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Could boiler diverter fault result in my lower gas bill?

Pescur
Pescur Posts: 62 Forumite
Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
edited 11 August 2023 at 6:43PM in Energy
I have a combi boiler that has a diverter error, I have rebooted it several times and it comes back.

I do not have any heating on so I am surprised it makes any difference to the cost but the symptoms are that the water does not get hot the way it used to, it takes time and I need to turn the flow down to get it consistent.

Like most people I am cutting back on my use of gas to save money but since I had this problem my gas usage seems about a third of what it was. This could be because of the measures I am taking but is there any chance that the diverter error is saving me money?

I am reluctant to get it fixed if that will make it cost more.




Comments

  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 22,754 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    I'm no expert on combi boilers but some of them have pre-heat, where they keep the internal loop warm ready to supply hot water at a moment's notice.
    If your fault has disabled this feature, it could be saving you gas.
    If you tell us the make and model of boiler, someone will be able to say if it has pre-heat and if it can be turned off permanently.
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Kirk Hill Co-op member.
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  • Pescur
    Pescur Posts: 62 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    It is on eco so no pre-heat
  • Pescur said:
    I have a combi boiler that has a diverter error, I have rebooted it several times and it comes back.

    I do not have any heating on so I am surprised it makes any difference to the cost but the symptoms are that the water does not get hot the way it used to, it takes time and I need to turn the flow down to get it consistent.

    Like most people I am cutting back on my use of gas to save money but since I had this problem my gas usage seems about a third of what it was. This could be because of the measures I am taking but is there any chance that the diverter error is saving me money?

    I am reluctant to get it fixed if that will make it cost more.




    What happens come Winter when you want some heating if the diverter valve is not working?
  • Pescur
    Pescur Posts: 62 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    Pescur said:
    Like most people I am cutting back on my use of gas to save money but since I had this problem my gas usage seems about a third of what it was.

    This could be because of the measures I am taking but is there any chance that the diverter error is saving me money?

    I am reluctant to get it fixed if that will make it cost more.

    Anyone got an answer to the question in bold above?

  • CSI_Yorkshire
    CSI_Yorkshire Posts: 1,792 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Pescur said:
    the water does not get hot the way it used to, it takes time and I need to turn the flow down to get it consistent.

    This could be because of the measures I am taking but is there any chance that the diverter error is saving me money?

    You're heating less water by a smaller amount.  Of course that is using less.
  • Mstty
    Mstty Posts: 4,209 Forumite
    1,000 Posts First Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    In the summer we heat our hot water to 40oC rather than over 55oC in winter 

    Similar effect of your boiler error we use less energy heating to 40oC now in summer than we do in winter.

    The issue is you need to have that boiler fixed for winter. I think someone asked you for the make and model.
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