Scottish power nightmares continue

michael079

Gerry1 said:

You still have two basic problems that you have failed to address. 

1. There is no need for a multi-rate electricity tariff.  As you have a smart meter, it can be changed remotely, just call Scottish Power today.

2. You shouldn't be topping up with a fan heater costing 4.31 times as much as gas, assuming the boiler is 90% efficient.

Either the boiler and/or the radiators are too small.  Call in a 'Which?' Trusted Trader and get the system upgraded.  Check with Citizens Advice whether you are entitled to any grants.

We have floorboards, which appears to be the main reason it doesnt heat the room fully like the rest of the house, heat escaping or draughts coming through an uninsulated floor. Can't get carpets as the carers use a Sara Stedy machine to transfer my mum and it doenst work well on carpet. Have had plumbers come round tonlook at fitting a larger radiator, which I'll probably proceed with but I cant see it making much difference at all. If it gets cold, the current radiator is pretty much useless even though it's burning hot. Electroc fan is the only thing that seems to work, but unfortunately pricey 

michael079

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Again, the bills leapt from about £314 to £459 in December, even though actual gas usage didn't go up (it's always on 30).

Wrong.  Your bills show your gas usage went up by 45% from 2529kWh to 3677kWh.  Probably because of colder weather (and 30 days rather than 28).

But how does the colder weather force us to use more gas when we already have it on the highest settings? 

If the under-powered gas CH system is always going flat out but hasn't got sufficient oomph even to reach 20⁰, it won't make the slightest  difference whether the thermostat is calling for 20⁰, 25⁰, 30⁰ or even 35⁰.

The thermostat is not a volume control, it tells the boiler when it can ease off or shut down.

So turning it down to 20 won't affect how much heat there is? 

MattMattMattUK

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Again, the bills leapt from about £314 to £459 in December, even though actual gas usage didn't go up (it's always on 30).

Wrong.  Your bills show your gas usage went up by 45% from 2529kWh to 3677kWh.  Probably because of colder weather (and 30 days rather than 28).

But how does the colder weather force us to use more gas when we already have it on the highest settings? 

If the under-powered gas CH system is always going flat out but hasn't got sufficient oomph even to reach 20⁰, it won't make the slightest  difference whether the thermostat is calling for 20⁰, 25⁰, 30⁰ or even 35⁰.

The thermostat is not a volume control, it tells the boiler when it can ease off or shut down.

So turning it down to 20 won't affect how much heat there is? 

No. 

How are you actually using the heating system, using the thermostats, are there TRVs (the dials on the radiators with heat settings) are you turning it on an off on a timer/switch? 

Gerry1

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Again, the bills leapt from about £314 to £459 in December, even though actual gas usage didn't go up (it's always on 30).

Wrong.  Your bills show your gas usage went up by 45% from 2529kWh to 3677kWh.  Probably because of colder weather (and 30 days rather than 28).

But how does the colder weather force us to use more gas when we already have it on the highest settings? 

If the under-powered gas CH system is always going flat out but hasn't got sufficient oomph even to reach 20⁰, it won't make the slightest  difference whether the thermostat is calling for 20⁰, 25⁰, 30⁰ or even 35⁰.

The thermostat is not a volume control, it tells the boiler when it can ease off or shut down.

So turning it down to 20 won't affect how much heat there is? 

Is the boiler always going flat out?  If so, it can't make the room any warmer until the weather improves.

Better to get a heating specialist at this stage rather than a basic plumber.  You could waste money fitting a huge triple radiator only to find the boiler isn't beefy enough.

Gerry1

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

You still have two basic problems that you have failed to address. 

1. There is no need for a multi-rate electricity tariff.  As you have a smart meter, it can be changed remotely, just call Scottish Power today.

2. You shouldn't be topping up with a fan heater costing 4.31 times as much as gas, assuming the boiler is 90% efficient.

Either the boiler and/or the radiators are too small.  Call in a 'Which?' Trusted Trader and get the system upgraded.  Check with Citizens Advice whether you are entitled to any grants.

Electric fan is the only thing that seems to work, but unfortunately pricey

As previously suggested, have you tried using an ordinary fan (or the fan heater set to fan only) blowing across the radiator to boost its effective output?

Robin9

Have you thought of overboarding the floor - say sheets of hardboard ?   Mau not look pretty but needs must.

michael079

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Again, the bills leapt from about £314 to £459 in December, even though actual gas usage didn't go up (it's always on 30).

Wrong.  Your bills show your gas usage went up by 45% from 2529kWh to 3677kWh.  Probably because of colder weather (and 30 days rather than 28).

But how does the colder weather force us to use more gas when we already have it on the highest settings? 

If the under-powered gas CH system is always going flat out but hasn't got sufficient oomph even to reach 20⁰, it won't make the slightest  difference whether the thermostat is calling for 20⁰, 25⁰, 30⁰ or even 35⁰.

The thermostat is not a volume control, it tells the boiler when it can ease off or shut down.

So turning it down to 20 won't affect how much heat there is? 

Is the boiler always going flat out?  If so, it can't make the room any warmer until the weather improves.

Better to get a heating specialist at this stage rather than a basic plumber.  You could waste money fitting a huge triple radiator only to find the boiler isn't beefy enough.

I don't know if it's going flat out, what behaviour to look for? 

michael079

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

You still have two basic problems that you have failed to address. 

1. There is no need for a multi-rate electricity tariff.  As you have a smart meter, it can be changed remotely, just call Scottish Power today.

2. You shouldn't be topping up with a fan heater costing 4.31 times as much as gas, assuming the boiler is 90% efficient.

Either the boiler and/or the radiators are too small.  Call in a 'Which?' Trusted Trader and get the system upgraded.  Check with Citizens Advice whether you are entitled to any grants.

Electric fan is the only thing that seems to work, but unfortunately pricey

As previously suggested, have you tried using an ordinary fan (or the fan heater set to fan only) blowing across the radiator to boost its effective output?

I did try that previously yeah, but didn't notice any difference

michael079

Scottish power have today said they will re - bill everything from April last year on single rate instead of standard dual tarrif. I requested the change back then but they didn't do it. 

I'm still waiting to see what the final outcome is, I'm just hoping it doesnt turn out more somehow 

michael079

MattMattMattUK said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Gerry1 said:

michael079 said:

Again, the bills leapt from about £314 to £459 in December, even though actual gas usage didn't go up (it's always on 30).

Wrong.  Your bills show your gas usage went up by 45% from 2529kWh to 3677kWh.  Probably because of colder weather (and 30 days rather than 28).

But how does the colder weather force us to use more gas when we already have it on the highest settings? 

If the under-powered gas CH system is always going flat out but hasn't got sufficient oomph even to reach 20⁰, it won't make the slightest  difference whether the thermostat is calling for 20⁰, 25⁰, 30⁰ or even 35⁰.

The thermostat is not a volume control, it tells the boiler when it can ease off or shut down.

So turning it down to 20 won't affect how much heat there is? 

No. 

How are you actually using the heating system, using the thermostats, are there TRVs (the dials on the radiators with heat settings) are you turning it on an off on a timer/switch? 

And will turning it to 20 also save gas? We have rev's but its always turned right up, we never touch it. And the stat is always turned right up and never touched.