, dont worry, am into gas safety issues, was done about 14 months ago, should get another thou! But I bought a carbon monoxide alarm a few years back and check it every now and agin to be extra safe.

So, would an oil filled electric be cheaper than the one gas central heated rad?

[astral276]

With energy prices what they are nowadays it would probably be cheaper to winter abroad.

[inversions]

But then I couldnt sell anything!

[bluejypsy]

You could work it out .........
Turn all gas off and take a reading then switch the boiler on and run it for 1 hour in the way you intend to. After the hour take a reading and work out your gas consumption as per your gas bill. No need to buy and work out the electric for the heater, you will know what the KW consumption will be as it will tell you on the description when you buy it so you could just go to a web site that sells it and find out from there.You have to consider that when the temperature outside drops your boiler will work harder but the electric heater will work the same.
I can't help but feel that by turning OFF all rads would create cold spots around the house do you not think that turning off just the rads in the rooms you don't use and keeping the doors closed and turning down the thermostat in general may make you more comfortable? Of course extra layers of clothing help including underclothes, take a hot water bottle to bed, leave the summer quilt on in addition to the winter one and turn your heating off/lower half an hour before going to bed.
There are many steps that can be taken rather than leaving yourself in danger of becoming ill because you are worried about your heating bills. Take a look at the Age concern and other helpful sites no matter what you are they will have helpful tips.

[Pink_Panther]

Has our winter fuel allowence gone fer a burton I wonder.
Anybody know?

[craig7501]

I would say from personal experience that the electric heater uses more electric than a gas radiator, but if you want to do your own test then follow the instructions below.

1) Take a note of your electric number/credit before plugging in an electric heater
2) Plug in electric heater and leave on for 1hr
3) Switch off electric heater and take new reading.

1) Take note of Gas meter number/credit
2) Leave gas heater on for 1hr
3) Switch all gas heaters and take new reading.

Take note of difference in price and you'll find the cheapest method.