Dunce with a boiler question

Almo

Hello,

I'm hoping some kind soul(s) might talk slowly and simply to me about my boiler, and hopefully give me some advice.

We moved into a rented place in early Jan, with a Glow Worm Swift Flow boiler. I rang npower to get sorted and they wanted to set the dual fuel DD at 60 quid, which I was happy with. For reasons that escape me we later received a letter saying we had to pay as you go, effectively, which was also fine with me.

Our first bill was 123 quid for a month! Sorry, no pound symbol on this keyboard. About 80 of that was gas, so obviously both elec and gas were higher than npower had anticipated, but elec I can live with, the usage has reduced considerably since then. Gas seems incredible to me though, we live in a teeny tiny two bed mid terrace with a gas fire and gas hobs as well as the central heating. It was cold, and having just moved back from overseas we probably had the heating on a fair bit but I don't think anything like the amount to warrant those bills.

What's concerning me is that the boiler is constantly making noise. When you run the hot water or switch the central heating on you can hear it 'kick in' but even at 4am it sort of hums, I guess, sounds like it's running somehow, although a very different sound to when heating/hot water is on.

Is that normal?

loracan1

As far as the bill goes, mine was £125 for January, part of that was getting used to a new programmer but I'd expect it to drop significantly as the weather improves.

The random noise from the boiler - I don't know. Could it be the frost override kicking in?

ValHaller

You need to investigate the boiler at 4am. My guess is that the system is wired with the pump running continually - particularly if the radiators are not warm at that time.

macman

Is this an actual bill, or estimated? There is no such thing as PAYG, you either have a credit meter or a PPM.
If you are running your CH all night, then inevitably you can expect your gas consumption to be massively higher during the cold weather, as this is when the rate of heat loss is highest.
Your DD level does not tell us anything about your actual consumption, so post your actual kWh usage over the month for more meaningful advice. But £80 over a winter month does not seem at all exceptional for gas CH, DHW (did you forget about that cost?) and cooking.
Since you've been overseas, you may be unaware of the massive increases in domestic energy prices in the UK in the last 2 or 3 years.

Almo

Thanks all, for your fast and helpful responses.

We don't ever run the heating over night, so that's not what the noise is (it's not just 4am, it's all the time). I don't know how to describe it except to say it's more akin to a fridge or something - a sort of constant hum. When the hot water or the heating is on it is much, much louder and distinctly different.

ValHaller, how would I find out if it is the pump, do you know?

You might be right, macman and loracan that it's just a combination of a cold month and having been away for some years. The consumption figures for gas are 1231 kWh for the month.

Edited to add: it's an actual bill.

loracan1

macman wrote: »

Is this an actual bill, or estimated? There is no such thing as PAYG, you either have a credit meter or a PPM.
If you are


Since you've been overseas, you may be unaware of the massive increases in domestic energy prices in the UK in the last 2 or 3 years.

The first part - my bill is generated by my readings monthly and is the lowest pence/unit I can find for my overall usage.

Second part - I suspect this is what's happened, you've not only come from a warmer environment, prices have rocketed! I expect your (and my) bill will reduce when we get used to using the heating more efficiently. Saying that, January was really REALLY cold where I am

Sorry, still no idea what the noise is though.

macman

At 4p per kWh, gas usage of 1,231 kWh would result in a bill of about £49, plus standing charges. Nothing like £80.
So you'll need to give more details of the bill breakdown.