Help reducing my gas bill

blackprint

Hi,

I hope this is the correct forum to post this in...

I've recently received my latest bill from British Gas. I am £250 behind in payments because the amount of gas I use. I pay by direct debit £30 per month. It looks like in the winter months I use £100 per month of gas and in the summer I use £25-30 per month so I've been getting behind with payments since last winter.

This year I have had loft insulation put in free by a council initiative and it is very thick (probably a 12inches) and my boiler and pipe work in the boiler cupboard wrapped up in insulation. I can't have cavity wall insulation.

I'm wondering if it is because of the way I heat my house that I am using a lot of gas. My boiler is built into my fireplace, if I remove the lower grill, that's where the little dial to change the intensity of the heat is and I can hear it from behind the fireplace when it fires up. I also have a water tank upstairs in a cupboard. In this cupboard I have an electrical switch for an "immersion heater"? I usually turn on my boiler from 5pm until 10pm every night and don't use it any other time. I hardly ever use the immersion heater, only when I want some hot water fast for washing the dishes. I don't have a temperature thermostat anywhere that I can see. On the gas boiler there is a dial, as I've said, but no temperature on there. The immersion heater doesn't have an adjustable thermostat.

I've been told to use the gas boiler to heat up the tank of water and then turn on the immersion heater 24/7 to keep it topped up with heat because it is cheaper than heating the whole house from cold every night.

So my questions really are:

Would it be better to leave the gas boiler on 24/7 during winter?
Should I use the immersion heater at all?
How can I use the least amount of gas but keep the house warm on a night time (from 5-10pm).

Thanks,
Chris

renegade

I used to have the same system as you have as yes, my gas bills were very high as it heats the water at the same time as the central heater, so you have a tank full of boiling water all day which you never use. I have now had a Combi Boiler fitted courtesy of the council. I only heat the water for 15 mins per day enough to have a bath and wash the dishes. I am expecting my gas bills to be greatly reduced this winter and my suppliers have agreed that I need not pay as much per month in DD, reduction already!
I never ever used the immersion heater on the old system, I just used the 'Water on' facility in the summer months and had showers instead of baths every day.
I appreciate this does not really help you with your problem but all I can suggest is to fit heavy curtains, use draught excluders under the door and just insulate as much as possible.

Mankysteve

Heavy curtains, daught excludes and get onto the concil about getting a new boiler. I thought most places phased out horrible old back boilers, or just keep phoneing them out to come fix it useing excessive gas. Also if your on a low income/benfits you may be able to get a special tarrifs for your gas and eleci.

kindofagilr

I have the same set up as you and I NEVER have the immersion heater on, we have the heating on for 3 hours a night and I always have a bath to use the water I have heated (therefore not needing to use the electric shower)

I was told the immersion heater is very expensive to run?

We have our heating on either 1 or 2

Unfortunatly for me until I can afford to get a combi boiler installed I will have to put up with less efficent heating

Premier_2

blackprint wrote: »

...I've been told to use the gas boiler to heat up the tank of water and then turn on the immersion heater 24/7 to keep it topped up with heat because it is cheaper than heating the whole house from cold every night...

This doesn't seem like good advice.

You don't keep the electric kettle on 24/7, you heat the water as required.
Heating the water in your hot water tank using an immersion heater, which after all is just like a big kettle element, should be done on the same basis.

blackprint wrote: »

...The immersion heater doesn't have an adjustable thermostat...

It almost certainly does. It's usually found under the immersion heater boss. Best not to remove this boss unless you know what you are doing, get a competent electrical engineer to do so. The thermostat should be set to about 60 deg.

Mankysteve

Sorry I take it you own the property. It may be worth looking at cavity wall insulation you can get quite large grants toward having it done and it not that expensive you'll pay earn it back. Iam not quite sure whever you'd make enough of savign with a combi to justify getting a into debt for it, allthough my parents have just done that.

Fire_Fox

blackprint wrote: »

I'm wondering if it is because of the way I heat my house that I am using a lot of gas. My boiler is built into my fireplace, if I remove the lower grill, that's where the little dial to change the intensity of the heat is and I can hear it from behind the fireplace when it fires up. I also have a water tank upstairs in a cupboard. In this cupboard I have an electrical switch for an "immersion heater"? I usually turn on my boiler from 5pm until 10pm every night and don't use it any other time. I hardly ever use the immersion heater, only when I want some hot water fast for washing the dishes. I don't have a temperature thermostat anywhere that I can see. On the gas boiler there is a dial, as I've said, but no temperature on there. The immersion heater doesn't have an adjustable thermostat.

I've been told to use the gas boiler to heat up the tank of water and then turn on the immersion heater 24/7 to keep it topped up with heat because it is cheaper than heating the whole house from cold every night.

Why are you heating up the entire tank of water to wash up? Just boil a kettle. 'Only' five hours of heating a night is thirty five hours a week or one hundred and forty hours each month! :eek:

How many in the household? If just you start by turning all the radiator thermostats down barring the room you use most of the time - presumably your living area. Buy an electric blanket for your bed and you will be toasty for the same running costs as a lightbulb. Put a spare duvet on the sofa for while you are watching TV, wear an extra sweater when you leave the sofa. Turn the heating off at least an hour before you go to bed so you aren't wasting the residual heat.

Premier_2

Put on an extra cardy, wrap up in scarf & gloves ... and fill a hot water bottle



Remember, even Martin says some people take moneysaving too far though. When it begins to affect your quality of life, you know you've probably gone too far.