Phantom Electricity Usage Spikes

Alnat1

Always good to have the immersion as back up in case the boiler breaks down at some point.

QrizB

Alnat1 said:

Always good to have the immersion as back up in case the boiler breaks down at some point.

I'll second that.

We had a blocked condensate drain on our boiler last winter (fortunately not during one of the colder spells). The immersion heater came in handy for a few days while I got to the bottom of the problem!

badger09

robshak said:

lohr500 said:

Without knowing the detail of your specific heating/hot water installation, I suspect the electric water heater may not be connected to the boiler controls.

Do you have a separate hot water tank that stores your hot water or just a combi boiler with no stored hot water?

If you do have a hot water tank, then I suspect the fuse which controls the hot water heater feeds an immersion heater in the tank. If you have a tank look closely at it and see if you can identify an immersion heater inserted either at the top of the tank, or possibly the side. It will have quite a thick mains power lead going to it. 
An immersion heater would usually have either a separate timer control or on/off switch located either close to the tank, or on a wall nearby. It would be unusual for an immersion heater to be wired direct to the fuse on your fuse box.

Now if you do have an immersion heater, it is possible that it has been switched on permanently. And if your boiler is also set up to provide hot water, then depending on the immersion heater thermostat setting, it could kick in periodically to heat the water to the level set by the immersion heater thermostat. Perhaps this is why you have been seeing spikes.

All speculation without understanding your setup. 
    

Thank you all, for taking time and giving suggestions.  This has indeed helped me get to the bottom of the issue.  I have now again tested hot water with boiler on and fuse for water heater off.  This heats water no problem.

Things I have now learned:

- Yes, I have a boiler and a separate water storage tank. This means, I also do have an immersion heater. 
- Yes, I also have a switch in the landing that says 'Thermostat' which is most probably the immersion heater switch.

What could have happened:

- Distant memory (ageing brain cells!) recalls wondering why the 'Thermostat' switch in landing is 'off', so I switched it 'on'!
- This MAY have coincided with when the spikes started.
- Therefore, if I am right, this turned on the immersion heater (it had always been off despite switched on in the fuse box).
- When the water temperature lowered in the tank because I only switch it on once a day (4.30pm) for 30 mins due to being summer, now that the immersion heater was on, it kicked in and continued to do so throughout the night to keep the water temperature as required.

Now that I have switched the immersion heater off in the consumer unit, when the boiler is on timer via the programmer, the water still gets hot which by using gas and NOT electricity.

I don't think anything has gone kaput, but as someone suggested earlier, it is definitely due to USER SETTING and a lot of USER IGNORANCE.  

I will keep this setting for a few days and report back any further anomalies that occur.  In the meantime, thank you again for all your comments and suggestions which has indeed helped me get to the bottom of this myster.

All the best.

Glad you got to the bottom of it.
You have my sympathy over User setting/User ignorance comment. We have discovered several switches and odd looking electrical boxes in strange places in our extended 70s bungalow since moving here in Feb 2021. We haven't been brave enough to try some of them (difficult access) though I did establish that one hidden behind shelving in the hot water cylinder cupboard, operates an extractor fan in the main bathroom. All are in the off position though so their secrets will probably remain hidden.

Gerry1

badger09 said:

robshak said:

lohr500 said:

Without knowing the detail of your specific heating/hot water installation, I suspect the electric water heater may not be connected to the boiler controls.

Do you have a separate hot water tank that stores your hot water or just a combi boiler with no stored hot water?

If you do have a hot water tank, then I suspect the fuse which controls the hot water heater feeds an immersion heater in the tank. If you have a tank look closely at it and see if you can identify an immersion heater inserted either at the top of the tank, or possibly the side. It will have quite a thick mains power lead going to it. 
An immersion heater would usually have either a separate timer control or on/off switch located either close to the tank, or on a wall nearby. It would be unusual for an immersion heater to be wired direct to the fuse on your fuse box.

Now if you do have an immersion heater, it is possible that it has been switched on permanently. And if your boiler is also set up to provide hot water, then depending on the immersion heater thermostat setting, it could kick in periodically to heat the water to the level set by the immersion heater thermostat. Perhaps this is why you have been seeing spikes.

All speculation without understanding your setup. 
    

Thank you all, for taking time and giving suggestions.  This has indeed helped me get to the bottom of the issue.  I have now again tested hot water with boiler on and fuse for water heater off.  This heats water no problem.

Things I have now learned:

- Yes, I have a boiler and a separate water storage tank. This means, I also do have an immersion heater. 
- Yes, I also have a switch in the landing that says 'Thermostat' which is most probably the immersion heater switch.

