Gas Costs - could there be a fault?

Greg12580

I will try and make this as short as possible so people dont lose interest because I really need some suggestions!

I live in a small 1 bedroom flat (4 rooms - 3 with radiators) and currently pay £78.00 per month for my gas and electric. I have a combi boiler system. I recently switched to Scottish Gas as I 'thought' NPower had made a mistake with my useage.

I have had my first statement from Scottish Gas covering Oct 12 - Jan 13 and already I am in debit by £83 even though I am paying £78 a month. I checked the bill over and according to the units etc, it seems I am using 3 units of gas per day which a friend of mine (who lives in a 3 bedroomed house says he is only 2.5 a day).
I just dont understand how I can be spending this much as the heating is only on timed for 6 hours max a day (1 hours in the morning and 5 at evening) as I am a work.

The same friend told me the thermostat on the boiler was far too high (at maximum) so I reduced it to half way and have been keeping readings from the gas meter over the last few days. However, it is still using 3 units and my flat is so much colder. The radiators are not very warm at all.

I do not have a home cover plan with scottish gas and I am not sure if I took one out they would cover me straight away if anything is wrong.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could do or what might be wrong or at fault?

Kind regards

Greg.

rogerblack

In short.
Turning down the boiler thermostat, if it maintains the house at the same temperature may at best save 5% or so of gas.

Heating demand for properties varies significantly depending on the construction.
Outwardly similar properties can easily vary by a factor of 5 in heating demand, depending on their construction.
3 units of gas a day would work out to around 35kWh.
For 6 hours a day, this would average 5.?kW.
This is not unreasonable, especially if the property isn't very well insulated.
Replacing the boiler is unlikely to make significant savings - the only things you can do are to use less heating, or improve the insulation and/or draught-sealing on the property.

Greg12580

I thought about replacing the radiators in the 3 rooms (the bathroom already has a towel rail) to double radiators. Could this improve things?

insanegloss

Hi Greg,

First of all, have you checked to ensure that the bills are to accurate readings? If not, give your readings to Scottish Gas. Also make sure the meter number matches that on your bill.

Secondly, check if your meter to see if its imperial or metric. Your meter will have the units it measures in marked as ft3 for imperial and m3 for metric. Then check your bill for the calculation for converting units on your meter to kWh, if it includes a step for multiplying by 2.83 and your meter measures in m3 (metric) then inform Scottish Gas.

Thirdly, and this unfortunately is by far the most common scenario, is that your usage is correct and you'll be best speaking to an energy efficiency specialist to get a handle on your usage and lowering it. Again, speak to Scottish Gas as these people are available for you to speak to.

Ultimately, my advice is to call and then go through the steps above with an agent who 'should' be more than capable to help you with this.

Regards

Greg12580

It just concerns me that by already paying £78 a month I have already gone into debit so soon

insanegloss

If you've only just transferred to Scottish Gas, it would be natural to get slightly in to debit at the moment as you've not built your credit up during the summer months to offset your naturally higher usage during winter.

Greg12580

I hadn't thought of that. Im still thinking of replacing the radiators as they ones I have are pretty rubbish.
With the thermostat turned lower, there is hardly any heat at all coming from them!

Greg12580

Thanks for your help so far.
I am assuming though that the £78 per month isnt covering what I appear to be using otherwise my account would be in credit.
Doesnt this mean that my direct debit will increase again?

insanegloss

Are they warm at the bottom but not at the top? If so, might just need bleeding. Get a bleeding key from your local hardware store and bleed each radiator.

If you're unsure how exactly to do it (its easy!) just have a look at some videos on YouTube.

insanegloss

Oh, and on the Direct debit point, no Scottish Gas generally don't reassess them in the first 12 months on supply as there isn't a full years meter reading history.

My advice is to keep an eye on your balance, not to allow it to get too high and to be in a position at the end of summer with a healthy credit for the following winter.

Greg12580

They have been bled but are still fairly cold in the middle.
I was thinking that by replacing them with double ones this would allow me to keep the themostat on the boiler kept lower.
If I increase that temperature (which is the only way to keep my rooms warmer at the moment) then my useage will only rise