Boiler noises and gas meter

[eventide]

I posted here a while ago explaining that there were some odd noises coming from my boiler. It was suggested that it was just expansion of pipes etc and that seemed reasonable.

However, having pondered over it a great deal, I don't think its pipes at all. I can't think how to describe it, buts its like (to me) something trying to 'start' over and over? Its a very repetitive and identical noise. I've also just noticed, that every time it does this, its perfectly in synch with the gas meter ticking over by exactly 1 turn (in the red numbers). Does this help to shed some light on what it is? I'm just worried that it may be a problem that's contributing to my high gas usage, as my bills have been oddly high for someone who doesn't have much heating on.

I've only moved into the flat in the past couple of months so I don't know if the boiler has always made this noise, it certainly has since we moved in.

If anyone could shed some light on this I'd be thoroughly grateful.

 

[swbjackson]

Have you had the boiler serviced or checked since you moved in? Get a RGI to check it over.

 

[Agile]

If you really expected us to be able to make any useful comments then you should have:-

1. Told us make and model of boiler

2. Described your flat so we can assess the likely heat needs.

3. Told us what the actual gas useage is.

You say your bill is unexpectedly high but I would suggest that you dont know what a typical bill actually is. Did you know the average fuel bill is now over £1000 a year? Thats usually over £40 per week during the winter!

Tony

 

[eventide]

The boiler is an alpha 240E. Flat is a 2bedroom fairly old build which I realize is probably very badly insulated, however the gas bill last month was ~£80 for the month. We only have the heating on in 2 rooms (bedroom and living room), with the TRVs set low, for 2h in the morning and 4h in the evening, with 2 showers a day. Perhaps I am just naive as to the usage of gas, as we've never had it before. It was more the usage in units (182 for the month) that seemed high, rather than the cost.

I've not had the boiler serviced since we've been here, as its done annually and is due again in June. However I had an engineer out on an unrelated matter, and when I asked him about it he pretty much shrugged and said "well its not doing it right now". Apparently the word 'intermittent' didn't make sense to him, he was far too interested in leaving.

 

[Boilerman2]

He was probably worried that he would spend a couple of hours and find nothing wrong and then finding that you did not want to pay him for two hours to be told that there was nothing wrong!!

 

[flameport]

Its a very repetitive and identical noise. I've also just noticed, that every time it does this, its perfectly in synch with the gas meter ticking over by exactly 1 turn (in the red numbers)

Are you sure the sound is from the boiler, and not coming from within the gas meter itself?

however the gas bill last month was ~£80 for the month

Is that based on actual meter readings for one month - i.e. representing the actual amount of gas used?

 

[gaswizzard]

The boiler is an alpha 240E. Flat is a 2bedroom fairly old build which I realize is probably very badly insulated, however the gas bill last month was ~£80 for the month.

Not too bad really , considering the cost of 1kw/h is around 3.55 pence then...............

£80 month/31 days = £2.58 per day.

£2.58/3.55 pence = 72.69 kw a day.

Seems your boiler is on for just under 3 hours a day , pretty normal really , bear in mind we've had some cold spells.

 

[eventide]

He was probably worried that he would spend a couple of hours and find nothing wrong and then finding that you did not want to pay him for two hours to be told that there was nothing wrong!!

My landlord pays an annual fee to have them at our beck and call if anything is wrong, so yeah maybe he resented not being paid

Are you sure the sound is from the boiler, and not coming from within the gas meter itself?

Yep, boiler is ih a wee room off our bedroom and the meter is off in the hall, def coming from the boiler.

Is that based on actual meter readings for one month - i.e. representing the actual amount of gas used?

Aye, I keep them very up to date and check them regularly.

 

[eventide]

The boiler is an alpha 240E. Flat is a 2bedroom fairly old build which I realize is probably very badly insulated, however the gas bill last month was ~£80 for the month.

Not too bad really , considering the cost of 1kw/h is around 3.55 pence then...............

£80 month/31 days = £2.58 per day.

£2.58/3.55 pence = 72.69 kw a day.

Seems your boiler is on for just under 3 hours a day , pretty normal really , bear in mind we've had some cold spells.

Boiler is on for closer to 6 hours a day actually, so I guess that means the cost/usage is fairly normal. Damn its pricey to keep warm :/

 

[Dan Robinson]

Jumpers and plenty of pump pumpy.

Well, that's what I try and convince my missus to think.

not working though - she'd much rather i pay a big gas bill .

 

[eventide]

Jumpers and plenty of pump pumpy.

Haha, best solution I've ever heard xD Thing is even with both of those AND a huge gas bill it's not warm!

 

[Dan Robinson]

You ain't doing it right then...

there is only so much help I can offer, but I hear the internet is good for this kind of research.