PLEASE HELP Regarding immersion heater and electricity

JAN.1026

Moglet wrote: »

I did have an electric shower so the hot water wasn't for baths. It certainly didn't use 79 units a day!

That's what I mean! I know immersion boiler use more electricity but i don't expect it uses 10 times higher . that's strange!

hcb42

how much is your monthly bill? and how big is the flat? that might make more sense

G_M

Moglet wrote: »

Before I had central heating installed in my flat I had an immersion tank and I used to leave it on 24 hours a day. It was cheaper than having it on once or twice a day. Based on the same principle of it being cheaper to trickle heat the water than let it go cold and heat it all up again plus it meant I always had hot water.

I did have an electric shower so the hot water wasn't for baths. It certainly didn't use 79 units a day!

If you don't use the hot water for baths, the emmersion heater doesn't need to re-heat cold water.
Whether 'trickle heating' is more economical than timer heating depends on useage volume and timing. It's not a simple 'this one is always cheaper' answer.

The answer to this lies in asking the landlord or agent to explain what kind of boiler it is, how it works, how the timer works etc.

Or getting in an electrician or plumber yourself to explain.

Moglet

G_M wrote: »

If you don't use the hot water for baths, the emmersion heater doesn't need to re-heat cold water.
Whether 'trickle heating' is more economical than timer heating depends on useage volume and timing. It's not a simple 'this one is always cheaper' answer.

The answer to this lies in asking the landlord or agent to explain what kind of boiler it is, how it works, how the timer works etc.

Or getting in an electrician or plumber yourself to explain.

No, that is true and will make a difference which is why I made it known I wasn't drawing a bath (or 2) daily.

However surely once the water is hot it will stay hot with *trickle heating*. It shouldn't be using elec 24 hours a day even if *on* 24 hours a day unless the OP is constantly using the hot water.

I agree wholeheartedly with your last two comments as it does appear the OP doesn't understand their heating system fully.

James123_2

Assuming that you have an immersion heater for hot water .....
These have a thermostat which, if turned up too high, will constantly be switching the immersion on at the slightest drop in temperature. You can find this by looking at the top of the tank. You'll need a small screwdriver to adjust and it might be under a small cap - rather like the top of an aerosol can. Obviously, isolate the power if you're at all unsure. A small adjustment might make all the difference.
Personally, I've never been of the persuasion that leaving an immersion on 24/7 is a great idea - unless the insulation is of the latest spec and grade. A timer switch is a much more efficient option. These can be fitted in around 30 minutes. Obviously, you might want to refer this back to your landlord as fitting would involve cutting the power cable. However, the unit itself is only about £15.

poppysarah

If the immersion was always on but suddenly cost more to use you might possibly have a case to ask the LL for some money... BUT only from when you noticed it to when they fix it.


Sadly I think you've just got to bite the bullet and pay the horrible bill.

JAN.1026

helencbradshaw wrote: »

how much is your monthly bill? and how big is the flat? that might make more sense

My bill used to be about 43 pounds per month. my flat is a 2 bedroom flats apartment.

The main problem is that I have been living here for 3 years and have no idea why the electricity usage jump up to 10 times suddenly since last 3 month.

Even if it is like what other people said, I haven't turned the immersion boiler on until last 3 months. I still don't think having the immersion heater on will lead to a bill that is 10 times higher than previous one.

JAN.1026

James123 wrote: »

Assuming that you have an immersion heater for hot water .....
These have a thermostat which, if turned up too high, will constantly be switching the immersion on at the slightest drop in temperature. You can find this by looking at the top of the tank. You'll need a small screwdriver to adjust and it might be under a small cap - rather like the top of an aerosol can. Obviously, isolate the power if you're at all unsure. A small adjustment might make all the difference.
Personally, I've never been of the persuasion that leaving an immersion on 24/7 is a great idea - unless the insulation is of the latest spec and grade. A timer switch is a much more efficient option. These can be fitted in around 30 minutes. Obviously, you might want to refer this back to your landlord as fitting would involve cutting the power cable. However, the unit itself is only about £15.

No! We didn't ever intended to leave it on as we didn't even know it was here from the first day we moved in about 3 years ago. =[...

BitterAndTwisted

This doesn't make any sense to me. The only explanation I can come up with is that something else outside your flat has been hooked up to your supply. I'd be switching the fuse-box off when I left the place to go to work every day and see who complains that they're not getting any hot water. You could be providing piping-hot bath-water to everyone else in your building. Has the landlord got a handy-man who has access to your place when you're not there?

joerugby

Ask your landlord (or agent) to come round and show you how it works