Triple usage since new boiler

[Fooldude]

We have an old 5 bed semi detached.

Prior to Feb 2012 we were using average 200 units of gas a month.

Since Feb 2012 we have used average 650 units gas a month.

We had a bigger combi boiler installed, which heats the two top bedrooms better.
We have had the house slightly hotter in the winter, and it's been two cold years, but why would our usage triple, when the boiler was meant to be saving us money??

 

[Agile]

You have already said that you are keeping the two top bedrooms hotter.

Probably keeping all of the house hotter too!

You should try using the controls and particularly the TRVs and the heating zone timings to reduce gas consumption.

Tony

 

[Fooldude]

You have already said that you are keeping the two top bedrooms hotter.

Probably keeping all of the house hotter too!

You should try using the controls and particularly the TRVs and the heating zone timings to reduce gas consumption.

Tony

I could imagine keeping the house hotter could increase it by say 50% maybe even double, but over 3 times the usage?

The system has a timed thermostat now too which it never did.

 

[gas112]

what size combi came out and what went in. Too many people put about savings figures when infact as you have found out bills actually go up

 

[Fooldude]

what size combi came out and what went in. Too many people put about savings figures when infact as you have found out bills actually go up

10 year old Worcester 350 went out.

Worcester 37cdi went in.

I expected slightly higher bills due to it heating the house better especially the top floor (just two bedrooms, and they were ok previously just took a long time to heat).... Just not triple?!

 

[Agile]

The maximum power of the boiler is pretty irrelevant as its the setting of the boiler which determines the actual power output.

It could just be the old boiler was set rather lower. You might have kept it if it was turned up!

People usually use new boilers more. Often thinking they are cheaper to run because they are condensing!

What flow temperature are you using it on for CH?

Tony

 

[Fooldude]

The maximum power of the boiler is pretty irrelevant as its the setting of the boiler which determines the maximum power output.

It could just be the old boiler was set rather lower. You might have kept it if it was turned up!

People usually use new boilers more. Often thinking they are cheaper to run because they are condensing!

What flow temperature are you using it on for CH?

Tony

Don't know technical things... It's set to max on the boiler for CH and about 3/4 for the hot water. The old one was max for both, but struggled to get the heat up to the top floor, then was breaking a few times for different reasons, so we got the new one then.
We put the valves on whatever setting we want in the rooms, depending on whether we use them.
Then there is an overall thermostat, with a night time temp and a day time temp. As per previous note, we know the house is a little warmer on the whole, and the top floor (two radiators) definitely warmer. But everything else is exactly as per before, it was not cold before and we even were heating at night as the kids were babies.
At a push I could understand double...but 3.5 times??

 

[Agile]

I am sorry but I have edited what I said before to be more correct.

It now says:-

"""The maximum power of the boiler is pretty irrelevant as its the setting inside the boiler which determines the actual power output."""

The boiler controls adjust the maximum temperature of the radiator.

Running it at maximum will mean that it does not condense much and is much less efficient.

Set it to about 60% of max. The top of the rads should be hot enough to touch for about five seconds. If only you could measure the temperature then 65-75 C is the most efficient range to use it over. The lower the better.

The boiler installer should have explained all this to you.

With five bedrooms you should have at least two separately timed and thermostatically controlled zones.

Tony

 

[ALEC1]

or just put in weather compensation which varys the flow temperature according to prevailing conditions!

 

[jono_h]

Is there a thermostatic valve on the radiator in the room with the wall thermostat?
If there is open it fully, otherwise the room thermostat may never get to the point of turning the boiler off.

 

[JohnD]

This year we had an unusually long and cold winter. Have you got a record of actual (not estimated) meter readings per month? If not, have you got them per quarter?