Immersion Heater Boost Button Query

[harky]

I have a query regarding the power consumption of the immersion heater which is fitted in my flat. The label states that it is a Tristor TSC 150 unit which was installed on 08/07/08, it is also fitted with a Horstmann Electrisaver E30 push button boost timer.

We have had to use the boost button for the last few months as the element faulty and the maintenance company are awaiting the arrival of the part. We have received a large electricity bill and think that the reason for this may be due to having to use the boost button numerously on a daily basis when we need hot water.

My query is whether the power/electricity consumption would be higher if the boost button was used throughout the day rather than the conventional method, this is what we have been having to do while we wait for the boiler to be fixed through the property agents. If so can you also provided some statistics or data regarding this, or a link or contact where I can find some statistics or costs or power consumption figures.

We need these in making a claim to the property agent/landlord as we find it is their fault that it has taken this long to fix the issue, resulting in us receiving such a high electricity bill.

 

[big-all]

heeelllooo and welcome harky

i am assuming you do not have gas heating !!!
i am assuming you are on a duel tarrif or white off peak meter!!
if so we need to know your cost per unit day rate and night rate shown on your bill day and night rates can be2 to 5 times as much
we also need to know if theres estimated reading over the last year!!

 

[ColJack]

can't be arsed to do your maths for you, but it would be...

element size ( in KW ) x time taken to heat the water ( in hours ).

this gives you the KWh for every time you have to heat the water

now find the rates on your last bill for peak and off peak and multiply that by the KWh and number of times when you pressed the boost button during peak and off peak..

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

Your electricity bill will show the difference between the unit (kWh) rates for your off-peak and ordinary day rate charge. That difference is likely to be substantial.

If you've been using that daytime boost button for months, I'm not surprised that you've had a large bill.

Check your bill and then it's a simple matter of arithetmetic.



Lucia.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

we are------------------ all still learning

Any chance you could hurry up with your learning not to use so many excessive and pointless emoticons and exclamation marks in your posts?

Do you speak with breathless and shouty excitement all the time in real life?

 

[big-all]

i whole heartedly appologise if it annoys you its not ment to
if using 2 or more question marks is excessive i appologise or if its the smillies again i appologise i am only trying to portray freindly honest and helpfull and hope thats what comes accross

 

[harky]

Hey All,

I dont think any of the above replies answer my question really. Would using the booster on numerous occasions on a day to day basis use more electricity than if it were working correctly and heat the water itself automatically?

No gas heating, everything is electrical. Have only lived at the proeperty since Sept 26th and then received the quartlery bill in January for Oct 26th - Jan 26th. So I am still waiting for the correct bill to arrive including the first month of my tenancy.

ColJack:

No. of times ive pressed the boost button during peak and off peak? I havent counted how many times i've pressed it since the last few months sorry lool

 

[big-all]

Hey All,

I dont think any of the above replies answer my question really. Would using the booster on numerous occasions on a day to day basis use more electricity than if it were working correctly and heat the water itself automatically?

No gas heating, everything is electrical. Have only lived at the proeperty since Sept 26th and then received the quartlery bill in January for Oct 26th - Jan 26th. So I am still waiting for the correct bill to arrive including the first month of my tenancy.

ColJack:

No. of times ive pressed the boost button during peak and off peak? I havent counted how many times i've pressed it since the last few months sorry lool

well if you dont know what tarrif your on then we cant answer your question

you need to look at your bill and see what your charges are peak and off peak

 

[ColJack]

so average it.. take a guess.. 3 or 4 times a day?

yes boosting it whilst on peak ( during daytime until about 1 am ) will cost you more than it heating up properly overnight..

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

Another tenant seeking compensation for his own frofligacy......


Using the boost button "numerously" on a "daily basis for a few months"......



Pfffttt!

 

[mikhailfaradayski]

Its seems that you still have water heating of some sort. If the landlord has taken 'reasonable measures' to repair the fault, but the lack of available spare parts is beyond his control, then i don't think you have any cause for compensation, sorry.

If you want to heat your water at your of peak rate, simply get up at 1am and press the button then, repeat as necessary throughout the night

BTW, how many heating elements does your hot tank have?
What is the rating of it/them?
How much hot water are you wasting whilst you think the landlord should be paying?

If you can't be bothered to provide this information ( or the info asked for above ), then i don't see how anyone can help you.

 

[flameport]

If you are on a dual or multiple rate tarrif, using the boost button will heat the water using the expensive 'day' rate, which will typically cost 3x more than the cheaper 'night' rate.

Another important issue is that the unit you have is one of those efforts which only works properly when the entire tank of water is kept at a high temperature - the heating elements only keep the tank hot, and when hot water is required, cold water from the mains is circulated through a coil inside the hot tank, heating it up.
This means that the system will use electricity in the daytime even when working properly, possibly at a third rate which is between the expensive day and cheap night rates. Either way, you can expect large electricity bills.

The manufacturers of these contraptions claim they are somehow more efficient than a normal system where the water is heated directly. This is nonsense, as you are paying to keep the tank heated 24/7, wheras a normal cylinder can be heated only at the times you want (typically only once or twice a day).

As these things normally use standard 3kW heating elements, and the cylinder is only a couple of years old, a replacement element should be easily available. There is no reason to be waiting for months for a new element.