Gas bill / Use query

Bmills901

Hi All

Hoping someone can help answer this query around gas usage as google has failed me!

Currently when I turn the hot water on only, the radiators heat up too, as there is a problem with the diverter valve.  

To temporarily deal with this problem I have turned all of the radiators in the flat (3) to fully off to stop hot water entering.

My question is – will this increase my gas bill / gas usage because although the radiators are off, is hot water still being pushed around the CH system when it shouldn’t be?

I can’t check my gas meter for a couple of weeks as it’s in a different building where they are doing some renovations.

Thank you in advance!

 

Gerry1

If you turn off the CH then the pump shouldn't be working.  There may be some circulation of hot water because of gravity.  This can be useful if it warms up a bathroom radiator e.g. if directly above the boiler, but the other radiators shouldn't be getting hot.

MWT

Gerry1 said:

If you turn off the CH then the pump shouldn't be working.  There may be some circulation of hot water because of gravity.  This can be useful if it warms up a bathroom radiator e.g. if directly above the boiler, but the other radiators shouldn't be getting hot.

If this is an classic open-vent indirect cylinder situation then the pump has to run to circulate the water through the cylinder, so if the diverter valve has failed and is in the mid-position it will circulate water to both the cylinder and the radiators...

Bmills901

Thanks for the reply is it safe to assume if radiators are not getting hot you are not getting charged extra / using more kWh?

Reed_Richards

I guess you have a hot water tank with a three-port diverter valve that sends water either round the coil in the tank or through the radiators.  The valve is stuck in the mid position so when the hot water tank calls for heat the radiators get hot also.  Turning off the radiator valves should do the trick but make sure you open them again before you test the heating after the valve has been replaced.    

MWT

You are going to be using more than you need to, but not a lot.

Bmills901

Thanks all I was just worried I was going to be using a hell of a lot more gas because of the issue but sounds that’s not the case 

Bmills901

Reed_Richards said:

I guess you have a hot water tank with a three-port diverter valve that sends water either round the coil in the tank or through the radiators.  The valve is stuck in the mid position so when the hot water tank calls for heat the radiators get hot also.  Turning off the radiator valves should do the trick but make sure you open them again before you test the heating after the valve has been replaced.    

I understand turning the valves should do the trick im just wondering is my gas bill going to be higher because of this fault 

Tallerdave

The colder incoming water temperature due to rubbish summer weather is probably going to cause more gas use than having a bit of the heating pipework warming up, provided you’ve shut off all the radiators fully.

However, this is the best time of year to get it fixed because come winter, your hot water tank is going to become an additional radiator on your heating circuit and you'll be getting scalded every time you turn a hot tap on.

Tallerdave

The colder incoming water temperature due to rubbish summer weather is probably going to cause more gas use than having a bit of the heating pipework warming up, provided you’ve shut off all the radiators fully.

However, this is the best time of year to get it fixed because come winter, your hot water tank is going to become an additional radiator on your heating circuit and you'll be getting scalded every time you turn a hot tap on.

Bmills901

Thanks that’s what happened in January, scolded every time !