Switch Next to Upstairs Boiler

daz_free

Hey Guys,

Just a quick question, first time I've moved out before and just trying to keep my utility bills down.

The central heating and hot water panel is in the kitchen (downstairs) and I only turn them on very rarely. However I noticed in the boiler room upstairs there is a switch next to the boiler and a wire from it to the top of the boiler. This switch has always been on since I moved into the house a few months ago. I get instant (almost!) hot water for showers even when the hot water panel downstairs shows it is off.

I've also noticed that the boiler is warm at the top even when the hot water and central heating is off. What is this switch next to the boiler?? What does it do?? Imagine it is for hot water!?! I did think this would be controlled by the panel downstairs?!? Should I always have this switch on next to the boiler?!? Is it a big gas/electricity user??

Sorry for the dump questions guys, just trying to find out about this.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

D

gas4you

That's your hot water cylinder in the cupboard, not a boiler.

The switch controls the immersion heater, so you have, at present, got it switched for 24/7 hot water. It will only come on though, when you use the hot water or the cylinder loses heat by itself.

Normally it would be more economical to switch this off and set the hot water times on the heating programmer to suit your lifestyle.

Cardew

As said above - it is an immersion heater for your Hot water tank(cylinder) and it uses electricity to heat the water - which costs about 3 times as much as gas.

Your gas CH boiler will heat the same tank(albeit at one third the price)

So switch off the immersion heater.