steep gas bill, minimal heating use

zeupater

Hi

Hopefully it is related to drying the property out ... you'd be surprised how much water would still be in concrete, breezeblock, mortar and plaster even when it looks dry ... our first property was Autumn built, finished in November, we completed before Christmas and moved in early in the new year, after having carpets fitted ... although the builders had been running the gas fire and an industrial dehumidifier for some time we used loads of gas trying to build up the heat, but it simply went cold almost immediately after turning the heat off .... it wasn't until after the doors & windows had been open at every possible opportunity in the Spring that the situation changed ... we've had a couple of other new houses since, but they were completed in time to properly dry-out before the Winter set-in ....

HTH & good luck
Z

wasted_legend

Hi all

Been keeping an eye on the meters regularly.
Twigged that something was up with the readings.

Spoke to eon and it seems that the gas and electricity meters had been mixed up.

we'd used more electricity than estimated and gas was far less apparently. One of the smart meters had stopped broadcasting so this was one of the reasons for the confusion.

So we are in credit now, which is a plus, due to be refunded and sorting out direct debit. Quarterly bills are no joke.

Thanks for your help and advice, much appreciated.

It seems outside temperature has a big effect on the amount of gas needed to maintain the modest heating levels we've set in the place.

Thanks again

macman

Moral-never trust agents to read meters, always check yourself, since the bill is yours.
Yes, the ambient outside temp is always the main factor, since the greater the temp differential between in and out, the greater is the rate of heat loss through the structure, however well insulated.
Your usage at this time of year will now be at it's peak, and won't be indicative of the annual average at all.
PS: your combi won't have a cylinder. If you have a 'cylinder' (hot water tank) then you have a conventional boiler with stored hot water. A combi only heats hot water on-demand.