Cost of using Gas

mart3ndo

Hi,

I am trying to reduce the amount I am paying for my gas.

Basically a large amount of my budget goes to the gas, regularly running into emergency credit on the meter.

It has got to the stage that I rarely use my heating or hot water, but the majority of the spend goes to the pilot light, which uses about a pound a day by itself.

Few details:

• There is no debt on my meter
• No Standing Charge
• Very old boiler
• council property

Any help would be appreciated

penrhyn

Pester council into upgrading your boiler.
Have they refurbished the property, loft and cavity wall insulation?
Double Glazing?
Draftproofing?
If on benefits grants are available.

mart3ndo

I've been pestering the council since last winter, but to no avail.

They just tell me that they will get the Housing Inspector to contact me, but he never does. Letters just go ignored and they wont give me a direct email address or phone number, or even the name of the housing inspector (one inspector for the whole council, he only works in my area on Tuesday afternoons)

There is double glazing, but it is very drafty. I'm assuming the windows were installed some time ago, as some of the window joint things are so rusted that they don't open.

The property has not been refurbished for at least twenty years, going by the state of the electrics, heating and the amount of cracks in all the walls.

There is no loft or wall insulation.

The council don't seem to provide any information on any sort of services they provide in terms of loft or wall insulation, or at least I cant get any.

I'm on first name terms with most of the heating engineers that the council have contracted, as they have to come out so often because it keeps failing. The heating system has been rated poor with a replacement recommended for the past two years.

Alter_ego

Can you turn off pilot light when not needed?

ariba10

It must be an enormous pilot light!

penrhyn

Bearing in mind that the most frightening words you can hear is " I'm from the government I'm here to help"

Have a look at the green deal stuff.

http://www.localenergy.org.uk/2011/11/local-authorities-what-will-the-green-deal-mean-for-you/

mart3ndo

I can, but it's not recommended because half the time I have to call out an engineer because it wont re-ignite, normally something to do with air in the system and some sort of safety feature

mart3ndo

penrhyn, I'll look into that

ariba10, i know, apparently that's normal on older systems. When I moved into the flat, I spent the first few months arguing with Scottish Hydro, because I assumed there was something wrong with the meter, when there was no standing charge and i wasn't using gas, but it was still costing me.

stebiz

I'm in a fortunate position at the moment where my house (which I own) is undergoing a full refurbishment even though over the years I have installed Double Glazing, Central Heating and Insulation etc. My average gas consumption was £80 pm on a 3 bed semi.

Whilst my house is being refurbed I moved my family to a new home which was to let. Even in the winter (last 3 months) we are only using on average £30 a month gas.

That just shows how uneconomic a lot of old housing stock is. We've now spent more time thinking of external insulation and a porch etc. Anything to keep the heat in.

Road_Hog

stebiz wrote: »

Whilst my house is being refurbed I moved my family to a new home which was to let. Even in the winter (last 3 months) we are only using on average £30 a month gas.

You lucky !!!!!!.


Gas & Elec costs me £120 per month for a 3 bed semi and it is only me and the wife.

gimmiedatz

penrhyn wrote: »

If on benefits grants are available.

To homeowners and private tenants, yes.

penrhyn wrote: »

Bearing in mind that the most frightening words you can hear is " I'm from the government I'm here to help"

Have a look at the green deal stuff.

Unlikely to secure Green Deal finance as you are a Council Tenant. Not that you'd want to take out Green Deal finance...