Isn't the pilot light really wasteful?

jd87

The "pilot light query" thread someone else posted reminded me of a thought I had the other day. I notice on my combi boiler that the pilot light is on all the time. I realise why this is and what it is for, but isn't this wasting loads of gas? Would there be a benefit to extinguishing it at night and when nobody is at home, when hot water isn't needed? Surely putting it out and then relighting it when needed isn't that much hassle. Are there perhaps safety issues?

Maybe there is an obvious answer to all this but I can't see it.

x_raphael_xx

If the gas isn't burning, wouldn't it leak into the room???

jd87

Don't you extinguish the pilot light by cutting off its gas supply though?

JSF

Someone told me mine used about £15 a year in gas, that was 2 years ago and prices have risen somewhat.

However I think it does take the chill out of the place (background heat) except for Summer so I think I can live with that.

1carminestocky

My back of a fag packet calculation (which is very probably incorrect as I don't smoke) tells me my bloody pilot light is costing me approx £40 per year. That can't be right....can it?

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

My back of a fag packet calculation (which is very probably incorrect as I don't smoke) tells me my bloody pilot light is costing me approx £40 per year. That can't be right....can it?

Loads of threads on this. £40 is quite good.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=560042&highlight=pilot+light

Ken68

The silver box (3 way port thingy)also draws some current.

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

Loads of threads on this. £40 is quite good.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=560042&highlight=pilot+light

Is it? Crazy all the same. Times that by the amount of boilers in the world and the amount of hours they are not being used and it would be a frightening sum. I am definitely toying with the idea of turning the gas off completely this Summer, TBH. I haven't told Mrs Carmine of my 'plan' yet, of course...:eek:

kaya

interesting point, my boiler has no permanent pilot light but sparks up to maintain a "ready for action" temperaure quite often and also operates the three way valve to ensure it doesn't get gunked up, it does this in the name of "preventative maintenance"

Cardew

x_raphael_xx wrote: »

If the gas isn't burning, wouldn't it leak into the room???

No.

There is a safety mechanism.

There is a device called a thermocouple, the tip of which is positioned in the pilot light flame. When this is hot it electrically holds open the gas valve.

If the pilot light goes out for any reason, the tip cools and the gas valve shuts cutting off gas.

allan673

i was told £50 per year by the gas fitter whos just swapped my boiler.
a lot of money for a pilot light being on.