Boiler issue

[deuce22]

Hi.

Can someone please tell me if there is a maximum amount of gas a boiler can use in a set period.

I am still in the process of completing a project and whilst this is ongoing I am living in one half of the property.

Over the winter the boiler was on more than it was off and at most times at half way, although now and again it was turned up to the max.

The bill for one month was just under £400. Over the course of almost 5 months my bill has been £1400.

We told British gas that we think there may be a problem with the meter, but after going through some preliminary checks, she has told us that there is no problem with it.

Someone told me that even if the boiler was left on constant at max for one month it would use that amount of gas.

Before I dispute this I need to know if the boiler would use this amount.

Thanks.

 

[cajar]

Might help if you tell them the make and model of the boiler

 

[mrgas]

A 15Kw boiler should burn no more than 15Kw/hr
A 60Kw boiler should burn no more than 60KW/Hr
What boiler do you have?

 

[deuce22]

Sorry guy's.

It's a Biasi Riva Advance 32HE Combi Boiler.

I bought it from screwfix about a year ago.

I know it's not a very good brand, but I didn't have anymore in the budget.

Cheers.

 

[hansthebear]

if it was on at full rate for a month it would use 2 and a half grands worth of gas

 

[deuce22]

Hi hansthebear.

Can you briefly explain how you got to that figure.

Does that mean that on half way consistently for a month it would use £1250.

Cheers.

 

[Agile]

The boiler cannot be "halfway" it adjusts its output to match the required set value.

Depending on your house the heating cannot use more than about 1 kW per radiator unless they are all big ones.

Unless you have a very large house with little insulation it would not use too much gas even on 24/7. Perhaps about £200-£300 p.m. max. if its in a three bed semi.

Its a well known boiler and one of the most reliable!

Tony

 

[deuce22]

Hi Agile.

It's difficult to work this out, sometimes the rads were off. There are quite a few large rads.

How does the boiler work without a room thermostat, is there a thermostat in the boiler.

The boiler is situated at the front of the house where it was open to the elements.

What did hansthebear mean when he £2500.

Cheers.

 

[Boilerman2]

Get a RGI to check the Gas rate of your boiler and carry out a Tightness Test, if both these are satisfactory, your gas usage is down to insulation (or lack of it) or Lifestyle probably a combination of the Two!!

 

[expertgasman]

What did hansthebear mean when he £2500.


I don't know the max input of boiler, but say 35Kw.

35kw x 24 (hrs) x 30 (days) x 3.5 pence per Kw = £882.00

Of course, your cost of gas may vary slightly, and you pay more for the first few hundred Kw. Your max. input may not be 35Kw.

BUT, as earlier indicated, it is impossible for the boiler to run at full pelt. The nearest you would get is by running all your hot taps on at max on boiler.

EDITED: Apologies, I inadvertently used the high INITIAL gas charge per Kw, rather than the standard lower charge.

I assume that Hans the Bear was referring to the quarterly charge (i.e mine x 3, roughly)

 

[deuce22]

Thanks guy's for all the info.

The £400 cost may be correct then. There was a lack of insulation at that time, so maybe it's down to that.

Cheers.

 

[Agile]

The boiler adjusts the power input automatically to provide a set flow temperature according to the position of the CH knob which is the right hand one.

I think what Hans meant was the cost if the boiler was providing 32 kW 24/7 but in reality unless you left a tap on thats not possible.

To give 32 kW output it will consume about 35 kW. A kWh of gas costs about £0.04 so the boiler uses £1.40 per hour. Thats £33.60 per day.

Thats £1008 per 30 day month! A lot short of the figure that Hans quoted but perhaps he assumed some devilish tariff on a prepay meter?

Putting it into perspective a three bed semi has a heat loss of about 10 kW instead of 32 kW so leaving it on 24/7 would cost about £337 per month which is pretty close to my previous guess!

Tony Glazier