Central heating

[SMP]

My Mum lives on her own in a 2 bedroomed house, cottage really.
In the winter because she works she has the heating and hot water come on for 2 hours in the morning and 5-6 hours in the evening. On the 2 days she is off she will have the heating on more often although not always constantly.
The boiler is not new not sure how old and each radiator has its own thermostat, no room thermostat.
Her gas usage seems quite high for one person, (I live in a 3 bedroomed house and have my heating on constant in the winter from 6am til 11pm ,poorly hubby, i have a combi boiler, rad thermostats and room thermo stat and i am in credit on my bill).
Would she be better off leaving the heating on low during the winter so she is not trying to heat a cold house all the time? British Gas want to put her payments up to �73 a month and she is only in debit by �88 (mind you if they hadn't refunded her money in October their computer wouldn't be getting all mixed up)
Thanks for your help
SMP

[lafrancaise]

It has been proved that by turning heating off during the day consumes more energy than leaving it on. The furniture and walls cool down and all these need to heat up again to the required thermostat temperature. Leaving the heating at about 17�C will mean the house remains warm and will only need a boost when getting home.

[gasman]

The previous answer is only correct if boiler interlock is fitted to the system to eliminate boiler cycling. Which without the wall thermostat then there is no intelock and wasted energy is been spent on boiler cycling for the cost of one months bill at the prices you have mentioned, I would fit a room thermostat to eliminate this wasted energy/costs.