someone do the maths for me please

[Workingman]

Tightwad, more like.

Since my boiler was replaced I have been using it at the coolest water setting of 54C and have a digital programmable thermostat in the living room with TRVs in each of the other rooms. I am saving a fortune compared to last year. It gives instant hot water, but the cooler temp means that I never scold myself any more.

[meriad]

Frank, I have my boiler on some eco setting - not sure how that makes a difference but the guy who last serviced it said it would be much better. I have the heating on quite low (only 19 degrees) and for fairly short periods given the flat warms up quite well and I'm really not home much

As for my hog, well I put the heater into the greenhouse but I don't think it's working as well as it should, in fact not at all . I've got it on the frost free setting but it's not kicking in. As for the ambient temperature thing - I know... there is so much conflicting advice out there. I'm going to check with my hog forum as well again and see what more advice they can give. I am rather fond of little Mathilda, but no way that I can afford to spend £200 per month just for her heating!!!! And as for an ambient temperature of 18 degrees, never mind her having fun - I'll move into the greenhouse myself!

[molly]

Couldn't you bring the hutch in to the house?

[Suff]

Would this help with the control??

[Workingman]

Ria, on the frost setting the heater will only kick in between 7 and 4C. Once it is up over 10 to 13C it will turn off again. Unfortunately if you turn it up to 18C the heat loss from a greenhouse will mean it is on a lot of the time. Greenhouses let light and heat in easily, but that also lets heat out just as easily.

If you do the bubble wrap thing, using gaffer tape as a fixative, it will make a huge difference. A few hours work will save a fortune and make Matilda happy.

Suff, I thought of a similar thing, but all it is doing is taking over the temp control from the heater with a much more accurate thermostat. Set the heater thermostat to max, then let the digital one take over the on/off function.

The problem is that a greenhouse cools very quickly, no matter how often you heat it up. Slowing down the natural heat loss is the key, hence the insulation. Light getting in during the day, even through bubble wrap, will heat the 'house up, but when it goes dark the wrap slows the heat loss considerably. This then reduces the number of on/off cycles.

The solution appears to be in keeping the 'house at a reasonably constant temp the cheapest way possible. What that temp should be is what Ria is looking at.

[Suff]

the other thing I was thinking was to make a house entirely of hard insulation (much smaller), then heating that. Means an all new construction but, with gaffer tape ect, could be much cheaper in the end.