Boiler/BoilerMate turn boiler off in summer and just use emersion?

nsp1274

Our water is kept constantly hot through our boiler and BoilerMate and I was wondering if it would be beneficial to turn the boiler off over the summer. We don't really need constant hot water, before we moved I only had the emersion on for an hour morning and again for an hour in the evening.

We have an electric switch to turn emersion on, so would it be best to turn boiler off and just heat water twice a day or just to leave boiler on heating water constantly?

Anyone got any experience of this?

Thanks

baldelectrician

better to use it less, but not good to stop using it for several months. The pump may seize and things (like motorised or gas valves ) may get sticky or troublesome.

make sure it is on for around 30 mins a day. this should keep everything running smoothly.

hardpressed

I have a problem with my oil boiler, something to do with the valve, I think. If it's just on for hot water the rads still get hot, and the water not very hot. When the heating is on and the hot water off it still gets hot! So in the summer I just use the immersion. Is it really going to do any harm not to use the boiler for 5 or 6 months?

thescouselander

Its probably better to use the boiler to heat the hot water if you can time it to come on and off during the day. Gas/Oil is much cheaper per kWh than electricity so using the immersion heater is an expensive alternative.

I never use our immersion heater - its just there for backup incase the boiler breaks down.

nsp1274

Our boiler just constantly keeps water hot, so we can't time it to come on and off, it is just always on.

My parents turned their boiler off for a few months and it wouldn't light again, so I am concerned about doing this. I just don't know what would be the most economical option, either to turn immersion on for a couple of hours a day, or just to leave boiler on all the time keep water constantly hot?

Never had this problem in the old house, we just had the standard timer for heating, and timer for hot water; I am at a complete loss at what to do for the best at the moment!