Gas usage seems too high

closed

if you have a stat on the tank, set around 60, the water should stop heating up after about 45-90 minutes max, unless you use vast amounts of hot water, 5 hours is excessive

Turning down the room stat lower might help a little, doesn't really need to be at 15 in summer, the culprit is more likely to be room heating, check the insulation.

MrChips

Thanks both. I am a bit of a novice at this (can you tell?!). We certainly have a big water tank in the loft. I'll get the ladder out and have a look at it. A colleague at work also mentioned looking for a stat on the tank and reducing it to 60C.

We shouldn't use too much hot water. I have a 5-10 minute shower in the morning, my wife similarly. Otherwise it's just used for washing hands/dishes and small baths for our 2 year old (we probably only fill it a quarter full if that). Since reducing the water heating to 2 hours a day (1 hour in the early morning and early evening) I've not noticed hot water running out or anything.

I'll report back if I find out anymore!

closed

5 hours is enough to boil it, the likelihood is that the stat will turn off the water heating/pumping before the hour is up, thereby reducing your consumption automatically