What could have happened:

- Distant memory (ageing brain cells!) recalls wondering why the 'Thermostat' switch in landing is 'off', so I switched it 'on'!
- This MAY have coincided with when the spikes started.
- Therefore, if I am right, this turned on the immersion heater (it had always been off despite switched on in the fuse box).
- When the water temperature lowered in the tank because I only switch it on once a day (4.30pm) for 30 mins due to being summer, now that the immersion heater was on, it kicked in and continued to do so throughout the night to keep the water temperature as required.

Now that I have switched the immersion heater off in the consumer unit, when the boiler is on timer via the programmer, the water still gets hot which by using gas and NOT electricity.

I don't think anything has gone kaput, but as someone suggested earlier, it is definitely due to USER SETTING and a lot of USER IGNORANCE.  

I will keep this setting for a few days and report back any further anomalies that occur.  In the meantime, thank you again for all your comments and suggestions which has indeed helped me get to the bottom of this myster.

All the best.

Glad you got to the bottom of it.
You have my sympathy over User setting/User ignorance comment. We have discovered several switches and odd looking electrical boxes in strange places in our extended 70s bungalow since moving here in Feb 2021. We haven't been brave enough to try some of them (difficult access) though I did establish that one hidden behind shelving in the hot water cylinder cupboard, operates an extractor fan in the main bathroom. All are in the off position though so their secrets will probably remain hidden.

Let's hope you find the switch marked 'DNO Changeover' that results in lower kWh rates and standing charges.  It'll be hidden away at the end of the rainbow ! 🌈

badger09

Gerry1 said:

badger09 said:

robshak said:

lohr500 said:

Without knowing the detail of your specific heating/hot water installation, I suspect the electric water heater may not be connected to the boiler controls.

Do you have a separate hot water tank that stores your hot water or just a combi boiler with no stored hot water?

If you do have a hot water tank, then I suspect the fuse which controls the hot water heater feeds an immersion heater in the tank. If you have a tank look closely at it and see if you can identify an immersion heater inserted either at the top of the tank, or possibly the side. It will have quite a thick mains power lead going to it. 
An immersion heater would usually have either a separate timer control or on/off switch located either close to the tank, or on a wall nearby. It would be unusual for an immersion heater to be wired direct to the fuse on your fuse box.

Now if you do have an immersion heater, it is possible that it has been switched on permanently. And if your boiler is also set up to provide hot water, then depending on the immersion heater thermostat setting, it could kick in periodically to heat the water to the level set by the immersion heater thermostat. Perhaps this is why you have been seeing spikes.

All speculation without understanding your setup. 
    

Thank you all, for taking time and giving suggestions.  This has indeed helped me get to the bottom of the issue.  I have now again tested hot water with boiler on and fuse for water heater off.  This heats water no problem.

Things I have now learned:

- Yes, I have a boiler and a separate water storage tank. This means, I also do have an immersion heater. 
- Yes, I also have a switch in the landing that says 'Thermostat' which is most probably the immersion heater switch.

What could have happened:

- Distant memory (ageing brain cells!) recalls wondering why the 'Thermostat' switch in landing is 'off', so I switched it 'on'!
- This MAY have coincided with when the spikes started.
- Therefore, if I am right, this turned on the immersion heater (it had always been off despite switched on in the fuse box).
- When the water temperature lowered in the tank because I only switch it on once a day (4.30pm) for 30 mins due to being summer, now that the immersion heater was on, it kicked in and continued to do so throughout the night to keep the water temperature as required.

Now that I have switched the immersion heater off in the consumer unit, when the boiler is on timer via the programmer, the water still gets hot which by using gas and NOT electricity.

I don't think anything has gone kaput, but as someone suggested earlier, it is definitely due to USER SETTING and a lot of USER IGNORANCE.  

I will keep this setting for a few days and report back any further anomalies that occur.  In the meantime, thank you again for all your comments and suggestions which has indeed helped me get to the bottom of this myster.

All the best.

Glad you got to the bottom of it.
You have my sympathy over User setting/User ignorance comment. We have discovered several switches and odd looking electrical boxes in strange places in our extended 70s bungalow since moving here in Feb 2021. We haven't been brave enough to try some of them (difficult access) though I did establish that one hidden behind shelving in the hot water cylinder cupboard, operates an extractor fan in the main bathroom. All are in the off position though so their secrets will probably remain hidden.

Let's hope you find the switch marked 'DNO Changeover' that results in lower kWh rates and standing charges.  It'll be hidden away at the end of the rainbow ! 🌈

If I do, I'll make sure I'm wearing these

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285334294732?hash=item426f3fd0cc:g:HHsAAOSwvv1kjIjV