Halstead ACE boiler - excessive gas consumption.

[Loxley64]

Hi all,
I am in need of some advice on the amount of gas my boiler is consuming for what i see as very little gain.

The boiler is a Halstead ACE, about 4 years old running 8 rads all fitted with TRVs.

I had a shock last week when I read my gas meter as since October I have used just under 400 units of gas. Since friday I have been monitoring it and its using 2 units per day.

The thing is, I almost never have all the rads on and if any are on it will be set to 2 or 3 at best. The house isnt 'hot', I dont like a hot house, so other than a shower and washing up I cant see why there is so much gas being demanded by the system.

I dont have a room thermostat.

I have a home care 200 agreement with BG and they have had to be called out to the boiler several times since October for 'non start' faults. They come along, change a few bits, it starts up, they go away.

However, up until now I hadnt been measuring the gas usage. For the past 2/3 years my average 'winter' consumption has been 200-210 and I havent changed anything.

The gas technician suggested taking one of the TRV's off to allow the excess capacity to flow, so i did that on the bathroom rad. Since doing that the radiator was literally 'roasting' all weekend even with the dial on the boiler set to the barest minimum degree c.

I have BG coming again tomorrow as the boiler shut itself off again yesterday.
What can I do to determine why so much gas is being used, or rather so much hot water being delivered to a system when i am not demanding it ?

Any suggestions.
Thanks
Mark

 

[Terrywookfit]

Why not ask the BG man?

 

[Loxley64]

Well thanks for the constructive advice. I thought this forum was supposed to be useful.

I have 'asked' the british gas man and he wasnt very helpful.
I will ask the engineer that visits tomorrow, but if its the same guy i am going to get the same answer.

Could it be that the pump is at fault or the meter or thermostat or something ?

 

[Terrywookfit]

Do a gas rating when boiler is running this will confirm your consumption!!

Method depends on meter Metric/IMP!!

 

[gas4you]

Can you smell gas anywhere?

 

[D_Hailsham]

The boiler is a Halstead ACE, about 4 years old running 8 rads all fitted with TRVs.

The gas technician suggested taking one of the TRV's off to allow the excess capacity to flow, so i did that on the bathroom rad. Since doing that the radiator was literally 'roasting' all weekend even with the dial on the boiler set to the barest minimum degree c.

The Mfrs Insts say that, if you have TRVs fitted, one radiator, e.g. bathroom, should have lockshields both ends to allow pump overrun to work.

I dont have a room thermostat.

OK, the MIs don't insist on one; but you are then relying on the "brain" in the boiler to cut off the gas when all the TRVs have shut the rads. Might be worthwhile fitting one.

Have you checked that the timeclock is working and set properly?

Is the boiler coming on in the middle of the night? Could be a faulty frost thermostat

Has there been a change in the usage pattern, e.g more people in the house so more showers/baths etc?

 

[Agile]

If you dont have a room stat then that might explain 10-15% of your gas bill!

Your boiler is unecessarily firing up when all the TRVs are off !

You need to fit a stat AND an auto bypass and then you can put the bathroom TRV back on!

Tony

 

[D_Hailsham]

The Manual states:

Note: The boiler incorporates an automatic bypass, hence no other
system bypass is necessary. However, it is recommended to fit TRV’s on
all radiators except in rooms with a room thermostat.
If no room thermostat is fitted, at least one radiator (preferable in the
bathroom) must be permanently open, i.e. fitted with two lockshield
valves