Gas bill too high (HELP)

Mike2711

Ok, so this morning just before I left the pilot light was on at 8am, even though I set the boiler to be on between 4:30am - 5:30am.

Since 11pm last night it has used £1.71

Does 55kwh a day sound like it's heating the water constantly?

Nada666

Mike2711 wrote: »

Does 55kwh a day sound like it's heating the water constantly?

No. That sounds like it's heating the whole house constantly in the middle of winter.

Something is amiss.

matelodave

It looks a though your timer or controls aren't working properly - assuming that you've got controls and it's not just relying on the boiler thermostat.
Have you got a thermostat on the tank and have you got any motorised valves in the plumbing either near the tank or the boiler.

The sequence is that the time switch enables the hot water. The tank stat should then start the pump and boiler and ensure the motorised valve is set to hot water and that the heating valve or port is closed. When the water is hot enough, the tank stat shuts off the boiler and pump. neither the boiler nor the pump should run continuously.

Most tanks will take about 6-8kw to heat them = about 30-40p so if you are using £1.71 overnight you should be having a very careful look at your controls and timers.

You should not have any radiators getting warm either if the heating isn't on. If they are it points to a faulty diverter valve allowing hot water to flow through the heating circuit - that should only happen when the heating is enabled and the room stat calls for heat.

Older so called 4-pipe systems would have the pump connected directly to the time switch and would run continuously when the heating was on although some had a room stat as well to control the pump. Hot water was produced by the boiler firing (but without the pump running) and water was circulated by gravity. The only temperature control was by the boiler thermostat.
You can see if your system is like this as it usually had four pipes coming out of the boiler two of which are about 1" and go straight to the tank. the other two pipes go to the heating circuit via the pump.

You might need to get a plumber in if you can't work it all out yourself and you will certainly save money by getting the controls sorted out.

Mike2711

I have contacted my landlord and requested that someone come out and take a look. In the mean time I have turned the boiler off at the wall and will use the emergen to heat the water.

There is no thermostat on the tank, is this something that could be installed?

With regards to the water heating the radiators, there is definately something wrong. On the timer the heating is set to off. Whenever the water is on the radiators will get hot unless I turn them all off individually. There are two pumps which are connected to pipes exiting the boiler, one of these is always on which I think is the pump to the tank.

frank777

Your landlord needs to upgrade your gas boiler to a combi condenser boiler, I had a Worcester Combi Greenstar Boiler fitted by British Gas back in 2007. No clock timer needed for hot water, when you need hot water, you turn the hot water tap on and the boiler fires up. I've used 8 units (90 KWH) of gas since my last reading on the 27.06.14 and use the gas cooker every day. I have a timer switch, never use it, apart from when i'm on holiday in the winter. I just switch the heat on and off in the autumn/winter for my radiators and my gas usage is around 91 units (1024KWH) a month in January.

molerat

frank777 wrote: »

Your landlord needs to upgrade your gas boiler to a combi condenser boiler, I had a Worcester Combi Greenstar Boiler fitted by British Gas back in 2007. No clock timer needed for hot water, when you need hot water, you turn the hot water tap on and the boiler fires up. I've used 8 units (90 KWH) of gas since my last reading on the 27.06.14 and use the gas cooker every day. I have a timer switch, never use it, apart from when i'm on holiday in the winter. I just switch the heat on and off in the autumn/winter for my radiators and my gas usage is around 91 units (1024KWH) a month in January.

I assume you will send the cheque for him to do it The LL needs to do no such thing, just repair the current system that obviously has a fault.

frank777

molerat wrote: »

I assume you will send the cheque for him to do it The LL needs to do no such thing, just repair the current system that obviously has a fault.

Mike2711
The ECO Grant Scheme aims to reduce the cost of heating a home for those on a low income. It allows home owners or private tenants who receive income-related benefits to have a replacement boiler installed. Grants are provided by British Gas as well, and they will arrange for your new A-rated boiler to be installed. The level of grant funding will vary between properties and on some occasions a contribution may be required.


If you don't qualify for a grant, have you not seen the TV advert - let me do the maths! You save on your Gas costs and the Landlord gets a new 'A' Rated boiler with a 10 year guarantee for his property

http://www.help-link.co.uk/tv
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ollski

Could it be possible that your clock timer is not operating properly and is on 24/7 and that you have a gravity hot water system which doesn't cut the water out on temperature in the cylinder but by the boiler thermostat?. As a first start you need to turn down the boiler thermostat to virtually minimum.

[Deleted User]

Get rid of the prepay for a for a fairly good reduction on the prepay and standard variable tariffs which are about the most expensive. A yearly fixed deal will knock the gas pence per kwhr rate down from (in my area in S. Yorks ) 5p kwhr down to 3.7/kwhr for a 1 year fix on direct debit. Also switch suppliers to beat BGs higher daily standing charges and tariffs.. Have a look on a comp site such as UKpower.co.uk where all the tariffs are easy to see. You do not need landlords permission to ditch the prepay. Credit checks are used first. BG are free for switching prepay to credit