Combi-boiler gas use - excessive?

kaneno1

I have an Alpha CB24/28 combi-boiler installed in 12/02. I live in a 2 bedroomed flat, including myself there are two adults (both working full time) and a child (at school full time). My estimated usage for the year is 24633.88 kWh, which to me seems excessive. The only other gas appliance inthe house is a gas hob. We have an electric shower and the bath is only used occasionally. I have noticed a smell of gas in the back garden where the vent from the boiler comes out. I had transco attend but they stated that it was just gas being expelled when the boiler fires up and was not a problem. Does anyone else feel this is excessive use for my circumstances, could there be a fault with the boiler or the supply itself. Any comments appreciated.

AdrianW2

24633 kwh @ 2p/kwh = £500. Average cost of heating 3 bed semi just under £1000. Doesn't seem excessive to me.

kaneno1

Who is your gas supplier?. After going through the comparison sites the cheapest I could get is 3.25/kWh + standing charge+VAT. Total £892.20. Thanks for the reply though

AdrianW2

My mistake, my references are dated early 2008. The relative costs should still be valid though.

brig001

I would say that it is excessive. Our usage before we insulated was around 20000kWh/year for gas and that includes showers and baths for four of us. I would reckon we are somewhere nearer 16000 now and we are detached - we have an electric cooker though.

According to: http://www.simplyswitch.com/energy/switchingguide/averageenergyuse.aspx you should be using nearer 15000kWh per year, so you definitely can make some savings.

kaneno1

Does anyone know of a possible fault with the boiler, as I mentioned the smell of gas would indicate that gas was being expelled through the vent without being burned and there can be a delay of a minute or two before the water starts to heat when running a tap. I have bolier cover with British Gas, but their annual check is more of a safety check than a service. Anyone with any technical knowledge appreciated.

Hector-The-Inspector_2

Highly unlikey you've got a gas leak, turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees, and turn these down to no: 3, if installed , if not consider fitting them.

macman

So when did you last have it serviced? What's the point of paying BG to do a safety check, as an annual service will do that anyway? Since you're concerned I'd get it serviced anyway
Bill does seem on the high side, but without knowing your pattern of usage (heating on in the day?) controls (room stat, TRV's), no of rads, insulation etc, it's impossible to say for sure.

brig001

The boiler is only one part of the system and as macman says, get it serviced. The rest of the system is your flat and how you use it. Is most of your gas usage for heating or hot water? How much gas are you using now that it is only hot water usage and the cooker? Is your flat insulated and air tight? What is its construction? Are adjoining flats inhabited? I wouldn't worry too much about the smell of gas when the boiler fires, ours has always done it (13 years), but mention it when you get the boiler serviced.

These problems can be solved, so stick with it and enjoy the savings when they come.

Canucklehead

My estimated usage for the year is 24633.88 kWh, which to me seems excessive.

Hi

Perhaps if you read the gas meter every day for a week (Same time each day) you could base your usage on actual figures rather than estimated?

If you had a gas leak then Nat Grid. would have turned you off and capped.(as would the the BG guy doing the safety check)
A small amount of gas can get out if the ignition is delayed slightly. The longer the delay more gas until it lights with a bang. (explosive ignition).

GSR.

olias

If you have already had Transco out to check and they have deemed it safe and that there is no gas leakage or other problem, I don't understand why you disbelieve them?

Also you haven't told us where you get the figure for estimated usage? If it is from previous bills, are you sure you are not using figures from previous bills over the winter period to estimate for the year? Your usage over the summer should be a lot less

Olias