Electricity usage

middlemarch_2

Gerry1 said:

The electric shower must go !

Use water heated by the gas boiler for showering.  Just replace the electric shower with a power shower.  Only the pump would use electricity, and it wouldn't be very much.

Thanks Gerry, I'm interested in this. I didn't realise that the shower could be attached to the hot water in this way. We will have to replace the boiler though but I think this needs doing anyway as it's over 30 years old and doesn't even give us hot water.

middlemarch_2

QrizB said:

middlemarch_2 said:

Gosh the shower is probably a likely factor then. I don't think we could get rid of it though as that would be a bit smelly. Our hot water is only via an immersion heater which we never put on.

Does your gas not heat your water? What sort of gas heating do you have?

No, the gas boiler is very very old but we've tended to think it's not broke don't fix it. Please nobody shout...I'm currently in bed with a nasty bout of covid. I know we need to do this but have been dithering about the initial outlay of a new combi boiler but if what Gerry said is true then I guess it will rectify the shower costs. thanks everyone. all really helpful ideas and comments. Much appreciated.

Gerry1

Get well soon !  And don't forget your flu jab.

Check carefully first - a combi boiler may not be compatible with a power shower.  Other forumites can probably advise.

In the meantime, read the meter daily then ban all showers for a day and see what happens.

Netexporter

Gerry1 said:

Get well soon !

Check carefully first - a combi boiler may not be compatible with a power shower.

You won't need a power shower with a combi, as it is mains pressure water.

Alnat1

Have a look at Octopus. They fit ASHPs, as well as being an energy supplier, and if your house is suitable you can get an online, quick, simple, no obligation quote. With the government's £7500 discount the price is very reasonable, possibly much cheaper than a new gas boiler. It also includes any new radiators you might need within the quoted price (I'm assuming some of yours may be as old as the boiler?)

Definitely worth considering if you have the right sort of property.

Gerry1

Netexporter said:

Gerry1 said:

Get well soon !

Check carefully first - a combi boiler may not be compatible with a power shower.

You won't need a power shower with a combi, as it is mains pressure water.

But will the heat output be beefy enough for a good hot shower, or will it be a lukewarm dribble?  Does a combi work well with a hot tank?

la531983

Gerry1 said:

la531983 said:

Gerry1 said:

10kW shower, three adults each taking a 10 minute shower daily: 1,825kWh per year.

Get rid of it and your usage would drop to 2,784kWh which is almost bang on the mythical 2,700kW average usage !

I dont think I have ever spent 5 mins in the shower in one go in my life, let alone 10.

Do a vast number of people take 10 minutes to get a shower?!

Some people shower twice per day...  YMMV.

I could shower twice a day and still come in at under 5 minutes. I go in to wash and come out, i don't stand there like a lemon. 

QrizB

Gerry1 said:

Netexporter said:

Gerry1 said:

Get well soon !

Check carefully first - a combi boiler may not be compatible with a power shower.

You won't need a power shower with a combi, as it is mains pressure water.

But will the heat output be beefy enough for a good hot shower, or will it be a lukewarm dribble?  Does a combi work well with a hot tank?

Combis are meant to feed showers directly, which is why they're typically rated at 30+ kW.

My parents currently have a combi and I can testify that the shower is entirely acceptable.

middlemarch_2

Thanks everyone, I'll go back to my plumber with these questions and see what he says. He did say to me the other day that the HP systems aren't actually very good...

Netexporter

Gerry1 said:

Netexporter said:

Gerry1 said:

Get well soon !

Check carefully first - a combi boiler may not be compatible with a power shower.

You won't need a power shower with a combi, as it is mains pressure water.

But will the heat output be beefy enough for a good hot shower, or will it be a lukewarm dribble?  Does a combi work well with a hot tank?

If the boiler is correctly sized it shouldn't be a problem, although poor mains pressure could be.

As has been said already, the whole system sounds somewhat antiquated, so a good candidate for a heat-pump and getting £7500 for passing go.