Central Heating

[tooj]

there seems to be a mysterious figure of £1200 pounds per annum quoted for central heating for the average semi detached house and we are requested to switch to get a lower amount. Does this figure refer to having the heating on 24 hours per day, 12hours, or just putting on whenever it gets really cold?

[VHG]

>>>and we are requested to switch to get a lower amount.

Requested by who to switch?

Often other energy companies will make it sound as though you will save money by switching to them but that does not always turn out to be the case.

Other energy companies are not always "honest" in saying how much you will save.

[Gizmonster]

2 questions:
Where do you get the figure of £1200 from and who is requesting you to switch ... and why ??

[Postdog]

The simple answer is that modern central heating will undoubtedly be thermostatically controlled and only kick in when needed. When needed will also depend on how well insulated the property is.

as an example I have a brand new boiler and full insulation and have noticed that my heating is on less but the house is always warm.

[tooj]

Most of the newspapers that I read 'suggest' that I should switch.

[Peaspeculiars]

Tooj, if it's of any help, we've just had a green deal inspector round to assess us for external insulation and his report showed that the average 3 bedroom house (concrete built terrace) with an occupancy of 2 was £1,600 per annum - based on the heating being on 11hrs a day.
If you took this for a brick built semi (holds more heat than concrete) - then I would guess that the £1,200 figure would show an average use if the heating was on for 12hrs a day.
(We don't have the heating on for 11hrs, so why the comparison was used I'm unsure (we fell way below the average use/ cost per annum).
Hope this helps a bit as to the mystery.

[Peaspeculiars]

Tooj, you just need to check your yearly bills/ Direct debits and see if they fall below average - if so, why switch?
If your bills are way above the average it may be time to start looking at a new utility provider if you aren't using the heating for the full 12 hrs - or looking into energy saving improvements that could be made to your home to save you money.
You don't 'have' to do anything :-)

[Gizmonster]

As already said - it all depends on how much you have your heating on.
Our central heating comes on in the morning for an hour or so; then it comes back on in the evening for a few hours (we both work, so house is empty most of the day, apart from when the missus comes home at dinner time).
We live in a 2 bedroom semi and I'm fairly sure that our direct debit is approx £100 per month, but that's for gas and electric.

[bednobs]

hey giz ... thats 3 questions.
wish i could switch - we are on oil

[Gizmonster]

Yea I added the "and why" on at the end, as an afterthought ... but I was hoping no one would notice :P

[Gizmonster]

Bednobs - you can switch .... change your oil supplier lol :)

[buildersmate]

The point of switching is to access gas prices that are less than your current supplier. Only bothering to look if your costs are higher than some random average of £1200 per annum is not very scientific.
The comparison sites enable you to compare prices based on your actual annual usage.
I run a large detached house on heating costs of £1100 per annum, and that's using oil, as gas is unavailable to me. Gas is at least 25% cheaper. But I have invested heavily in insulation of the property. Quoting averages is a very rough and ready tool.

[tooj]

Thanks everyone. Plenty to think about now'