Crazy gas bill - Whats going on

RelievedSheff

tim_p said:

RelievedSheff said:

There is plenty about in on the internet although you have to sort out the weeds from the chaff of course.

The theory is pretty simple in that you need a low return water temperature of about 55 degrees. Most boilers will have a symbol (it is an "e" on ours) to show you roughly where the ideal condensing temperature is on the boiler temperature control. We need to knock ours down a couple of degrees further as the boiler is too big for the system. You will also get the little tell tale poofing of steam from the external flue and depending on the boiler it may put a symbol on the display to say it is in condensing mode.

Get plenty of steam, don’t remember getting that from the old (pre-condensing era) boiler. 

Don’t think the boiler shows any specific symbol for anything other than a flame! (Vaillant ecoFITpure) but will dig out the manual and RTFT!
Thanks

You want a puff puff of steam not a massive plume.

You won't have seen the emmisions from the old boiler as they would be too hot to see. The emmisions from the condensing boilers are much cooler which is why they can use plastic flues.

tim_p

I’d describe the output as a continuous plume, it’s certainly not a puff puff steam loco type thing!
wondering if this ought to be a separate thread as it’s kinda hijacked the original.  Sorry. 

carlsagen

Talldave said:

@carlsagen Use a programmable thermostat with optimum start and it will learn when to turn the boiler on in order to reach your target temperature at the desired time. So if you reduce the radiator temperature, it'll learn within a couple of days that it needs to come on earlier. 
@RelievedSheff Interested to learn more about getting condensing boilers "into the zone". Any recommended reading for dummies?

I have a google nest. though running the boiler when I was at work wasn't really 'intelligent' in my humble oppinon so I switched it back to a schedule. Heating an empty house seems counter to saving money. 

On a cold day you can see the plume or steam blowing across the drive way from the boiler. I thought this was the condensate ‘plume’ and normal for a condensing boiler?

Ive taken another reading today (2nd may) and reads 3653 last reading (30th March) read 3580 so 73 units in a month... allowing for being at home during lockdown with 2 kids. im not sure if thats a lot or not. 

the boiler is a Ideal Vogue C40 Gen2. Last month I reduced the boiler heating temp down to 65 degrees. There is no 'sweet spot' marked on the dial. 

Gerry1

carlsagen said:

Ive taken another reading today (2nd may) and reads 3653 last reading (30th March) read 3580 so 73 units in a month... allowing for being at home during lockdown with 2 kids. im not sure if thats a lot or not.

Convert your gas meter reading to kWh here.

Talldave

carlsagen said:

I have a google nest. though running the boiler when I was at work wasn't really 'intelligent' in my humble oppinon so I switched it back to a schedule. Heating an empty house seems counter to saving money.

As I said, get a decent programmable thermostat!!!

carlsagen said:

Ive taken another reading today (2nd may) and reads 3653 last reading (30th March) read 3580 so 73 units in a month... allowing for being at home during lockdown with 2 kids. im not sure if thats a lot or not.

If that 73 is in m3 it's not bad, we've used that much in the last week.

MWT

Talldave said:

carlsagen said:

Ive taken another reading today (2nd may) and reads 3653 last reading (30th March) read 3580 so 73 units in a month... allowing for being at home during lockdown with 2 kids. im not sure if thats a lot or not.

If that 73 is in m3 it's not bad, we've used that much in the last week.

Glad I don't have your gas bill

Over that same time period we've used 99m3 so I agree, 73m3 is perfectly plausible.

Gerry1

Talldave said:

If that 73 is in m3 it's not bad, we've used that much in the last week.

MWT said:

Over that same time period we've used 99m3 so I agree, 73m3 is perfectly plausible.

The OP has an imperial meter, so the month's consumption is about 2300kWh.

MWT

Gerry1 said:

Talldave said:

If that 73 is in m3 it's not bad, we've used that much in the last week.

MWT said:

Over that same time period we've used 99m3 so I agree, 73m3 is perfectly plausible.

The OP has an imperial meter, so the month's consumption is about 2300kWh.

So about 2x my usage then which certainly feels high... ... but not impossibly so I guess.

Early in this thread (which I'd forgotten about) there was mention of turning the gas usage off to see if the meter also stopped going up, was that ever done?

carlsagen

Talldave said:

carlsagen said:

I have a google nest. though running the boiler when I was at work wasn't really 'intelligent' in my humble oppinon so I switched it back to a schedule. Heating an empty house seems counter to saving money.

As I said, get a decent programmable thermostat!!!

carlsagen said:

Ive taken another reading today (2nd may) and reads 3653 last reading (30th March) read 3580 so 73 units in a month... allowing for being at home during lockdown with 2 kids. im not sure if thats a lot or not.

If that 73 is in m3 it's not bad, we've used that much in the last week.

its. qubic feet.

Ive turned the boiler off just now. reading is, will turn it back on in the evening and see what the reading is. 3656. increase of 3 units since the other day.