Potterton Suprima Idiots Guide Hot Water

17lbp

This is probably a really stupid request but I'm struggling to get to grips with the hot water system in the house we've recently bought.
In our previous house we had a combi boiler, turn on the tap and got instant hot water - easy!
In this house we have a potterton suprima 30L. We have a hot water tank in a cupboard upstairs where there is also a switch (looks like an immersion switch), the boiler is situated in the garage and there is a cold water tank in the loft.
I'm not sure what the most economical way to run the hot water system is. On the timer panel I can set it to come on at certain times, all day etc. Is it cheaper to just have it come on at certain times or run all day? Also should I have the "immersion" switch which is next to the hot water tank switched on or off? There are 4 of us in the house and generally most hot water is required in the evening as we're out most of the day.
Sorry if these are really stupid questions but I'd really appreciate and idiots guide to how the system works.
We do have the manuals but there are all about the fitting off the boiler and not really the best way to run it.
Many thanks

alleycat`

It depends on your household behaviour, size of household, size of the tank in the airing cupboard and how well lagged it is.

We have the same sort of setup and the hot water is on twice a day.
50 minutes in the morning (about 5am) which is before anyone gets up and about 40 minutes from 4pm.

In reality the boiler isn't "on and running" for that length of time in either instance as the tank has a thermostat set to about 60C and it retains a lot of heat as it is well lagged.

The only reason i'd deviate from this behaviour is if you have a house full of people who want hot baths one after the other, in which case you'd want it on all the time or possibly you'll have an "override boost" button that can be switched on or off (mine actually is a 1 hour boost).

Edit:-
Or a teenage shower hog as opposed to the baths



The immersion heater is really there for a boost or if the boiler is out of action as electric is much more expensive to use to heat water than mains gas.
It should be in the off position unless required.

--

I know it sounds odd to have it the way around we do but most of the hot water gets used on an evening so it needs longer to recover the next morning as the tank is refilled from cold.

--

Even if you set it to be on all the time in reality it isn't on most of the time as it only comes on when the water temperature drops in the tank.

You also have to remember that the heat lost from the tank is warming your house indirectly so it isn't a total loss.

--

It is recommended the tank is set at 60C or more to offset the risk of legionaires but it doesn't have to be kept that high all the time if you have someone in the house that doesn't like very hot water.

Just remember to turn the tank thermostat up from time to time if you want it lower normally.

Hope that helps.

17lbp

alleycat` wrote: »

It depends on your household behaviour, size of household, size of the tank in the airing cupboard and how well lagged it is.

We have the same sort of setup and the hot water is on twice a day.
50 minutes in the morning (about 5am) which is before anyone gets up and about 40 minutes from 4pm.

In reality the boiler isn't "on and running" for that length of time in either instance as the tank has a thermostat set to about 60C and it retains a lot of heat as it is well lagged.

The only reason i'd deviate from this behaviour is if you have a house full of people who want hot baths one after the other, in which case you'd want it on all the time or possibly you'll have an "override boost" button that can be switched on or off (mine actually is a 1 hour boost).

Edit:-
Or a teenage shower hog as opposed to the baths



The immersion heater is really there for a boost or if the boiler is out of action as electric is much more expensive to use to heat water than mains gas.
It should be in the off position unless required.

--

I know it sounds odd to have it the way around we do but most of the hot water gets used on an evening so it needs longer to recover the next morning as the tank is refilled from cold.

--

Even if you set it to be on all the time in reality it isn't on most of the time as it only comes on when the water temperature drops in the tank.

You also have to remember that the heat lost from the tank is warming your house indirectly so it isn't a total loss.

--

It is recommended the tank is set at 60C or more to offset the risk of legionaires but it doesn't have to be kept that high all the time if you have someone in the house that doesn't like very hot water.

Just remember to turn the tank thermostat up from time to time if you want it lower normally.

Hope that helps.

Thanks so much for that information - its really given me an insight into what I should be doing and not doing.
Thanks a lot