40% increase in gas consumption.

pleasurebear

My annual gas consumption varied between 402 and 482 cu.ft. between 2007 and 2012. This past year my consumption has increased by 40%, which I cannot explain:
1/08/11 to 1/08/12: 437 cu.ft.
1/08/12 to 1/08/13: 609 cu.ft.
No changes to my gas installation or my usage of gas have occurred during the past year.

I am retired and live alone. My home had new double glazing fitted to all windows and doors, cavity wall and loft insulation installed in 2005. A new warm air heater was installed in March 2010. My hot water is supplied from an electric immersion heater.

My gas meter was manufactured by Parkinson Cowan, modified by George Wilson Industries, type R5. It was installed on 18/05/1999.

I tested my gas installation for a leak by comparing full meter readings over a 10 hour period. The reading was unchanged, so I do not think there is a leak present.

A analysis of my gas consumption readings for 1/08/12 to 1/08/13 compared with 1/08/11 to 1/08/12 shows a diverging increase throughout the past year directly related to the consumption. I suspected my gas meter was over-reading, so I reported this matter to EDF Energy. At its request, I recorded meter readings for two 5-day periods. EDF Energy does not think my meter is faulty.

I would appreciate advice on what steps I should take next.

Cardew

An Imperial gas unit is 100 cubic feet(approx 32kWh) so from 01/08/11 to 01/08/22 I assume you used 437 gas units = approx 14,000kWh.(not 4.37 gas units and 140kWh)

Presumably the readings are taken by yourself and not estimated by the Utility company?

You can insist that the Utility company test your meter, but if it is found not to be faulty, you have to pay(around £80 I believe)

Could in be that your warm air heater has developed a fault? When was it last serviced?

ollski

Got a bit of dust on your room thermostat so it's reading a slightly different room temperature? gas pressure altered on a service?, lack of a service?, a slightly colder 12 month period?

DragonQ

I can explain it. Last winter was much longer than the previous one.

Simples.

pleasurebear

Cardew wrote: »

An Imperial gas unit is 100 cubic feet(approx 32kWh) so from 01/08/11 to 01/08/22 I assume you used 437 gas units = approx 14,000kWh.(not 4.37 gas units and 140kWh)

Presumably the readings are taken by yourself and not estimated by the Utility company?

You can insist that the Utility company test your meter, but if it is found not to be faulty, you have to pay(around £80 I believe)

Could in be that your warm air heater has developed a fault? When was it last serviced?

Thanks for pointing that out. Yes, I took all the readings myself.

My warm air heater hasn't been serviced since it was installed 3 years ago, but I plan to have it serviced next month. The commissioning report states that burner operating pressure = 17.5Mbar and the heat input = 19.5KW, as per the installation manual for high rate. Should I have this checked?

pleasurebear

DragonQ wrote: »

I can explain it. Last winter was much longer than the previous one.

Simples.

This is what EDF Customer Service said. But by 40%?

Cardew

You don't say the size of your property but 609 gas units - approx 19,500kWh - is very high for a single occupant, in a well insulated property who uses electricity to heat water.

I would certainly see what the gas fitter says about the boiler efficiency.

DragonQ

pleasurebear wrote: »

This is what EDF Customer Service said. But by 40%?

Seems reasonable to me. Two winters ago I only used the heating from mid-December to mid-March. Last winter I used the heating from mid-October to mid-April, so about twice as long.

Ecodave

My gas consumption this last year (Aug to Aug) has gone up 32% compared to the previous year. It was a harsh and long winter.