Massive gas bill

cherubs53

Hi everyone,

I have just read my gas metre ony to discover that in the period since June 11th we have already used 5x as much gas as we did in the period between February and June. I cant understand it, I havent been been warm! The bill Feb to June was from a read metre reaing and I havent made a mistake with this reading, I have checked it about 3 times with mounting horror. The worst part is-other than not being abe to pay the bill, and already paying a massive dd each month to cover arrears on last winters bill-is that I thought I had been so careful, not using the heating at all really since the weather got better. I was so dissapointed that I cried and the children keep asking what will happen when I cant pay, well I will pay it somehow but I just wondered if anyone had any idea on how it had happened.

notbritishgas

Hi cherub
You haven't had a meter changed in this period have you? The new one reading cubic metres and the old one 100's of cubic feet.

penrhyn

Sorry to hear of your problem.
For safety's sake turn off any gas appliances you may be using. Check that the meter isn't still running. If it is you may have a leak that should be investigated ASAP.

cherubs53

I havent had a new meter but I did have a bloke to fix the boiler a couple of months ago, Im wondering if he has somehow turned it into some sort of super boiler, I think I may get someone in to check it out

Rikki

Just a thought. Is your water on constant or timer?

Constant does make a difference but not much. Also you could check the thermostat on your hot water cylinder is only set to 50oc.

I take weekly readings. You could take daily readings for a week and look at what is using the gas on each day.

cherubs53

"I take weekly readings. You could take daily readings for a week and look at what is using the gas on each day."

Thanks for this tip, I have started a little book of metre readings and Im trying to work out what we have used over the previous billing periods to compare. I have also turned off anything gas and will leave it all off until tomorrow morning to see if the metre is still moving, thanks for al your help.

tripled

Rikki wrote: »

Also you could check the thermostat on your hot water cylinder is only set to 50oc.

Only if you want to risk legonella bateria breeding away. Best practice is to have it at 60 deg C - a safe temperature.

http://www.energysavingwales.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=TM.viewTip&tipID=40&aspect=1&sector=1&currentTip=40&direction=view

SwanJon

penrhyn wrote: »

Sorry to hear of your problem.
For safety's sake turn off any gas appliances you may be using. Check that the meter isn't still running. If it is you may have a leak that should be investigated ASAP.

I'd never expect high consumption to be due to a leak - gas stinks.
If you're meter measures in m3, then 150 units would fill my living room (sufficating me in the process), and cost about £70-£80.
You'd notice a tiny leak by smelling it - anything that would affect your bill is likely to destroy your house first.

It is possible to get gas detectors if you have no sense of smell:
http://www.tunstall.co.uk/products.aspx?pageId=144