Gas appliances - running costs question?

[Hilary]

Is there a simple answer to whether it is cheaper to run a central heating boiler or a gas fire?

I'm sure there are many factors to consider to give an accurate answer (size / type / age of boiler, etc.), but I wondered if there's a general answer for average systems.

We have gas-fired central heating and a gas fire in the living room. The CH is usually on first thing in the morning and during the evening but, at weekends during the daytime, I tend to light the gas fire if we need a bit of extra warmth, rather than put the CH back on. But is the fire likely to use as much gas warming just one room as I could be using to run the CH system to heat the whole house?

 

[Cochise]

Alot comes down to the gas they use, the CH tends to be better value for every pound spent. Gas fires can be very economical now especially with the catalytic ones these days being close to 100% efficient. Some of the older fires do ok for pumping out heat but they eat gas and are only one room.

 

[manxtatt2]

my heating is gas , and costs me a fortune

we have heating on for 1 hr in the morning and 3 hrs at night , and r bills work out about 300 every 3 months :-(

 

[Goofyish]

I would say that central heating is more cost effective than just running a gas fire in one room.

A boiler is probably using as much gas a the fire but is heating water that then heats almost the whole house. You can use thermostatic radiator valves too to prevent over heating seldom used rooms.

We have a programmable room thermostat that allows up to 3 temperature/time periods per day to give fine control over not only when the heating comes on but what temperature is required at that point in the day.

Good insulation (wall and loft) and double glazing would also have a big impact on the efficiency of the heating system.

 

[Goofyish]

my heating is gas , and costs me a fortune

we have heating on for 1 hr in the morning and 3 hrs at night , and r bills work out about 300 every 3 months :-(

Is that because gas is more expensive on the Isle of Man? We heat and cook with gas and our annual bill is only around £480!

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for the advice, everyone