Combi boiler - would I use more water? Advice please.

dorsetlady

I am moving into a house were I will need to get a new boiler sooner rather than later. I am thinking of getting a combi boiler but have to be very careful with water - the new house is on a meter (I'm on a meter now and know how careful I have to be with water to have affordable bills!). At the moment if I run a hot tap, and put the plug in, by the time the basin is full it is just the right temperature. I know someone who has a combi and the tap runs for ages (probably at least two basins full) before it starts running hot. Is this the norm for combi boilers?

paulsad

Combis are nowadays built to be efficient - pre heating the water for you - its a trade off between using a bit more gas and less water - I tend to have mine set not to pre heat to save on gas (doesn't take long anyway) - when the heating is on the water doesn't need to be pre heated (in ours anyway) and we get more or less instant hot water.

dave82_2

You have to be careful in the shower as the water will just stay hot rather than running out so it is easy to spend a long time in the shower!

I think you can ask to be put off a meter if it works out cheeper for you as well.

phill99

This is a ridiculous discussion. The price of a cubic metre of water is probably less than 1% of the cost of a cubic metre of gas.

So you would be happy to waste more gas rather than waste water? Semms a very bizarre approach to household budgetting.

martinthebandit

How long between turning the tap on and the water running hot depends entirely on how long the pipe run is between the boiler and the tap, it will vary between houses and between different taps in the same house.

Bottom line is that any increased water costs will be offset many times over by the savings in gas cost due to the boilers efficiency.

evoke

I've recently had a new combi system put in to replace the old system (tanks in loft and an immesrion heater tank). I have two hot water outlets: bathroom and kitchen. The time it takes for the water to become hot at the taps depends on the length of pipework between the boiler and the tap. My kitchen tap is a long, long from the boiler so it takes at least 60 seconds for the water to become hot. My bathroom tap is just a few feet away and the hot water arrives in around 5-10 seconds!

Therefore, I would focus on the length of pipework and see if you can get it reduced.

dorsetlady

phill99 wrote: »

This is a ridiculous discussion. The price of a cubic metre of water is probably less than 1% of the cost of a cubic metre of gas.

So you would be happy to waste more gas rather than waste water? Semms a very bizarre approach to household budgetting.

I didn't know that combi boilers were more energy efficient than the other type that's why I am asking what you think is a ridiculous question. I thought they used the same amount of gas. Obviously if I save on the gas then I won't mind using more water.

dorsetlady

dave82 wrote: »

You have to be careful in the shower as the water will just stay hot rather than running out so it is easy to spend a long time in the shower!

I think you can ask to be put off a meter if it works out cheeper for you as well.

No I can't have the meter removed as it's a house that was built after the date when all new houses had meters. I have to have a meter where I presently live and, although we are very careful with water, I find it expensive. When I moved into this house 18 years ago my standing charge alone was more that my previous water bill (based on rateable value).

paulsad

phill99 wrote: »

This is a ridiculous discussion. The price of a cubic metre of water is probably less than 1% of the cost of a cubic metre of gas.

So you would be happy to waste more gas rather than waste water? Semms a very bizarre approach to household budgetting.

Not everyone knows everything though....

loracan1

dave82 wrote: »

You have to be careful in the shower as the water will just stay hot rather than running out so it is easy to spend a long time in the shower!

Add a teenage son into the equation and the comparison between combi/water tank is negligible. (and I'm as bad:o)

Oog

DorsetLady,

You are thinking about this the wrong way :-). Do what I do, run the hot tap into a jug and or kettle and keep the water for the dog bowl/filling the kettle/watering the house plants/boiling spaghetti etc, until it get's warm, and then run it into the bowl. Then you don't waste the water but use it. You can cook with it or drink it as it comes directly from the mains not like tank hot water.
Bathwise, you are likely to need to add cold (probably should always add the hot last for safety reasons) anyway. Showerwise, I find it takes no longer than for tank hot water.