Gas Bills/Plumbing question

polybear

My partner always has much higher gas bills than I (we have separate houses; both are 3 bed terraced). There are two living at my house, two at hers. We have identical makes/models of gas fire & back boiler (Baxi Bermuda). I've seen the way she operates her system (nothing unusual; it's for water & heating only). My usage includes a gas cooker also. However, when her gas bills arrive they always give me a shock (and I'm not the one paying either). It's not simply a question of price but units used also. British Gas are coming in next week to service the system under an annual contract; she's asked for a "Gas Soundness Check" to be carried out at the same time also, in order to check for leaks. We've been on to British Gas several times regarding usage - they agree it does seem very high but offer little practical help. We've monitored the Gas Meter etc. on a daily basis, with little success. We can have the meter changed for 80 quid, which we get back if the old meter is found to be faulty. Has anyone else had similar problems/are there any heating engineers out there who can offer any advice please? Thanks. Polybear.

weekendwarrior

Hi,

I would check the meter first, is it a digital meter or a analogue meter?

It is easy to tell as a analogue meter will have a dial and a digital one will have numbers (like you get on a calculator).

If it is digital, these are very prone to going wrong and I know of a gas engineer that removed one and it was still clocking up gas after being used!!!!!

The older analogue type can still be faulty.

good luck!

Bit rich charging you £80.oo the R****** B*******

polybear

Hi, Thanks - it's an analogue meter I think. The numbers are on reels, a bit like a fruit machine.
Polybear.

calleyw

We just had are meter changed free of charge by BG as they are going back to the analogue ones. As the digital ones only have a 10 year battery in them and are more prone to breaking down.

Mind you got a free unit of gas as when put in was not on zero lol!!!!!!!!! Mind you the wallys from powergen didn't charge us for gas from the last reading until the meter was changed. Had to remind them.

Have no idea why using more gas. Do they heat the water for longer as they have a back boiler.


Yours

Calley

polybear

No - we have the same the back boiler anyway. Hot water usage doesn't appear unusual; there's a thermostat on the hot water tank anyway, which would turn the system off when the tank temperature is correct. I've fitted a new tank thermostat just in case this was faulty and the system was trying to make hot water constantly - no improvement.
Polybear.