HELP NEEDED Immersion Boiler Dripping issues and concerns

[chursy]

Hi Guys

I have just moved in to a new property a month or so ago. This is a newly build with underfloor heating and immersion boiler!

Please see attached pics below.

The boiler doesn't have a timer on it and has three buttons in total two on the left of the boiler and one for the Orange thing ( see below) which i am not sure what it is. The boiler has been constantly been dripping water through the drain pipe. I am not sure what it is and what it means? Initially i thought it was possibly a condensation pipe but its constantly running water which is more then a dripping water.

Initially when i moved in i was told that the block has E7 electricity sorted and hence can leave the boiler on 24/7 so i left one of the buttons on as i understood what was for the big tank and the other was for the top smaller tap which was possibly a boster so i switched it off. The agents told me that E7 is controlled centrally for it to heat up at night and cheaper electricity.I dont have two meters i.e for night rate and day rate so is that correct?

Also after speaking to the neighbour he said he has the same done and the third switch is possibly for the orange device keep that off because it will eat up all the electricity.

The main red switch in the middle of the boiler i tried to turn it anti clockwise and it started releasing the water and water drainage increased. Not sure what it is so i put it back to what it was.

Now i have recieved by first bill from British Gas of 220 pounds and i appear to have consumed 1750KWH.

Can someone please advise
a) how am i suppose to use this boiler?
b) Is there something wrong?

I would really appreciate some guidance and help please on this!

http://www.diynot.com/network/chursy/albums/

 

[JohnD]

the thing you are callling an immersion boiler is a pressurised hot water cylinder.

It has two electric immersion heaters in it. The one at the top heats only the top portion of water, the one near the bottom heat all the water above itself.

If you have electric underfloor heating you do not have a boiler at all. I assume you have no gas?

You probably ought to have an E7/cheap rate overnight electricity. This can be metered by a single meter with two displays on it. Post a photo of your electricity meter.

If you are on an E7 or similar tariff, your electricity bill will show two prices for electricity, the night rate about half the price of the day rate, and it will show start and finish day meter reading, and start and finish night meter reading. Does it?

The dripping looks like a relief of excess pressure. The cylinder needs servicing. These pressurised cylinders need to be regularly checked as they can be dangerous if neglected for long enough. If you are running hot water down the drain it will naturally be wasteful of energy.

I can't make out the orange thing. The colour is about right for a Grundfos Bronze or Stainless pump, if you have long pipe runs to the hot tap. Take a better pic of it.

 

[chursy]

the thing you are callling an immersion boiler is a pressurised hot water cylinder.

It has two electric immersion heaters in it. The one at the top heats only the top portion of water, the one near the bottom heat all the water above itself.

If you have electric underfloor heating you do not have a boiler at all. I assume you have no gas?

You probably ought to have an E7/cheap rate overnight electricity. This can be metered by a single meter with two displays on it. Post a photo of your electricity meter.

If you are on an E7 or similar tariff, your electricity bill will show two prices for electricity, the night rate about half the price of the day rate, and it will show start and finish day meter reading, and start and finish night meter reading. Does it?

The dripping looks like a relief of excess pressure. The cylinder needs servicing. These pressurised cylinders need to be regularly checked as they can be dangerous if neglected for long enough. If you are running hot water down the drain it will naturally be wasteful of energy.

I can't make out the orange thing. The colour is about right for a Grundfos Bronze or Stainless pump, if you have long pipe runs to the hot tap. Take a better pic of it.

You are right i have no gas this is for only hot water. These are due to get tested or inspected on the 9th of March.

I have attached the picture for the orange device and also the meter now.

The electricity bill states the actual meter reading taken only. The bill is not split between day and night rates.

How are these supposed to be operated efficiently. I have electric showers as well which appears to be highend ones with switches for these outside in the room?

Would be great if you can advise what is the best way to operate this.

 

[Agile]

You may need to ASK for an off peak tarrif. They are not obliged to give you one!

What meter do you have ?

Does the bill give firm start and end readings?

Tony

 

[chursy]

You may need to ASK for an off peak tarrif. They are not obliged to give you one!

What meter do you have ?

Does the bill give firm start and end readings?

Tony

See pictures attached in the folder its Actaris

yes the bill only shows the start and end readings only?

Why do you suggest i need to get an offpeak tarif?

 

[JohnD]

that's interesting, it is a Grundfos bronze. Very expensive so what does it do?

And, I spy with my little eye, a gas pipe.

Untitled

• chursy
• 23 Feb 2013
• 1

 

[chursy]

that's interesting, it is a Grundfos bronze. Very expensive so what does it do?

And, I spy with my little eye, a gas pipe.

Untitled

• chursy
• 23 Feb 2013
• 1

I am not sure what it does i have switched it offf? What is this for?

Just spoke to BGas. This property is on a single unit meter but i have asked them to switch to E7 now. How will i control the timings of the heater when there is no timer? DO i need to get this installed

Still awaiting responses on my previous questions, can someone help!!

 

[hazetimesfive]

That's not a gas pipe.
Its a mop...

Lol

 

[JohnD]

Once you are on an E7 or similar tariff, you ought to have an immersion timer instead of the switch for the lower immersion element, and leave the upper one switched off unless you need a top-up

you ought to have a timer on your underfloor heating. Show us pics of the "fusebox" and controls for the UFH

Once you have an E7 type tariff, off-peak electricity will cost about half the price of daytime electricity, so you should use it as much as you can.

Is the yellow thing a pipe? Where does it go?

Take your meter readings regularly and put them in a diary or spreadsheet. How much has the meter reading gone up since your bill, and how many days is that?

did you take the meter reading on the day you took possession of the flat?


p.s.
the label on the electricity meter appears to be dated 20/6/2007, so it can hardly be a new build.

 

[hazetimesfive]

It goes to the mop head John.

 

[JohnD]

all right, it's a mop handle.

 

[Nige F]

Is the yellow thing a pipe? Where does it go?

?

It goes " in " the G3 man when he services the cylinder - so he sweeps the floor aswell . Only if he has a certificate for multi tasking though

 

[hazetimesfive]

Lol put the other post back john

 

[Nige F]

Guys - look @ the "pipe" it`s crooked and no clips - how could it be a gas pipe . Believe it or not there are still some areas of Sussex that don`t have mains gas .

 

[chursy]

Once you are on an E7 or similar tariff, you ought to have an immersion timer instead of the switch for the lower immersion element, and leave the upper one switched off unless you need a top-up

you ought to have a timer on your underfloor heating. Show us pics of the "fusebox" and controls for the UFH

Once you have an E7 type tariff, off-peak electricity will cost about half the price of daytime electricity, so you should use it as much as you can.

Is the yellow thing a pipe? Where does it go?

Take your meter readings regularly and put them in a diary or spreadsheet. How much has the meter reading gone up since your bill, and how many days is that?

did you take the meter reading on the day you took possession of the flat?


p.s.
the label on the electricity meter appears to be dated 20/6/2007, so it can hardly be a new build.

The yellow thing is the mop indeed. Will get a timer fitted for this once switched to e7.

What is the orange device for ? Do I need to have this on all the time?

Also how long should this typically take to warm so I know how long to put the timer on an also how long to keep this on?


I am happy on the water heating no issues there.i have consumed approximately 1700 units over 30 days and this thing was constantly on with the bottom button on all this while. Would it make sense for the bill because this was on all this while?