What's eating up my gas?

Tiglath

I have a combi boiler which powers the gas central heating. No bath; electric shower. I just checked my energy usage via Eon for the past 2 years month by month, and this last summer gas usage was up 24% on the previous year. I know we didn't have the heating on for those months, so what could it be? Does the combi boiler heat water for the washing-machine? The Saunier Duval combi's about 8 years old - could it be running less efficiently because of its age?

McKneff

Well its been an awful summer so maybe you have been using more hot water than usual.

Your washing machine wouldnt be to blame, they have their own inbuilt water heater.

Wywth

Tiglath wrote: »

I have a combi boiler which powers the gas central heating. No bath; electric shower. I just checked my energy usage via Eon for the past 2 years month by month, and this last summer gas usage was up 24% on the previous year. I know we didn't have the heating on for those months, so what could it be? Does the combi boiler heat water for the washing-machine? The Saunier Duval combi's about 8 years old - could it be running less efficiently because of its age?

Depends if you have a hot & cold fill washing m/c or just a cold fill one.

But unless you changed it, it should be the same as last year, and if you did change it, you wouldn't have got a hot & cold fill washing m/c to replace a cold fill only one without you knowing about it

How much gas did you actually use in the first years summer month? Because we use hardly any in the summer so 24% of that is negligable.

Tiglath

Wywth wrote: »

But unless you changed it, it should be the same as last year, and if you did change it, you wouldn't have got a hot & cold fill washing m/c to replace a cold fill only one without you knowing about it

We did replace the washing-machine early this year; I've just checked and it's cold fill only. I can only presume DH did lots and lots of washing-up during the summer holiday when I was out at work ... unless the Eon charts are showing how much I've spent on gas rather than what I've actually used. Actually I guess it could be Mum doing the washing-up under a running hot tap rather than in a sinkful of hot water when she stays. Going to give them both a pep talk about economising.

Tiglath

2011 vs 2012 gas average monthly kWh, based on meter readings:

May (2.52 vs 3.41)
June (1.57 vs 2.17)
July (1.26 vs 1.55)
August (2.52 vs 4.96)

The usage is probably really low in overall terms; Feb/March/April this year was 42/34/26 kWh/month, but I recall this spring was very cold. I just couldn't figure out why the increase in the summer.

miketam

It's very important to keep track. npower tried to overcharge me for Q2 this year. I wouldn't have noticed in the past but have made sure to keep records this year. My gas hob is usually responsible for the fluctuations on my gas bill.

victor2

Tiglath wrote: »

2011 vs 2012 gas average monthly kWh, based on meter readings:

May (2.52 vs 3.41)
June (1.57 vs 2.17)
July (1.26 vs 1.55)
August (2.52 vs 4.96)

The usage is probably really low in overall terms; Feb/March/April this year was 42/34/26 kWh/month, but I recall this spring was very cold. I just couldn't figure out why the increase in the summer.

If those are really monthly kWh figures, then they are next to nothing. August shows a 97% increase, but 97% of next to nothing is still next to nothing!
Washing machine doesn't come into the picture at all if it's cold fill only. It must be Mum, but convert the extra usage to pennies and then see if it's worth worrying about.

rogerblack

Tiglath wrote: »

2011 vs 2012 gas average monthly kWh, based on meter readings:

May (2.52 vs 3.41)
June (1.57 vs 2.17)
July (1.26 vs 1.55)
August (2.52 vs 4.96)

The usage is probably really low in overall terms; Feb/March/April this year was 42/34/26 kWh/month, but I recall this spring was very cold. I just couldn't figure out why the increase in the summer.

Do you mean kWh per day?
Otherwise you're complaining about single pence differences often.

rogerblack

Tiglath wrote: »

2011 vs 2012 gas average monthly kWh, based on meter readings:

May (2.52 vs 3.41)
June (1.57 vs 2.17)
July (1.26 vs 1.55)
August (2.52 vs 4.96)

The usage is probably really low in overall terms; Feb/March/April this year was 42/34/26 kWh/month, but I recall this spring was very cold. I just couldn't figure out why the increase in the summer.

Do you mean m^3 per day?
Otherwise you're complaining about single pence differences often.

Tiglath

Sorry, it's total kWh consumption for the month (not actually average or daily). If it's only pennies, then you're right - I'm not worried. I think I just panicked over the % increase. We pay £92/month for dual fuel, and as at 1st November we're £100 in credit so hopefully that'll offset our increased winter usage a bit. Thanks guys

oldskoo1

I was made to feel like a war criminal after my pep talk so good luck with that one

Bloody women