Concerned: Average gas units per day very high? Single/1 bed flat

SpotlandRules

torncurtain wrote: »

First off, wow. If what I'm blowing through is accurate, you're my gas saving hero!

If you don't mind me asking, do you have some heating on during the day/work from home, so the gas is being used during daylight hours for even a few hours a day? do you think the meter has helped you make better decisions/have you used less gas since it was installed? And, lastly do you think you limit your gas use even if you lose out to save a few pence?

I ask because I'm trying to determine if I really am blasting through the gas consumption, or if there's something wrong elsewhere. I don't mind being cold in my flat, and will layer clothing. But I'm in during the day time, with the heating on in bursts.

All the same, thanks for your help and the figures. It certainly puts things into perspective. I may just have to get a smart meter. :cool:

I am at home all day. When I get up, I put my thermostat on 15, this takes the nip away, but if it is really cold, I will put in on around 18 during the day.

I have invested in some thermals and these have helped, I feel.

My smart meter no longer calculates the cost, as I have moved away from the original supplier - although it still measures usage. The only radiator I have turned down, is my kitchen radiator, as this is near to my fridge freezer - there is no way I am going into a cold bedroom.

I do not really think the smart meter has helped me reduce, as I find the associated display unit useless. I have since started to put my daily usage into excel and do my comparisons that way. I have reduced my usage from last winter, my records from 2015/16 show that I used just over 8500 kW of gas. As I said in my 1st post to you, looking at around 5500 June 16 - May 17. I think that my new windows and doors have been a major factor is this, along with wearing thermals.

As my health is not brilliant, I will not go without heat. If it is cold, my heating will go on, no matter what time of day it is. I am finding more often than not, keeping it on around 15/16 is keeping it okay for me, but I do have around three layers on (thermals, t shirt and jumper).

torncurtain

SpotlandRules wrote: »

my records from 2015/16 show that I used just over 8500 kW of gas. As I said in my 1st post to you, looking at around 5500 June 16 - May 17. I think that my new windows and doors have been a major factor is this, along with wearing thermals.

As my health is not brilliant, I will not go without heat. If it is cold, my heating will go on, no matter what time of day it is. I am finding more often than not, keeping it on around 15/16 is keeping it okay for me, but I do have around three layers on (thermals, t shirt and jumper).

I'm very sorry to read your health isn't great, I hope that you're able to find relief in any way that suits you best. I fully appreciate what a winter can be like, when unwell.

You sound like me, as in you're in a similar situation to me in terms of pragmatism, strategy and the reality that you need to tackle the cold even if it's during the day. I too wear layers and thermals, and will use a hot water bottle under the duvet at night to cut down on night time heating. So, I'm left wondering why am I using so much gas, or more than you were before you reduced your use. Of course, I don't expect you to be able to answer this, it's more a question for me to answer. However, your input has certainly solidified my thinking and concerns. My use should be closer to yours, than what I'm currently using. Thanks again! :A

torncurtain

CashStrapped wrote: »

3.75 units per day is pretty good in my opinion, especially in winter. It sounds like low use on a modern boiler.

This has been mentioned above in passing. But....do check your meter and confirm the meter is measuring in m3 and not ft3. If it is an modern meter, your supplier may have incorrectly recorded it as a ft3 meter and applying the wrong conversion factor.

To put this in perspective, in winter my old ancient boiler can chug through 10-12 units per day. A quicker conversion is to multiply the units by 11.2.

So I can use up to 112kwh per day when the temperatures drop! (my boiler is old but very reliable, it has not broken once in 40 years of use)

Yours sounds like normal use to me. Six units per day would/could be normal too if the temperatures drop low.

What you need to focus on is the tariff, the boiler controls and ways you can reduce your use.

For example, do you have

1) A digital thermostat (rather than an analogue dial one)
2) TRV valves
3) Draught proofing
4) When was the boiler last serviced
5) Do the radiators all get hot. Are they evenly hot over their surface? Or are there cold spots? If so, they may need flushing.

Thanks for your input, I think I replied just below your response so to clarify, I don't think the 3.75 kWh per day is correct. And, the meter is a metric meter. SSE have said that they know it's metric, and there's no issue with their readings. It was changed, but after only a couple of months of moving in, which was roughly 22 months ago. I've been using this meter, for 20 months. From what I can figure out from the mess, is that I'm likely using closer to 42.90 kWh per day, which, from my understanding is excessive for a single occupant in a block of flats. Or even 6 units (not kWh) per day, during warmer days (recent, in London). As you point out, in winter if it's cold this use would be reasonable! But, if I compare my use to SpotlandRules use, mine is a lot higher.


The digital thermostat states my flat is anywhere between 16 - 20 degrees C, throughout the course of day. However, it's turned right up to the maximum and it's still cold in the flat. It doesn't feel like 20 degrees C, when it states it actually is.


1) yes, digital
2) not sure what these are, but will look into this, thank-you!
3) draught proofing, as best I can. I have curtains that remain closed, windows remain closed most of the time bar when bathing as the flats have a damp & mold problem, double glazed windows, and draught proofing around the front door and curtain to stop the breeze coming in from the post box. when cooking the heating is turned off, the stove is electric. I've even blocked the vents/air bricks in the rooms, to stop the constant breeze coming through (can assist the mold growth, unfortunately) but there are air vents on each window, I use draught excluders on 2 doors, 1 of which is internal to stop any breeze coming through.
4) boiler was last serviced in Oct 2016
5) hot all the way along, there's 2 radiators in the property, and they were last bled start of last year.


