Best use of unvented hot water cylinder - help!

[GemmaTaylor]

We've just moved into a property with an unvented hot water cylinder system (Santon PremierPlus 300 litres) plus gas combi boiler. We're unsure of how long the hot water cylinder needs to be on for each day - or even if this is the right system for us. There are just 2 of us, we shower for approx 40mins in total plus a couple of bowls of hot water for washing up etc in the morning, then in the evening again a few bowls for washing up/face washing etc. In total our combi boiler in our last house would be fired for hot water for maybe an hour each day. The preset programme for the Santon suggests that it should be on for 2 hours in the morning and 6 hours in the evening - this sounds an awful lot and not economical for our needs.
Could anyone tell us how long we would to need to put it on for each day for our hot water needs, and advise whether this would be an economical way for us to heat our water - or whether we should get a plumber to bypass the hot water cylinder completely and just use the combi boiler.

Thanks very much!

Gemma.

 

[picasso]

Hi Gemma you dont have to heat the whole cylinder, its a bit of trial and error to find how long to leave the programmer on to give you enough hot water for your needs, try leaving the hot water switched on at the programmer for an hour and see if you have enough water , if not try leaving it on a bit longer and of course if the water doesnt run out try a shorter time.

 

[Charnwood]

You've got a combi. Do away with the cylinder, i.e. re-plumb all the hot taps to be fed from it?
That'd be the most economical. You'll only heat the water you need.

 

[picasso]

You've got a combi.

oh no she doesnt (panto season is coming)

 

[Dan Robinson]

Probably confusing Combi with Condensing.

Leave it on ONCE on the timer. When it's hot it'll switch off anyway.

 

[Agile]

Your cylinder is very well insulated.

Time it to be heated for an hour in the morning and an hour when you are coming home from work.

Its a common misunderstanding that it costs you money having the timer showing hot water.

The reality is that the boiler is only on until the water is hot and then the boiler is turned off by the controls.

In fact you could equally tim the hot water for ALL the time that you are in the house. That would really be better!

Tony

 

[Charnwood]

oh no she doesnt (panto season is coming)

Oh yes she does.

Well, she says she does - twice.

 

[D_Hailsham]

We've just moved into a property with an unvented hot water cylinder system (Santon PremierPlus 300 litres) plus gas combi boiler.

If you tell us the make and model of your boiler it will prevent this thread descending into farce.

 

[picasso]

Lets wait and see, she could have a combi but as dan said maybe confusing it with condensing.

 

[Dan Robinson]

If you tell us the make and model of your boiler it will prevent this thread descending into farce.

How long have you been on here?

I like your optimism

 

[Charnwood]

Optimists are just poorly-informed pessimists!