Boiler setting query?!

Miss_N310788

Hello, my first time posting on this forum so do excuse me if this has already been a popular topic.

Well anyway I have just moved into my first home independently! I have gas central heating and have set the heating to come on twice a day for 3 hours (morning and evening as I have a baby)

I have also set the hot water to come on at 6am till 10am and 6pm till 10pm! As I thought this was the average thing most households did. My other half has suggested that we leave the hot water on all day, as he pointed out, we have a tank, so once the water is heated in the tank, the heater, heating the water will automatically turn off. So technically we won't be using energy all day everyday if we don't keep emptying the tank.

But I'm a bit skeptical, I keep worrying if I left the boiler on all day heating the water I'd be hit with a big bill. I feel more at ease knowing that it will only be on for 'x' amount of time per day.

Can anyone shed any advise on this matter

Thanks in advance

(A slightly confused) Natalie

retepetsir

IMO you're correct (and from my own experience of running a home), keep hot water on a timer.

Is the hot water tank insulated? That should hold the heat in. Yes it'll get colder throughout the day but hopefully not by much.

I installed an extra insulating jacket on our tank and from having the water heated in the morning until 8am it'll stay hot right into the evening. The jackets are generally subsidised by energy companies, I think ours was £4 from Wickes.

If it's gas central heating then it won't (should'nt) be using the tank heater, it'll be heating the water via the boiler. If you leave the hot water on 'constant' then as soon as the tank temperature dips below the tank thermostat temperature (probably set around 65C and on the side of the tank itself) the boiler will fire up again until the tank water is back up to that temperature.

You could always try one month with your method and one month of your partners, but I'd bet that you'd win .

Fire_Fox

It costs money to keep the water hot all day because the tank constantly loses heat to the outside world and will switch on and off to top up. You really should not need six hours of hot water a day, most households seem to manage find with one to two. A well insulated tank can keep water hot for three days without needing to be on.

Babies don't need the house half as warm as many of us believe, 16 to 20C is recommended. Read your meters every couple of weeks initially and give the readings to the supplier, that way you can keep a close eye on your use and not get any nasty surprises. Also watch out for use of the tumble dryer and long power showers.

Cardew

A modern well insulated hot water tank loses very little heat. They are tested to a British Standard and the heat loss is generally in the region of 2kWh every 24 hours when the water is at 65C. (the actual figure is usually stamped on the tank somewhere - but can be difficult to find)

At this time of the year that heat isn't 'lost' as it warms the fabric of the house - and HW tanks are often in airing cupboards.

So whilst timed is cheaper, the difference in costs is quite small.