Please Advise on Timings & Settings for Boiler? Saving on NPower Gas/Elec

pjgtips

Hi we live in a rented property and are with NPower for Gas and Elec. We have Economy 7, I don't think our landlord will want us to change supplier or Economy 7. In the light of recent price hikes I want to reduce our gas/elec costs. We are both in work but I work 4 weekdays and am out of the house between 9-7 but can be 8-6 etc. My partner frequently works weekends so will usually be in for another weekday and is later in the day coming home about 11.30pm on a couple of nights and can go to work anytime between 7am-3pm (usually later in the day so can be in bed when I leave for work) and be back about 9.30ish on other nights. Someone in the house most of the time for c. 4/5 days per week.

My first question is regarding our boiler which is an Ariston micro Genus HE. It has an E and C setting and regulates water temperature and radiators separately. It has a winter and summer mode Is it more economical to have it on a low eg 1 setting on both at all times during the winter or better to use the clock and if so what times/settings would you recommend (and for different seasons)? What if any impact does Economy 7 have on the boiler/timings as think gas fired?

My washing machine doesn't have a timer but I can try and put more loads on at night. What setting should I have the boiler on to use the economy setting on the washing machine? Could I fix an external timer?

Any other money saving ideas/suggestions regarding gas/elec usage welcome. Our gas is the hob on the cooker and the boiler and presumably then the radiators. We have an electric fire that my partner likes on but I presume is v. expensive.

What time is Economy 7 and is it different at weekends/Xmas/Bank Holidays?

Also at what point is it more energy efficient to switch off a light or electrical appliance/radio when moving between rooms?

NB. My partner hates being cold and loves the fire on

Many thanks

SwanJon

pjgtips wrote: »

Hi we live in a rented property and are with NPower for Gas and Elec. We have Economy 7, I don't think our landlord will want us to change supplier or Economy 7.

Unless it explicitly states so in your lease changing your supplier is nothing to do with your landlord - you pay the bill not them.

If you have gas central heating you are probably better off changing from E7 as well - again unless you are making alterations to the property (removing heaters) nothing to do with your landlord.
Find a few old electricity bills and compare how much you use in the day/normal against night/low. If this is below 25% (ish) you'll be better of on one rate. (the tipping point depends on the exact prices)

There's a thread here somewhere with the times on it for E7 - try a search.
Bank holidays don't make a difference.