Setting up direct debit for hot water/heating need some advice.

_Jem_

I only moved into my home in November so at the moment I haven't set up a direct debit for the heating, this will  be the first time for setting up direct debit for heat, my last bill comes in monthly came to £20 When you set up a direct debit what's the best amount to agree to would it be £20 knowing that you will be using less in the summer time so when it comes to winter again you will have got enough credit if you use the heating more. 

McKneff

Why just the heating, what about cooking, water heating, telly, fridge. 
More details are needed

McKneff

To come to a roundabout figure. 
Add all your last 12 months bills up, add about 10%, divide by 12 , thats the amount you should set your direct debit to

Robin9

When you say "heating/hot water" is this by means of a gas boiler or part of a district heating scheme.
EDIT
- just reread earlier posts and see its District Heating.
£20 sounds very low.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

only £20 for a month's heating at this time of year?

_Jem_

Hi Thanks everyone, I cant add my bills together as I have just moved in. 

@Robin9 Yes it's the dreaded district heating, yes it's low as I haven't been using the heating during the day as I haven't been home during the day. Things aren't working as they should be with the heating so I am using less than I normally would be. 

matelodave

I assume that your place has some way of measuring the amount of heat that you are using for both heat and hotwater or is it a fixed charge. Most systems like this have a heat meter which measures and records the amount of heat that you've consumed and you should have a cost per kwh & service charge written somewhere in your agreements

As said above, £20 a month at this time of the year is very low and district heating schemes tend to be a lot more expensive than using either gas or electricity.

I suggest you check your bill and ensure that it's not just covering the service charges (which also tend to be much higher than gas or leccy) until the meter actually gets physically read (unless it can be monitored remotely by the heating provider) - beware of estimates.

I should have thought that something nearer £50-£60 a month should be budgeted for, just for the heating and hot water until you have a better feel for how much its going to cost.
Keep it in a savings account and if it doesn't cost as much as that then you'll have some savings. Make sure you do check the heat meter to see if what you are saving is actually covering the cost to avoid a nasty bill shock later on.

_Jem_

Thanks 
Yes it has a meter that they see and I also write down, as said before £20 is correct because I haven't been able to use thw heating properly O the joys of a new build.
 I don't pay eon a service charge as I'm renting from a housing association the service charge is added to the rent. 
So do you think it might be better not to set up a direct debit until I know what im using. 

matelodave

If it doesn't make any difference to the cost (ie do you get a discount if you set up a standing order or direct debit) then I'd be inclined to open run a savings account and put £50-£60 a month into it and just pay the bill when it comes in.
Do it with a regular transfer of funds on the day you get paid so you don't forget and spend it on something else.

How does your hot water get heated, is it from the district system or with something like an electric  flow boiler. What about baths or showers, from  a boiler or tank.

I would also read the meter myself at least once a month and do the sums to ensure that there's enough in the kitty to pay for it.

If the thermostat/heating is playing up then get the landlord in to fix it rather than trying to fathom it out yourself.

_Jem_

Yes you do get money off by going direct debit, Hot water/showers is heated the same way from the district heating. 
Because its a new build any problems has to go through the people who built the house, and it's taking ages to get anything done, that's why I'm trying to sort things out while I'm waiting. 

matelodave

Usually they'll tell you what the DD will be if its a regular monthly amount rather than say a variable DD where they bill you for what you've used.

Where is the meter and how is it read - do you have to give regular readings or do they come around at random times to read it.
If there's a way for you to read it and submit the readings rather waiting for randomised reads or estimates then that's how to do it.

If you have to give them an estimate, then I'd still reckon that you will be looking at £50-£60 when the heating gets sorted out and you can then monitor your consumption and refine it a bit. IMO it's a bit better to pay a bit more than get saddled with a ginormous bill. If you find you are paying too much then you can reduce it a bit.

There are lots of threads on this forum from those who don't keep track of what is going on and then getting stuffed with a really big bill. It's easier to avoid it than it is to tr and sort it out in the future

You can try fiddling with the thermostat but if it's also something to do with the heating control valve that the thermostat is controlling or even a faulty thermostat then there's not much you can do to sort it yourself.