If looking at unit costs/tariff, this is also confusing according to the bill. I asked SSE who weren't very helpful, other than telling me I'm on the standard rate which means I benefit from lower prices when they go down. I'm not entirely a fool, and worked out that would also mean I would be susceptible to rising costs too. I don't know if you, or anyone can assist in clarifying? My bill states the following:

standard energy:
12994.12 kWh at 3.98p = £517.17
184 days at 15.66p = £28.81
VAT = £27.29

New bill (based on estimates):
£472.41
Balance owed to us:
£384.70
Total cost to me:
£857.11
New payment £78 per month

Estimated annual use:
9,869.09 kWh

However, I was told over the phone, that the £78 per month is too low as my new yearly estimate based on use is £1386 and my new bill will show that I need to pay £100+ per month.


I think my early mention of 184 days is wrong, I think it's 184 days over the course of either 20 months or another period of time which isn't evident or listed on the bill at the increased tariff of 15.66p.

I hope what I've written makes sense, please let me know if I need to make clear anything. It's been very handy having people respond generously, and give advice. I feel I can make better informed decisions.


I would like to know if you, or any others think I should go ahead with having the meter inspected based on the information I've provided?

CashStrapped

You are on a standard variable tariff. This means you are paying premium prices. Yes prices may go down, but that does not look likely in the medium to long term. Even then, there are tariffs that are a fixed price but do not lock you in (you can still leave at any time). These will still be cheaper than a standard tariff.

3.9p per kwh is high tariff for gas.

You can reduce your annual bill by nearly £100 by just switching tariff.

You do not need your meter inspected. Your usage seems perfectly normal and not out of the ordinary.

You will reduced your costs more (in the immediate term) by switching tariff. Then you can look at being more efficient.

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Just to clarify, the thermostat does not turn the heating up or down. It just turns the boiler on or off.

The dial on the boiler controls the heating/hot water temperature.

Ideally the thermostat should be set on a good average temperature (18/19degrees) and left alone. A timer should determine when the boiler is controlled by the thermostat.

Ensure the hot water temperature setting on the boiler is set so that the radiators get hot (but not burning).

---

Directly comparing with other peoples properties is a red herring. There are too many variables. Life style, boiler efficiency, insulation level, boiler controls, individual comfort level.

The best thing to do is experiment with the system you have. Run it as efficiently as possible while still living comfortably. It gets to a point where you end up putting your health at risk just to reduce cost. It is not worth it.

torncurtain

CashStrapped:
I think you're right, re switching! I'm shocked though, that annual use could get to be £1386. Or monthly at £100+. Especially considering, I was on £30 per month, flat fee and they took the decision to change this without my consent. The agreement that I made, based on me querying the £30 per month being high as I was using so little and SSE agreeing that it was too high was that I would pay (rightly or wrongly) the full amount for the year upfront and then a further £1 per month to maintain the account. Given I've had confirmation from them that I've been using basically the same amount all year, with a slight increase during the winter something has changed, and I suspect they've changed my tariff. I may have been informed, but it didn't register. I will check my records to see if I have been.

I've checked, and I think I have TRVs. They adjust the temperature? If this is the case, I have them. They're always at maximum, as the flat feels so cold.

Thanks again, I'll be sure to change tariff, possibly supplier. And aim to reduce my use, in other ways. I'd like to be closer to SpotlandRules' use.

If anyone else has any input, please feel free to pipe up.

CashStrapped

You need to go through your bill and look for two meter readings, that are not estimates, and which are one year apart. This will give you a more accurate idea as to annual use. In fact post those figures here and the dates (again, ignore estimated readings) and we will go over them for you.

Sometimes the estimated annual figures quoted by energy companies can be inaccurate.

1) A wall thermostat turns the boiler on and off when the area it is in reaches the set temperature. If the thermostat detects the set temperature has not been reached, it turns the boiler on. Once the set temperature is reached, it turns it off.

2) A TRV valve does not adjust the temperature. Again, it effectively turns the radiator off once the room reaches the set temperature. It turns it on again if the room cools down too much. It should not be set to maximum. Perhaps half way.

3)The only thing that controls how hot the radiators get is the controls on the actual boiler! What is the model/make of the boiler?

As I said, it may be futile aiming for the energy use of someone else. This is because every property is different, you cannot compare in such an arbitrary way. You just need to manage your own heating system as best you can without putting your health at risk.

You could turn the heating off and put loads of layers on. This would certainly reduce your usage, but it would not be a good idea.

System

Simplify your figures by just multiplying the gas units used by 11.2 to get you to kwhs then multiply that figure by your gas tariff. Mine is 2.5 p /kwhr which would make it at just over a quid a day.Not bad for winter, sorry early spring .Add 5% vat to that figure.Your weekly heating bill would be less than £8 a week if you average 43 metric gas units a day. If the units are imperial than its 33 times to get to kwhs. and that is quite a lot..