Condensing boiler costs

NewJones_2

Hi, I know this sounds like a slightly silly question but I'm hoping someone might have an insight into how our heating system works!

We started in a property with an old CH boiler and immersion, then moved to a property with a combi boiler (hated it!) and I understood how they worked. Now we've moved into a property with a gas, condensing boiler and a hot water tank. Currently we have the HW on for 40 mins every evening and that stays hot enough to wash up dishes the next lunchtime. Our utility bills are already sky high and I'm concerned about the costs rising now it's getting colder. In essence, if the boiler is already on for the HW is it more efficient to have the heating on for an hour at the same time with our setup or doesn't it make any difference?

Thank you

macman

Condensing boiler can be either combis or conventional, you have a condensing conventional system with stored hot water. Heating your house or your water from one temp to another takes a fixed amount of energy, so I'd switch them independently if that's what your programmer allows, and if that suits your needs better. You don't get any real economy by running both together.
If the boiler is on, then normally the hot water tank will have a thermostatically controlled motorised valve that calls for heat when necessary, dependent on the setting on the tank thermostat.

NewJones_2

Brilliant, thank you for explaining. Now it's frosty in the mornings I'll do a reprogram on the timer to give us a bit of heating!

rogerblack

Packing more insulation round your tank is generally a good idea too!