Hello we bought a house with a downstairs bedroom with ensuite and a unvented tank for hot water, with a timed heater. I assume it was fitted because long run from tank. We have recently started sleeping there and have seen horrendous electricity bills? I dont think ive fully understood timer, Is there a way to efficently use the system? We may have one quick shower a day and or wash in basin, rest of day use other bathroom. Would it be better to take out system and put in instant water heater? Any advice much appreciated
unvented tank for ensuite
- Thread starter jonnyp1
- Start date
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No an instant electric heater won't drop your running costs by much and you'll have a far inferior shower experience.
The timer shouldn't make a huge difference provided the cylinder is well insulated. You do need to check the immersion heater thermostat is working (and set to 65° or so), also make sure that you're not wasting any of that hot water (with leaks or rogue connections)
Do you have gas central heating? If yes (and assuming there's a coil in that cylinder) you'll save a lot of money by heating the cylinder from the boiler rather than with electricity.
EDIT Everyone is getting horrendous bills at the moment. The more useful number is kWh consumed. Make sure you're not on estimated meter readings, take your recent bills, calculate kWh per day, compare them to any of the online 'how much energy should I be using' type sites
The timer shouldn't make a huge difference provided the cylinder is well insulated. You do need to check the immersion heater thermostat is working (and set to 65° or so), also make sure that you're not wasting any of that hot water (with leaks or rogue connections)
Do you have gas central heating? If yes (and assuming there's a coil in that cylinder) you'll save a lot of money by heating the cylinder from the boiler rather than with electricity.
EDIT Everyone is getting horrendous bills at the moment. The more useful number is kWh consumed. Make sure you're not on estimated meter readings, take your recent bills, calculate kWh per day, compare them to any of the online 'how much energy should I be using' type sites
Make and model / capacity of unvented tank? You sure it is electric only?
What temperature is it set to? Higher temp = more leccy consumed to get it there and keep it there.
Measure how much water you use then you can calculate the needed reheat time based on that use and tank heat losses for 24 hours. May only need be on an hour or two before /during your shower(s)?
Turn it off and use the other bathroom for showers. Wash hands in cold water and soap - juts as effective if less pleasant. Then see if the electric usage drops significantly?
All energy bills have risen dramatically - but over 6 months we are all getting £400 from Govt. towards them. Other electrical items may be a bigger consumer of energy: incandescent/halogen lamps, electric underfloor heating (perhaps in the ensuite?), any electric heating elsewhere, pumps for ponds, etc.,..
What temperature is it set to? Higher temp = more leccy consumed to get it there and keep it there.
Measure how much water you use then you can calculate the needed reheat time based on that use and tank heat losses for 24 hours. May only need be on an hour or two before /during your shower(s)?
Turn it off and use the other bathroom for showers. Wash hands in cold water and soap - juts as effective if less pleasant. Then see if the electric usage drops significantly?
All energy bills have risen dramatically - but over 6 months we are all getting £400 from Govt. towards them. Other electrical items may be a bigger consumer of energy: incandescent/halogen lamps, electric underfloor heating (perhaps in the ensuite?), any electric heating elsewhere, pumps for ponds, etc.,..
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