Cost of gas pilot light on boiler

Chrysalis

Perhaps an interesting discussion or not?

Checked my gas usage, and my pilot light uses just under 3 units a day.

I use my boiler maybe 2-3 times a week to heat water.

I didnt realise a boiler sitting idle consumes that much gas.  So this is about £7 month excluding SC and excluding VAT.  Add the SC as well which is another £8 a month so about £15 month exc VAT to have my boiler available to use.

If I had boiler disconnected, I would have to use electric immersion boiler, 3 units an hour of electric when turned on (if assuming on all time with no thermostat control), Assume 4-6 hours a week so averaged out 20 units a week of electric approx exc VAT £5.60, or £22.40 month.

So gas still wins, although I didnt add the cost of actually using the gas boiler, the days I use it, its usually between 10-15 units., so assume 50 units month of usage adds approx exc VAT £3.50.  Its close with usage included.  Whats a real eye opener here is my actual gas usage for heating water is only about 20% of my gas bill.

If gas rises faster than electric again in October it may be time to disconnect my boiler?

Note for gas I mean kwh in terms of units.

stewie_griffin

Do you mean 3 kWh as 3 units on the meter a day would be around £70 a month.

Chrysalis

so 1 kwh of gas is not 1 unit?

Yes I meant 1 kwh.

Rodders53

Yep - web estimates for pilot lights are between 594 an 2475 kWh per annum...  Your 1095 kWh is quite typical.  https://www.energuide.be/en/questions-answers/just-how-much-does-the-pilot-light-of-a-gas-appliance-consume-exactly/716/  

Mind, it's got to be an ancient grossly inefficient boiler to still have a pilot light.  I installed a Potterton boiler around 40 years ago with electronic ignition.

But you've calculated that you use 20% of your gas on heating the water  --- estimating at 50 kWh/month...  Assuming 80% efficient gas boiler you'd need 40kWh of electric immersion to have the same hot water use.
Even if the boiler is as low as 60% efficient 30kWh rather than the 20kWh of your "guesstimate" above.

Not forgetting 80% of your gas use is in central heating in the colder seasons.  It may be time to consider a more efficient gas boiler installation?  But the gas savings - even from 60% to 95%+ efficiency would mean a long payback time for the capital cost.  As would an environmentally friendlier, but much more expensive, heat pump installation.

Mstty

Have you got means of heating your property without gas? Is that viable?

Chrysalis

I am not in control of my boiler its a rented property.

I typically dont use gas central heating in winter, just put on layers instead, what stopped me was it broke down every time, so I couldnt be bothered with it whilst it mostly works for water heating so I hope that answers the questions raised.

If I absolutely had to heat my property without gas since I mostly am only in one room at a time I could use an electric heater, but I have been getting by for at least a few years now with no heating in winter.

Multiple gas guys who have done repairs over the years have tried to get the LL to replace it, but I guess when he doesnt live here, he will only do the minimum legal requirement so the boiler stays.

Mstty

So getting rid of gas probably won't be an option as the LL would have to agree to the disconnection.

MWT

Chrysalis said:

so 1 kwh of gas is not 1 unit?

Depending on the meter, one unit as reported to the supplier when you provide a meter reading, is either 1m3 or 100ft3, which is, roughly, either 11.2kWh or 32kWh.

Chrysalis

Mstty said:

So getting rid of gas probably won't be an option as the LL would have to agree to the disconnection.

Hi do you have an online reference to this?  So I am sure its landlord instead of "legal occupier".

In the past when a gas safety check failed due to proximity of gas exhaust, the gas guy bolted my window shut, I then later found out he needed my permission not the LL to do that,

jimjames

Chrysalis said:

Mstty said:

So getting rid of gas probably won't be an option as the LL would have to agree to the disconnection.

Hi do you have an online reference to this?  So I am sure its landlord instead of "legal occupier".

In the past when a gas safety check failed due to proximity of gas exhaust, the gas guy bolted my window shut, I then later found out he needed my permission not the LL to do that,

You would need to pay for the supply & meter to be removed. As the landlord will need to pay to reinstate it they would need to agree. It's not just a case of removing the boiler, all the supply equipment needs to be removed too.

MWT

Chrysalis said:

Mstty said:

So getting rid of gas probably won't be an option as the LL would have to agree to the disconnection.

Hi do you have an online reference to this?  So I am sure its landlord instead of "legal occupier".

In the past when a gas safety check failed due to proximity of gas exhaust, the gas guy bolted my window shut, I then later found out he needed my permission not the LL to do that,

In addition to anything you find as regards who needs to agree to the removal, you will have a general obligation under the lease or rental agreement to either get the landlords permission for changes to the property or to restore the property to its original condition upon your departure or possibly both, so check the agreement...