Is average gas usage really 12,000kWh? I use 40,000!

StillNotRich

I've got a reasonably large house but not ridiculously so, everywhere I look it states that "high" usage (5 bedroom house with 4/5 people) should be 17,000kWh, I'm using nearly 3 times that! For context:

It's a 1930 detached house with 4 bedrooms, double glazing and cavity wall and loft insulation.

The boiler is a worcester bosch greenstar 40cdi classic about 10 years old providing heat and water, I also have a gas hob but its not used as much as the electric one.

Downstairs is mainly underfloor heating controlled with a smart thermostat, upstairs are radiators with TRV's controlled by a separate smart control, upstairs is only on in the mornings and evenings and downstairs if off over night. We don't heat the spare bedroom or the dining room unless they are used.

I have readings going back to when the boiler was installed (at the same time as a new meter), and it hasn't varied much, its increased slightly over the last couple of years when we've been at home more (lockdown).

I use about 25kWh per day when the heating is off (just water on for a few hours) and 200kWh when the heating is on.

The meter measures M3 and that corresponds with the bill. I did a quick test where I turned up the heating to max when the boiler was cold and measured the amount gas used over a few minutes, it worked out at 39.9kWh which I believe is correct for a 40kWh boiler.

I've only just noticed this as my fixed rate is coming to an end so my gas bill is likely to go up from £1,500pa (3.33p kwh) to 2 or 3 times that!

The only explanation I can think of is that the average usage quoted is wrong or that there's something wrong with my boiler - the meter seems fine but I might be missing something.

Any advice appreciated!

Cheers

MWT

What temperatures are you heating the rooms to when heating is in use?

Similarly, your water heating is a little higher than might be expected but not a lot, especially if with 5 people using the hot water.

Slinky

We have a small 1960s 4 bed detached with an ancient boiler, only got heating on for 3 hours max morning and evening during the winter, have cut that back now. Use a gas hob which doesn't use much. Our usage is 15,500 kw per year. Yours looks absolutely staggering in my view.

What are you doing with your water that requires it heating for 'a few hours' a day?

ETA we used 53kw per day in March with heating on, but several rooms turned off as we've got the builders in. In summer it is around 12 kw with gas hob and hot water (including water for showers).

Robin9

Do check the meter details 

Is the meter marked as ft3 or m3
Ditto the bill

What is the serial number on the meter
Ditto the bill

MWT

My father-in-law uses around 40,000kWh in a 3 bed bungalow, it is all about the temperature settings though, he is elderly and can afford it so he heats to the level he finds comfortable.

StillNotRich

Thanks all for your responses.

The temperature is relatively high, set to 21deg usually (my wife!) the water is not particularly hot, the boiler dial is set in the middle (it doesn't show a temperature) and the hot water tanks (there are 2 for some reason), are at about 68deg. We usually have showers, not baths, but we run the dishwasher daily and the washing machine twice a week....

Cheers

Phlik

StillNotRich said:

Thanks all for your responses.

The temperature is relatively high, set to 21deg usually (my wife!) the water is not particularly hot, the boiler dial is set in the middle (it doesn't show a temperature) and the hot water tanks (there are 2 for some reason), are at about 68deg. We usually have showers, not baths, but we run the dishwasher daily and the washing machine twice a week....

Cheers

Running your house at 21 °C will be the issue. Is the boiler set to maintain temperature throughout the day/evening, or on and off for set periods?

It sounds from your first post like the heating either upstairs or downstairs is on through most of the day/evening. If you want to maintain 21 °C throughout the day then it's going to cost, a lot. For me 21 °C is way too hot and I get irritable and not due to the cost

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

The only explanation I can think of is that the average usage quoted is wrong or that there's something wrong with my boiler - the meter seems fine but I might be missing something.

The averages are correct and you're a high user.

Three of us in a 1950s 3-bed semi used around 8000kWh of gas over the past 12 months (up to 11000kWh in previous years).

I use about 25kWh per day when the heating is off (just water on for a few hours) and 200kWh when the heating is on.

Both of those are large numbers. Our summertime (no space heating, just water) gas use is more like 8-10kWh/day.

The temperature is relatively high, set to 21deg usually (my wife!) the water is not particularly hot, the boiler dial is set in the middle (it doesn't show a temperature) and the hot water tanks (there are 2 for some reason), are at about 68deg. We usually have showers, not baths, but we run the dishwasher daily and the washing machine twice a week....

That's warm but not scorchio hot. Neither the dishwasher nor the washing machine are likely to use gas unless they're ancient; for the past 15 years or so most of those appliances have been cold-fill only.

Phlik

Do you have any teenagers who like to daydream for 30mins+ in the shower? or likes to shower 3-4 times a day?

Robin9

@StillNotRich    12,000 KWh yes in a modern semi with a 2.2 family with parents out at work

What's your electric consumption ?

FreeBear

StillNotRich said:  The temperature is relatively high, set to 21deg usually (my wife!) the water is not particularly hot, the boiler dial is set in the middle (it doesn't show a temperature) and the hot water tanks (there are 2 for some reason), are at about 68deg. We usually have showers, not baths, but we run the dishwasher daily and the washing machine twice a week....

Turn the tank thermostats down - 50-55°C is plenty high enough, and at that temperature, bugs like Legionella won't breed.The room thermostat(s) can be turned down to 19-20°C without any real loss in comfort as long as you are all reasonably healthy.

Dish washer & washing machine are probably cold fill, so they shouldn't be using hot water..