PulsaCoil 2000 Water heater super high bill!!!!

lsmbx

After an extortionate electricity bill,I have spent many hours trying to get to a reason why my bill would be so high. I have worked out that my PulsaCoil 2000 immersion heater is the cause.

I have calculated that my Pulsacoil water heater will use 6 kWh per hour. On our bill the water heater has used 1425 kWh over 92 days. I have calculated that the water heater has been switched on for a period of 10 days in total over 92 days and has used 1425 kWh. This means that it is costing £1.13 per hour to use. For 10 days of it being switched on it has cost £268.47. 

From research the immersion heater should be using 9 kWh per day. Ours is using 144 kWh per day.

This all comes back down to the fault I have been complaining to my landlord about since I moved into the property 6 months ago. When we first moved in we had absolutely no hot water through the taps, he sent a maintenance guy 2 months after we first complained about the issue who did something to it and it and then when the heater is switched on the water comes through the taps at an absolutely scorching temperature and I have badly burnt my hand twice. 



The only times we have had the immersion heater on over this period is when we have desperately needed a bit of hot water through the taps, not thinking that it would be costing the extortionate amount that it does. Thank goodness that we didn’t have it left on constantly - i’ve calculated that if it had been left switched on night mode for the full 92 days the bill would have been £2484 for the immersion heater alone! 


After requesting many times the landlord has never followed up on getting it fixed until about 2 weeks ago about getting a qualified Glenhill engineer out to fix the issue. He booked me an appointment but did not consult on my availability and as I was at work I missed it, he has only now given me the name of the company to book it in myself.



I do not feel that I should be paying for this electric bill, I know for a fact that my landlord will not accept responsibility for it and am unsure what the next step is to take.

CashStrapped

1) Is the bill based on actual meter readings?
2) What type of meter? prepay? E7?
3) What is the tariff? unit rates and standing charge?
4) Assuming the meter reads are accurate, what is the actual kwh use in the recorded period (give us the kwh total)

Are you actually on an E7 tariff?

This is a wet thermal store system. Basically a pressured E7 hot water cylinder. Do you know how to adjust the temperature yourself?

Having had a look at the manual and installation guide, it should be fairly simple to adjust the temperature in the two heater elements as you would in any standard hot water cylinder.

There are also two elements as per any e7 cylinder. You need to ensure the day rate 3kwh has not been turned on permanently, as if you are on an e7 tariff, this is where most of the cost will be going.

Is there any type of control panel? The manual is nor forthcoming about external controls. Do you have a switch for each immersion heater?

lsmbx

1) Yes
2) Its an E10 meter it gives 4 rates, standard, heat (unused), heat, other
3) 15.920p per kWh for standard, 7.290p for heat, 18.840p for other. Standing charge of 23.290p per day.
4) Standard: 1199 kWh Heat: 828 kWh Other:1425kWh over 92 days.

As Npowers systems do not support E10 meters I am on there system as e7 and there customer service team think I have two meters, this is the only way they can create an account on their systems for my meter.

There is absolutely no control panel or any timer, all there is is a day and night switch.

Thanks.

CashStrapped

1) Ensure the day switch is off (unless you need hot water in an emergency)

2) If npower think you are e7, why are you getting charged an E10 or legacy tariff? E7 has two rates only, day and night.

3) How does the meter record night use? What tariff is it charged for your use at night? What times do the tariffs cover?

4) The tariff is not great, especially considering you are using most of your electricity on the worst rates.

Do you have storage heaters or panel heaters? This is important as it will determine the most appropriate course of action.

Looking at your overall use. In total you are using around 37kwh per day (including heating). I would not consider this obscene in winter. I would consider it normal/slightly above average for an all electric flat. So your actual use is not a problem. It is the tariff and the set-up that is costing you.

Don't forget, the water is not heated permanently. Immersions have an internal thermostat. Once the water is heated to to the set temperature, the immersion turns off.

Edit: A rough comparison of the tariff options based on the same usage.

Your tariff for 92 days costs £540

If you got the set up changed to a single tariff £431

E7 tariff at 55% night rate £350.97 (assume you have storage heaters)

Edit: It is very easy to reduce the temperature of the hot water. This should save you money. You have to open the side panel of the tank. Look for the two immersion heaters. Remove the cap (there should be a little screw) inside you will see a temperature dial. Reduce the dial to 50-55 degrees minimum. Replace the cap and the cover. Ensure the electrics are off at the mains/fuse box/consumer unit when you do this.

If still not sure, watch this video:

https://youtu.be/LevJBgXl4Ms?t=53

Only watch it for 10seconds as it shows how to open the immersion. You can easily see the dial for temperature. Ignore the rest of the video as it is about replacing it.