How Much Does it Cost to Run Central Heating Per Hour in The UK?

Living in the UK, homeowners must understand how much gas central heating costs per hour. By doing this, you will realise your consumption pattern and may be able to lower your rising energy bills. Also, before determining the cost of running your central heating per hour, you must consider the type of fuel you are using. It would help if you considered your energy consumption per hour (kWh), as it will affect the cost of running your central heating system.

In this article, I will tell you how to calculate the running cost of your gas central heating system, factors to consider, alternative fuel options, and tips to save up on your energy bills.

Running Cost of a Gas Central Heating System per Hour

The standard fuel source to run your central heating system in the UK is gas if you are connected to a mains gas supply. Although it is the cheapest fuel source for heating but environmentally it has the highest rate of CO2 emissions.

To determine the cost, you must consider additional factors such as the size of your home, the number of people, and the number of rooms requiring heating and hot water. Also, consider the appliances that require gas and how frequently you use them. Plus, the main factor is the size of your boiler in terms of kilowatt output ratings.

So, considering all these factors, the running cost that you will be paying for a gas-fueled central heating system is 7.42 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh) and 29.60 pence per daily standing charge, equating to an additional 1.2 pence per hour. Now let’s say you have a system boiler of 26 kWh, providing heating to 3–4 bedrooms and hot water to 2–3 bathrooms. Then, expect to pay somewhere around £1.93 (kWh).

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2024 price cap.

To calculate the running cost of your gas central heating system, use this gas calculator: https://www.sust-it.net/gas-calculator.php.

Running Cost of the LPG Central Heating System per Hour

If you are not connected to a gas mains supply, another fuel option you can use for central heating in your home is LPG (liquid petroleum gas). The running cost of an LPG-fueled central heating system will be £14 per kilowatt-hour. Compared to gas, the consumption cost per hour for LPG will be cheaper for you in the long term because of its energy efficiency. But when you convert to LPG as a fuel option, it will cost you more.

This is because you will need a tank for storage, which requires both money and space. Expect to pay somewhere between £60 and £70 on an annual basis to rent an above-ground LPG tank and £120 and £150 a year for underground tanks.

Also, remember that underground tank installation will cost an additional £1,500. So, let’s say you have a 24-kW boiler. The running cost for your LPG boiler will be £3.36 (kWh).

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2024 price cap.

Running Cost of an Oil-Fueled Central Heating System per Hour

Another fuel option, like LPG, is oil. The reason is the same: It is a viable option if you are not connected to a gas network. The running cost of an oil-fueled central heating system will be around 10p per kilowatt-hour, meaning that if your boiler is 30 KWh and it runs for, let’s say, 5 hours, then the cost you will be paying per day will be £15. It is cheaper than LPG, but less environmentally friendly. Compared to LPG and gas, it has higher carbon emission rates.

To store oil, you’ll need a tank and get it refilled at least once a year; the oil boiler will be installed by an OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) registered engineer, costing you more as compared to an LPG boiler, which a Gas Safe registered engineer will install.

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2024 price cap.

Running Cost of an Electric Central Heating System per Hour

Lastly, if you are not connected to a gas network, electricity is another viable option to run your central heating system. Although it is the most expensive option compared to gas, oil, and LPG, it costs 28.62 pence per kWh, with a daily standing charge of 53.35 pence. So, if you have a 30Kw boiler, the cost to run your electric central heating system will be around £16 per hour.

But in terms of performance, electric boilers are way more efficient, having an efficiency rating of 98% compared to a boiler’s 90%. Also, electric boilers have a longer life span of up to 20–25 years, whereas gas boilers have a life span of 10–15 years.

Moreover, electric boilers are an ideal choice if you want to reduce your carbon footprint. Overall, there are numerous advantages as well as some disadvantages. So, it will depend on you and your budget.

Note: Price information is correct as of the January 2024 price cap.

Read more about: Electric vs Gas boilers

Basic Formula to Calculate Your Energy Consumption

Above, I have mentioned the cost of running your central heating system per hour for different fuel types. Still, for ease, you can use a basic formula to calculate energy consumption yourself.

Calculation:

Size of your boiler in terms of kWh multiplied by fuel type cost per kilowatt hour divided by 100, and you will get central heating per hour cost for different fuel types.

E.g., boiler output (24 kWh) x gas per hour (7.42 pence) = 178.08/100 = £1.780 per hour.

The Running Cost of your Central Heating System Per Year

Now, to give you an estimate, I will be mentioning the yearly cost of running your central heating system for different fuel types:

Note: The above-mentioned prices and energy output consumption are just estimates. These values can vary significantly depending on factors like house size, insulation levels, and consumption patterns.

Which fuel source is cheaper to run a central heating system?

As mentioned above, gas is the cheapest fuel to heat your home. However, there are certain advantages and disadvantages for every fuel type. Also, if you live in an area where you are not connected to a gas grid network, then alternative options are:

• LPG
• Oil
• Electricity
• Air-source heat pumps
• Ground-source heat pump

Additional factors affecting the central heating running cost

Apart from fuel, various factors affect the cost of running a central heating system:

1. The types of boilers you have include system, combi, and regular boilers.
2. Size of your home: the number of bathrooms, rooms, and people who require heating.
3. Energy consumption in your home.
4. The size of your boiler in terms of energy output depends on your home’s size.

Tips to Lower the Cost of Your Heating Bills

1. Maintain your boiler and get an annual boiler service. This will ensure that your boiler remains in optimal condition for longer.
2. Improve your home’s insulation, including doors and windows, so that heat doesn’t escape your home.
3. Compare the tariff rates of different utility providers in your area and try to find the cheapest option.
4. Adjust the temperature settings in your home and keep the temperature low in rooms that do not require that much heat.
5. Install the Utrack mobile app, through which you can connect to your smart metre, track your hourly energy usage, and understand your energy consumption to adjust accordingly.

Conclusion

So here you have it. You now know the cost of running a gas central heating system and running a central heating system on other fuel types. Also, you are now aware of the factors that affect the cost of your energy bills, plus tips to lower them.

If you still have any queries, please contact us on 0345 3192 247, and one of our representatives will assist you on the call.

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