who else took the gamble and didnt switch to a fixed product

Cardew

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

Of course.

Your Corgi and BG fitters are cleaning out the deposits that build up inside the boiler and system which reduce the efficiency of your system which in turn makes it work harder to do its job and thus use more gas to do so-hence bigger gas bills.

I also believe servicable items are replaced too and I guess efficiency is measured by how much gas should be used for your boiler to run properly.

I'm sure somebody better qualified will also answer.

Without picking the above to pieces and getting too confrontational, I suggest you shouldn't post statements like:

And always get your boiler serviced. It is quite amazing what needless energy some inefficient boilers use

Unless you can back them up.

Contact boiler manufacturers and/or read the many manuals available on-line.
Read the BG Servicing 'blurb' and see where they make any claim that servicing is necessary to maintain efficiency.

DGJsaver

theres the output thing as well for boliers ie output of heated hot water , not just wasted cold water (into a bath for example)

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

Without picking the above to pieces and getting too confrontational, I suggest you shouldn't post statements like:



Unless you can back them up.

Contact boiler manufacturers and/or read the many manuals available on-line.
Read the BG Servicing 'blurb' and see where they make any claim that servicing is necessary to maintain efficiency.

Are you seriously claiming that a PROPERLY serviced boiler won't be any more efficient than, say, one that hadn't been serviced for many years?

cowbutt

If I was on a fixed income, I'd be looking much more seriously at capping/fixing my energy costs. As it is, despite being fatalistic about energy prices long term (limited supply, growing demand, economics 101), I believe that over the terms offered for fixed/capped supply contracts that I will save more by paying the going rate.

1carminestocky

cowbutt wrote: »

If I was on a fixed income, I'd be looking much more seriously at capping/fixing my energy costs. As it is, despite being fatalistic about energy prices long term (limited supply, growing demand, economics 101), I believe that over the terms offered for fixed/capped supply contracts that I will save more by paying the going rate.

The same was being said about housing only a few months ago. NO-ONE can predict the future with any great certainty.

DGJsaver

1carminestocky wrote: »

The same was being said about housing only a few months ago. NO-ONE can predict the future with any great certainty.

apart from mystic meg

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

Are you seriously claiming that a PROPERLY serviced boiler won't be any more efficient than, say, one that hadn't been serviced for many years?

You can read what I wrote above! I am "seriously claiming" nothing.

I have not seen any claim by manufacturers or servicing organisation, or Corgi plumber that servicing even affects the efficiency of a gas boiler.

I asked the same question in this thread:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1040075&highlight=servicing

I have searched the web and, apart from a couple of specialist boilers, I can see nothing at all that indicates that there is any monitoring of efficiency, or any adjustment to affect efficiency.

I am pretty certain that in order to sell their overpriced servicing contracts BG would stress the importance of servicing to maintain the efficiency of boilers.
Also as stated in 'my' thread I have looked very closely at the full manufacturer's servicing specifications and BG do indeed carry out their servicing to that schedule. e.g. "PROPER" servicing as you term it.

I would add that I have stopped the BG service as their prices were getting silly. I have spoken to a Corgi plumber, that I have used for other work, about servicing the boilers, and he has told me that uses the same servicing schedule as BG.

Now Shipshape has claimed, re servicing, that it is "amazing" etc and I challenged him to show any evidence to support that statement - and he hasn't!

Now if you believe that gas boiler servicing entails monitoring and improving efficiency, then I would genuinely be interested in how you come to that conclusion - and I am not being facetious.

My opinion, and I stress it is just opinion, is that Servicing does not affect the efficiency of most(all?) gas boilers. I have, I believe, presented a reasoned argument why I hold that opinion, but am most certainly willing to be persuaded I am mistaken.

Amanda1971

I've been thinking of changing to a fixed rate from SP Online Saver 4, but really don't know what to do?? Can anyone help??

Dave2112

I'm in the process of moving to a SP cap as it would only be £35 more a year for me than the Eon tariff I'm currently on - and that is before the current round of prices are factored in. So at the moment it's working for me.

Re boiler efficiency - I have now found out my central heating is not installed correctly and there is a point where deposits can build up in the pipes. Also I didn't keep the anti sludge stuff topped up (or what ever it's called) as I'd never done so in a previous house. These two problems over time resulted in the central heating getting worse. Now I've had it fixed the heating is superb (and costing less to run) and I shall make sure the system is topped up correctly. But when I've had the boiler serviced they just charged a lot of money to vacuum it and check for leaks with no concept about seeing if the whole system is working properly.

welda

Speaking to one of my colleagues today who trains/assesses gas appliance installers to their industry standard, my question was, my gas boiler was installed Jan 2005, since this date I have never had it serviced (touching wood, no problems) I asked if he thought I should organise a service, he replied "if it works fine just leave it" My thoughts are, BG service contracts are a con, looking at BG basic level 100 maint/repair @ £9 per month at todays rate, boiler been in place 45 months = £405.00 plus the fact, an annual service does not effect burn efficiency (is easy to check by viewing flame colour) says expert colleague, I keep the £££'s where I like them most, in my account!!

Lets not forget, all boilers come with a one year warranty. If one has a problem within the year, then yes, you may have a duffer if one requires several repairs during warranty period, then there may be grounds to have extra cover. Pumps goes, easy to replace if a proper installation has been done ie: shut off valves at both sides of pump, controls are not expensive clock/timer. As I stated above, IMO these service contracts are a drain on £££ resources. If it aint broke, why try to fix it!

W