Gas meter rising without use

wbapubg

Good morning 

I'd like to pick the brains of people that are more knowledgeable than me (not difficult) if possible please. 

We moved into a 4 bed semi 4 years ago, and since our annual gas usage has ranged between 20000kwh and 23500kwh, which is extremely high (3 adults, gas central heating/water only). Obviously with the new rates I'm getting a little frightened by the costs, so decided last night to turn my boiler off and take a reading.  
I got up this morning and took another reading approximately 11 hours after the first, with the boiler switched off the entire time and no other gas appliances in the house. 
The meter reading originally was 17516.926m³, and I he second reading was 17517.210m³.  And this is with zero usage. 

I know it's not a big rise and maybe insignificant as so small, but would there be any reasoning for this, and what would the cost implications of these continuous rises be without usage or intervention? 

Extreme grateful for any responses and help in this matter, and hope you're all having a great morning. 

Thank you. 
Peter 

MattMattMattUK

wbapubg said:

Good morning 

I'd like to pick the brains of people that are more knowledgeable than me (not difficult) if possible please. 

We moved into a 4 bed semi 4 years ago, and since our annual gas usage has ranged between 20000kwh and 23500kwh, which is extremely high (3 adults, gas central heating/water only). Obviously with the new rates I'm getting a little frightened by the costs, so decided last night to turn my boiler off and take a reading.  
I got up this morning and took another reading approximately 11 hours after the first, with the boiler switched off the entire time and no other gas appliances in the house. 
The meter reading originally was 17516.926m³, and I he second reading was 17517.210m³.  And this is with zero usage. 

I know it's not a big rise and maybe insignificant as so small, but would there be any reasoning for this, and what would the cost implications of these continuous rises be without usage or intervention? 

Extreme grateful for any responses and help in this matter, and hope you're all having a great morning. 

Thank you. 
Peter 

A pilot light or a small leak. If I were you I would try this multiple times on a few occasions to see if the behaviour is consistent. You should also be able to turn your gas supply off at the meter, see if your meter still goes up when turned off there as well. Was that read direct from the meter itself, or from an Smart Meter IHD?

Do you know when your meter was installed? There should be a sticker on it showing the installation date and certification period.

NannaH

The most important thing is to see why your gas use is so insanely high. What is your summer v winter use? 
My Daughter has a 4 bed detached house and her use is under 15k,  she has a 3 year old plus there are 2 older step kids there every weekend so you can imagine the number of baths and showers.   To contrast,  my 3 bed semi with 2 adults uses 7000kwh (5k winter / 2k summer) and I’m home most of the time. 

Do you have a combi boiler or a hot water tank?  

Evan3020

That is around 3.18 kwh of gas in 11 hours or 23p at todays prices.

BROKEN

Peter, Is everyone else in your street connected to your house. Is your heating on all day every day. I looked at your figures 17516.926-17517.210 is only 0.284m³.Do you have your Boiler temperature high. Do you have air in your radiators and have you bled them. Do you have all the thermostats on your radiators turned up high.
One thing I can suggest is getting your last meter reading and take another reading  x 1.02264 x 39.7/3.6(conversion rate as seen on your bill)= (amount of units you have used for the month x by your unit rate (on your bill).the answer is Pounds and Pence of your charges as of now. hope this helps 

onomatopoeia99

wbapubg said:

We moved into a 4 bed semi 4 years ago, and since our annual gas usage has ranged between 20000kwh and 23500kwh, which is extremely high (3 adults, gas central heating/water only). 

I live in a 3 bed detached bungalow, so more loft area and more external walls, indeed much more external walls as it's L-shaped rather than a box.  I use ~9500kWh per year.

Have you tried turning your boiler off, taking a reading then taking another reading a few hours later, to see if there's a leak?  If your boiler is very old it might have a pilot light that consumes a little all the time, but no idea how much (someone here surely will though).

Alternatively, are you running the CH at 22C or something similarly tropical?

Evan3020

They did switch it off for 11 hours overnight, it's in the original post.

jbuchanangb

Older boilers have a small flame called a Pilot light which stays on all the time so uses a small amount of gas. Check whether yours is one of those. But as others have said, this is nothing compared to your higher than average gas usage. Before the winter comes start thinking hard about how you will use less.

Evan3020

It's £15 a month while switched off?

MWT

wbapubg said:

I know it's not a big rise and maybe insignificant as so small, but would there be any reasoning for this, and what would the cost implications of these continuous rises be without usage or intervention? 

 

If your boiler has a pilot light then that is your answer as the use is within the plausible range for that, a little high, but others have reported similar pilot light usage.

If you don't have a pilot light then you probably have a leak...

[Deleted User]

Some words to the wise. If there is a pinhole leak then it is most likely in the area of the gas meter and connections - including the connection to the boiler.  A leaking meter nipple test point can be the culprit. If you want to check, then use something like a child’s bubble mix or soapy water. Bubbles are better than bangs!