immersion heater query!

Premier_2

You don't need storage heaters to have economy 7.

If EDF don't want to supply you, then contact another supplier. E7 is available from nearly all suppliers and is widely available across the UK (at least on the mainland).

You will, of course, require a dual rate meter for which a charge may be made.


If you turn off the Pulsacoil, nothing dramatic will occur, other than they system won't work as designed.
The Pulsacoil works on a thermal store principle, whereby the water you heat up remains in the tank and the heat is transferred from that via the heat exchanger to the water that comes out of the taps.
This is the opposite to a conventional immersion heater/cylinder whereby the water it heats up in the tank is directly delivered to your tap.
Therefore, if you don't keep then Pulsacoil permanently plugged in and allowed to heat up each evening, it will not have the thermal store to heat the water required at the taps.

cajef

Premier wrote: »

You don't need storage heaters to have economy 7.

You will, of course, require a dual rate meter

That is exactly what I thought, we moved into this property 18 months ago and found a dual rate meter fitted even though it had a gas combi boiler for heating and water since being built, needless to say the meter was soon changed.

Emily88

just a quick update: after 24 hours of having the immersion heater switched off (except when needed), our usage is 10 units. before, our average daily usage was 20 units!
thanks very much for everyones help, hopefully this will half our bill next time.

i will definately look into switching to economy 7 soon too.

thanks again!

Talldave

You would still want it re-wired into an off-peak only circuit though wouldn't you? So that it could never be run on expensive electricity.

cajef

Dual rate meters switch the whole premises over to a cheaper rate, they would need a time switch fitting in the supply to the immersion so it is only on when the supply is in economy mode, the time switch should have an override to switch it on/off in peak time in case the water needs a boost.

C_Mababejive

It doesnt sound wildly excessive if the thing is on 24/7 and you use plenty of HW. There are also other appliances to consider.

It isnt really the call centre operator at EDFs job to speculate as she could be making bold,ill informed assumptions. Her job is to look at your account,confirm its correctness and obtain payment.

cajef

C_Mababejive wrote: »

It isnt really the call centre operator at EDFs job to speculate as she could be making bold,ill informed assumptions. Her job is to look at your account,confirm its correctness and obtain payment.

Depends on who they talked to at the call centre, if they asked to speak to someone about having the meter changed to a dual meter I would expect them to be put through to a person that deals with those enquiries.

Emily88

C_Mababejive wrote: »

It doesnt sound wildly excessive if the thing is on 24/7 and you use plenty of HW. There are also other appliances to consider.

It isnt really the call centre operator at EDFs job to speculate as she could be making bold,ill informed assumptions. Her job is to look at your account,confirm its correctness and obtain payment.

in that case she went above and beyond, and was actually very helpful

i will be looking into dual metres and everything suggested. i have to admit i don't know a lot about this stuff, this is my first home. thanks again for all the suggestions