shower water uses 20KWh/day!!!

nathanimate

Hi all,
img527.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=snv36548.jpg
I have recently moved into a rented 2bed property and my electricity consumption is about 28KWh/day, and all because of using electricity to warm up water for our shower. I desperately need your help to help me figure out how the gas&elec system works so as to become more efficient.
From all I know, there is this huge water cylinder tank (is this an electric immersion heater?) that keeps water hot throughout the day at around 60-70 degrees, which causes the electricity meter dial to turn really fast!
Then there is that boiler next to it, and then the panel downstairs which controls CH and water? from the boiler, but not the tank.
My question is, can't I skip the water tank completely and just set the boiler's timer every time I need a shower?
Please help! I don't know how this whole system works.

espresso

nathanimate wrote: »

I have pictures but the forum doesn't let me insert them!

Post the links to your pictures with the www. or http: removed.

It's quite likely that you could switch off the immersion heater and use the gas boiler to heat the water much cheaper but more info is needed.

James123_2

An immersion heater will use 3kwh an hour. Unless the thermostat is bust and it's bubbling away (you'll hear this) or your flatmates have an obsession with cleanliness then I wouldn't have thought that you'd use 28kwh. An immersion heater typically only heats the top of the tank and, if it's a standard unit, will probably take no more than 40 minutes to heat from cold.
I'd suggest you check the thermostat - it's generally in the heater housing at the top of the tank. (Isolate first) Turn it down a few notches and see whether this might make any difference. Failing this, rig it up to a timer so you have full control over your usage.
Have Fun!

nathanimate

img527.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=snv36548.jpg
note: i had turned the cylinder's temp to 40 but then put it back to 60, so take into account the 60.
General question: Do appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) get hot water from the immersion heater?

espresso

nathanimate wrote: »

img527.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=snv36548.jpg
note: i had turned the cylinder's temp to 40 but then put it back to 60, so take into account the 60.
General question: Do appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) get hot water from the immersion heater?

You need to find the switch for the immersion heater, turn it off and use the gas boiler to heat the water.

Modern appliances tend to be cold only fill.

nathanimate

Thnx! The switch is next to it in the attic.
so do I just set the panel for water to come on letsay 2hrs in morning and 2hrs at night for 2 people to have their shower?

espresso

nathanimate wrote: »

Thnx! The switch is next to it in the attic.
so do I just set the panel for water to come on letsay 2hrs in morning and 2hrs at night for 2 people to have their shower?

You will have to experiment with the gas boiler on time but it should be much cheaper using gas.

amcluesent

From the pictures, you appear to have a combi-boiler which should do hot water on demand - although I could be wrong just be looking at the pics. So it's perplexing why you have a traditional water/heating controller and a huge hot water tank. I'd get your landlord to explain how it all works.

espresso

amcluesent wrote: »

From the pictures, you appear to have a combi-boiler which should do hot water on demand..........

No enough pipes for a combi-boiler.

amtrakuk

There should be a switch to isolate the immersion heater, switch that off and play with with the timings on the boiler. I understand a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the evening are standard timings. All electric here and even my bills aren't half yours.

CharlieBilly

Thats a lot of energy for a shower a day

I think my electric shower uses 9kw and is only on about 10 minutes at a time so around 1.5 kwh around 12p