Heating help - new to UK

[pgseye]

Hi,

I'm hoping someone can explain some very basic information about how heating systems work in the UK. We've been here for a little while (from Australia) and are used to being more concerned about getting cool, not warm.

I know all systems work slightly differently, but I'm wondering if I can optimise our usage as first electricity bill was 200 pounds for the month (which seems a lot, but maybe that's normal? for here). In the basement we've got a Glow Worm 65-80 boiler and that's about all I know. I've attached a picture of our boiler controller.

Any advice on how to set this most efficiently? ie Should we not have it on all day, but rather set it for certain periods? If we do turn it off, then on, will there be a lag before hot water comes through? Other tips?

Any info would be great.

Thanks!

Untitled

• pgseye
• 17 Mar 2011
• 1

 

[JohnD]

You have a gas boiler? But your electricity bill was £200 for a month? That is unusual but we don't know how big your house is.

Info about the UK:

1) Gas is about 1/3rd the price of electricity per kWh. Domestic UK gas boilers usually have an output between about 10kW and 30kW. Proper draught-proofing, insulation of lofts and cavity walls, and use of thermostats and timers cuts heat loss (hence gas usage) enormously. Leaving doors and windows open increases it. Look at your bills to see what you are paying per kWh.

2) For efficient usage, set the heating timer to come on half an hour before you get up in the morning, and go off hlf n hour before you leave the house; and to come on half an hour before you get home in the evening, and go off half an hour before you go to bed. Set your room stat for 18C - 20C. If you are used to Australian temperatures, buy some vests, jumpers and woolly socks. Be aware that women habitually say "I'm cold" every 30 minutes.

3) Electricity use by lighting, TV, computer, radio is not a significant cost - unlikely to be more than 0.5 kW for all of them in the house

4) Electricity use by heating and cooling devices is very significant. A fan heater, tumble drier, washing machine, dishwasher and immersion heater each use about 3kW while their heating element is running. So too can a dehumidifier or air conditioner depending on its power. An electric shower might use about 10 to 15 kW. Kettles and toasters might use 3kW each but are on for short periods.

5) A cooker might use in excess of 10kW when it is running, but unless you have a restaurant, your cooker is unlikely to be full on for long.

6) Last December was one of our coldest for hundreds of years

7) The amount on your gas bill might not accurately reflect usage, as meter readings might have been estimated. If you have a problem, read your gas and electricty meters every week and log it until you understand the pattern

 

[45yearsagasman]

G'day, That boiler is probably 30 years old and no amount of tinkering with times on the programmer will increase efficiency much above 65%.Simple things such as loft insulation and draught proofing might help marginally.Make sure the boiler and system is serviced regularly and all rads are hot all over.

 

[JohnD]

but he says his electricity bill was £200 for a month.

It won't be the gas boiler doing that...

I am looking after a house that had a burst pipe, it has 5 large dehumifiers running 24hrs, 7 days, and gets through £50 electricity a week. That's a lot

Looking at my own bills, in December I used average 7.3m³ of gas a day at about 40p/m³ , so my heating cost was only about £90 at 3.7p/kWh. Though I have a modern Viessman boiler which uses 35% less gas than my old iron Potterton.

My electricity cost for December was about £50 mostly tumble drier, washing machine, dishwasher (no electric heating) at 9.5p/kWh

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Possible they are recieving a 'dual fuel' bill, the £200 quoted may be for electricity and gas.

 

[pgseye]

Thanks for the info guys.

To be honest - I still have to see the itemised account - we've just left all bills going to our landlady and she forwards them on. I'm assuming it's electricity, but now I'm not sure.

 

[JohnD]

register yourself with an online account at the utility companies.

you can also (probably) sign up for a discounted price online account, but you need the bills to be in your name. You can easily do that by writing to the utility company saying you have moved in on (date) and the meter reading was (whatever) and you are responsible from that point on.

Not having utility accounts and council tax in your own name and address will make it difficult to pass identity checks, open bank accounts, etc.

 

[mickyg]

make sure your immersion heater is not switched on. Turn off the boiler and see if your water still heats up.