Oil CH - Why are we using so much?

suki1964

Johnhowell wrote: »

It has nothing to do with the type of fuel - oil or gas - it is purely down to the boiler controls (the electronics) and the port valves on the pipework.

From what you discribe you have distinct port valves the same as us and could change the timer controller to a newer one which can set different times for each circuit (DHW or CH). I understand they can even have different temperature settings for the CH at different times, but I have no experience of such units.

John

Oh I know its nowt to do with which fuel - I was just adding the bit about the gas because you guys who have the mains gas pay peanuts for your heating and hot water compared to those of us off the mains

Johnhowell

Sad to say we are on oil as well.

We fuelled up when the price was 42p/litre earlier last year. I monitor the quantity used by a VZ04 meter and predict we can fill up again in the summer.

John

suki1964

Johnhowell wrote: »

Sad to say we are on oil as well.

We fuelled up when the price was 42p/litre earlier last year. I monitor the quantity used by a VZ04 meter and predict we can fill up again in the summer.

John

Either you have a big tank - or use very little oil

greyteam1959

'The landlord told us the loft was insulated.'
Is it or isn't it ???
This is probably the easiest & the cheapest thing fix...........look in the loft, the insulation laid should be at least 300mm deep if not more.
If it isn't fix it NOW.....
Look at your hot water tank....is it lagged & thickly ????
If it isn't fix it NOW....
I am well suprised that non of the other posters have advised you to do this first..........

Johnhowell

Suki1964,

It holds about ~2700 litres.

As discussed in another similar thread, we use about 10 litres a day on average over the winter - including some work from home due to being snowed in. Four bed bungalow, loft and cavity insulation, double glazed through out. During the summer we use, on average between 2-5 litres a day.

John

Cardew

mervyn11 wrote: »

'The landlord told us the loft was insulated.'
Is it or isn't it ???
This is probably the easiest & the cheapest thing fix...........look in the loft, the insulation laid should be at least 300mm deep if not more.
If it isn't fix it NOW.....
Look at your hot water tank....is it lagged & thickly ????
If it isn't fix it NOW....
I am well suprised that non of the other posters have advised you to do this first..........

They are in rented accomodation and have only been in a few weeks.

The property is a concrete walled pre-fab.

The OP wasn't asking for general guidance on insulation, but questioning why their consumption was so high at 200-250Litres a month.

The bottom line is that it is not high consumption. John Howell in a cavity insulated, double glazed bungalow with loft insulation uses 300 litres a month

greyteam1959

They are in rented accomodation and have only been in a few weeks.
I know they are in rented accomodation........the landlord said the loft was insulated,,,,it might not be.....
The property is a concrete walled pre-fab.
I know, so what thats got to do with my comments ???
The OP wasn't asking for general guidance on insulation, but questioning why their consumption was so high at 200-250Litres a month.
As you well know the main cause of excessive energy bills is poor insulation, I wasn't giving the OP 'general guidance' on insulation as you put it.

The bottom line is that it is not high consumption. John Howell in a cavity insulated, double glazed bungalow with loft insulation uses 300 litres a month
Obviously the OP thinks the cost of their energy is too high & is seeking to do something about it

suki1964

mervyn11 wrote: »

Obviously the OP thinks the cost of their energy is too high & is seeking to do something about it

And untill the cost of heating oil comes down there is very little more he can do.

Hes not using excessive amounts of heating oil, in fact he is very frugal - it is the cost per litre thats the frightner and when you are first on the oil its an eye opener at how much you have to budget for

Cardew

mervyn11 wrote: »

They are in rented accomodation and have only been in a few weeks.
I know they are in rented accomodation........the landlord said the loft was insulated,,,,it might not be.....
The property is a concrete walled pre-fab.
I know, so what thats got to do with my comments ???
The OP wasn't asking for general guidance on insulation, but questioning why their consumption was so high at 200-250Litres a month.
As you well know the main cause of excessive energy bills is poor insulation, I wasn't giving the OP 'general guidance' on insulation as you put it.

The bottom line is that it is not high consumption. John Howell in a cavity insulated, double glazed bungalow with loft insulation uses 300 litres a month
Obviously the OP thinks the cost of their energy is too high & is seeking to do something about it

The OP asked?

(Does it really cost that much money/oil to heat a place of this size?)

In my opinion the answer is 'Yes' and for a concrete walled pre-fab, their consumption is very good and certainly not 'excessive'. Especially since they moved in during Nov and we have had an exceptionally cold winter.

If the landlord is not correct about loft insulation, then he should be asked to pay to have it installed.

Ditto HW tank lagging - although at this time of the year any heat 'lost' from the tank isn't really lost as it warms the fabric of the house.

Whilst the OP is at it, he perhaps should check the age of the boiler and get the landlord to fit a new more efficient model, perhaps install Double or Triple glazing;)