Best value heating solutions?

[TruXta]

He can set up a derrick in the garden and burn some of the gazillion gallons of oil that are under his house.

Frack that!

 

[purenarcotic]

But also give up the ghost quite quickly when lamps die, so need replacing more often.

We’ve had a couple for years now - maybe we look after them better?

 

[teuchter]

That's true. Also these things cost a fair bit. I saw an Irish retailer was selling the complete system for just shy of 10000 euros which is OK for a new build, but probably not worth it for retrofitting an older less well insulated building.

You'd very likely be much better off spending that money on insulation.

 

[moose]

Our house is so cold this week. The charming original doors have huge gaps round them, and the conservation police won't let us change them. Every other vestige of warmth shoots up the chimney, unless we've got a fire lit, when the efficient chimney makes a roaring wind through the rest of the house.

Where's that black edge strip from Crispy ?

 

[teuchter]

Weatherstrips | Door & Window Seals | Screwfix.com

 

[pogofish]

These:

And

 

[TruXta]

Wtf is that semi all about

 

[pogofish]

Its the "warming" effect of the booze..!

 

[JimW]

Wtf is that semi all about

Don't be ashamed if you like the picture a bit too much.

 

[Crispy]

Our house is so cold this week. The charming original doors have huge gaps round them, and the conservation police won't let us change them. Every other vestige of warmth shoots up the chimney, unless we've got a fire lit, when the efficient chimney makes a roaring wind through the rest of the house.

Where's that black edge strip from Crispy ?

I made an insert for my fireplace that blocks up the chimney when not lit. Just a piece of plywood cut to shape (templated first with cardboard), painted black with a kitchen door handle on it and foam strip around the edge. No need for a great big hole out of your house when you don't need one!

 

[JimW]

They sell chimney pillows and you can make one yourself with a bag etc

ETA DIY Chimney balloon - Eco Thrifty Living

 

[UrbaneFox]

 

[AnnaKarpik]

We just got a paraffin inverter heater. Filling it up is a pain if it runs out during the evening but, with the right grade of paraffin, it doesn't smell and it has electric ignition and temperature control. We have no other heating in that room and are using approximately two litres of paraffin a day as it's relatively cold.

 

[gentlegreen]

Paraffin 43MJ per KG, density 0.8 - so 34.4 MJ - x 2 = 19 KWH - electricity - @ 15p per unit = £2.86
paraffin £1.56 per litre = £3.06 ...

 

[AnnaKarpik]

Paraffin 43MJ per KG, density 0.8 - so 34.4 MJ - x 2 = 19 KWH - electricity - @ 15p per unit = £2.86
paraffin £1.56 per litre = £3.06 ...

Would that 19kwh of electricity heat the room to the same temperature and for the same length of time as the paraffin?

 

[teuchter]

Would that 19kwh of electricity heat the room to the same temperature and for the same length of time as the paraffin?

Given the right size of electric heater - of course it would.

 

[teuchter]

Paraffin heaters also mean you have to ventilate the room more - throwing heat away - plus they produce water vapour which in a badly insulated house is going to increase any problems you might have with condensation.

 

[gentlegreen]

I have a very well insulated bed room / study now, but I keep it toasty (by my standards) with 500 watts - except on the few days a year - like yesterday - when I need to crank it up.

 

[AnnaKarpik]

Given the right size of electric heater - of course it would.

Am I being particularly dense here? Would a 4kw heater not get through my 19kwh much quicker than a 2kw heater? Or does 'size' not refer to kw?

 

[gentlegreen]

Yes, twice as fast.

19KW/H / 24 hours = approx 800 watts

 

[teuchter]

Am I being particularly dense here? Would a 4kw heater not get through my 19kwh much quicker than a 2kw heater? Or does 'size' not refer to kw?

That's why I say given the right size - as long as the electric heater output matched the paraffin heater's output, they'd heat the room to the same temperature for the same period of time. But if gentlegreen's numbers are right, the paraffin would cost you more.

 

[gentlegreen]

When I moved into an unheated shared house, I bought one of those calor gas room heaters but only ever bought one cylinder ... I also did an "interesting" experiment with an old-school paraffin heater with a cardboard and foil parabolic reflector above it. I used to take it ouside my room when I wanted to extinguish the wick - I don't think my parents ever put much paraffin in it when they used it in their kitchen - they probably should have just switched on the electric oven ...

Electricity is heavily subsidised.

 

[Reiabuzz]

I’m completely and utterly baffled by the heating spotters on this thread so I’m going for this option.

 

[kabbes]

Electricity is heavily subsidised.

OTOH, the wood we burn comes out of our own garden. Can’t get cheaper than that!

 

[gentlegreen]

The best value heating would be to run heating wire through a set of combinations.

Or there's always the Japanese solution :-

 

[teuchter]

Struggling with electricity bills this winter?

Get yourself an axe and head down to kabbes' garden

 

[gentlegreen]

I've got all the laths from a 12 foot square ceiling, but both my chimneys are capped.

 

[TruXta]

Struggling with electricity bills this winter?

Get yourself an axe and head down to kabbes' garden

Frozen wet wood ftw

 

[kabbes]

Frozen wet wood ftw

There's plenty of dry wood in the store. I presumed the axe was for when the urbanite in question meets local resistance to the pilfering.

 

[TruXta]

There's plenty of dry wood in the store. I presumed the axe was for when the urbanite in question meets local resistance to the pilfering.

Sharing is caring.