New boiler and astronomical gas prices.

watman

Hi everyone. Don't want to belabour this one since I've already seen similar threads, but this situation *may* be different.

I've had a combi boiler fitted and since then my gas prices have gone through the roof.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty, let me tell you about my background. I'm an ex premises manager, now on long term sick and in receipt of PIP with a six month old daughter and a (thankfully not too large) mortgage. I've been involved with combi-installs before so I know what's involved.

My house is a fixer. Last September I had a new Worcester combi fitted after the old back boiler packed up. It was fitted by two guys in just over a day. the job included pulling out the old boiler, flushing the system and fitting the new one.

In the new year I noticed my gas bills had almost doubled. Additionally the boiler had issues. Running the hot water would make it pack up and it would need restarting. I called the installers who passed it onto Worcester. Worcester fitted a new heat exchanger. The boiler carried on working for a bit before developing the same fault. Worcester came again and denounced the water in the system as filthy, hence the newly-clogged heat exchanger. I contacted the fitters and a guy attended to re-flush before Worcester would agree to fix the boiler. My wife also wanted a filter fitting to the system to stop the boiler silting up again. That we had to pay for. Now I've noticed that my gas bills are higher than a kite.

I've contacted British Gas and they've raised an eyebrow at the high useage. I think the guy on the phone said at one point it looked like five units per day were being used. (Bad phone line though, so I may be wrong.)

Specs of the system are: Worcester 28i, thermostatically controlled, thermostatic valves on the radiators. Heat turned off in rooms not being used. Yes, heat in use all day during the winter as I'm in the house most of the time. Can't be avoided. But, the temp was kept as low as possible, just enough to take the chill off. It's a terraced house, lagged loft, PVC windows throughout.

The heating's off and the hot water is only used for baths in the evenings and washing dishes. I do not have a pre-heat facility. The last bill (this month) was over £300.

The heat exchangers have just been replaced (that's for the second time) and in a few days smart meters are going to be installed.

My question, does anyone here think a dink install could have led to a knackered boiler causing excessive gas consumption? I know, it sounds crazy but it's the only thing which makes sense. I can hear the boiler coming on so I know it doesn't get used much. Funny thing is, the high gas bills seem to co-incide not with the fitting but with the first ruined heat exchanger.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

cyclonebri1

Can't really help so I'll bounce it for you.

£300 per month for a terraced home, :eek::eek:, given a modern efficient boiler that does seem absolutely excessive especially as it was summer bill mine is around £120 per month for gas/elec combined for a 4 bed detached bungalow and I complain.

You haven't confused a monthly bill with what is actually a quarter 1 by any chance?

brightontraveller

Take Daily meter reading, check against usage, theoretically leaking hot water tap could mean boilers being used constantly but most likely you see it ditto leak but likely you’d smell it ?

A faulty appliance could be using more energy than it should because it is not operating correctly get WB to recheck it * they may charge if no fault found.

Ditto faulty gas meter contact supplier again they can replace check old meter calibration etc (take serial number meter reading before they remove it ) again if no fault found they can charge don’t always but can if they wish.

Someone’s tapped into the supply?

southcoastrgi

I'm guessing they have done a test to make sure you don't have a gas leak ?

JohnB47

I would suggest checking the gas meter reading at least four times a day, irrespective of when you actually use the boiler. You could also check it just before and just after a bath full and let us know the usage. People here will know what is normal for that sort of thing (I haven't had a bath in years - shower only for me).

cyclonebri1

I have to repeat this again, as the readings simply don't make sense,

"You haven't confused a monthly bill with what is actually a quarter 1 by any chance?"

Look, you can'r lose energy, it gets converted to another form.

So, , it goes into heating your house, it's up the chimney to atmosphere' or goes into heating your water or dinner, or it even heats the atmosphere with green house gas given a leak.