reducing my gas consumption

[klove]

HI. I'm finding my gas consumption on the central heating system really high at the moment. I have a combi boiler and I'm pretty sure that the plate heat exchanger needs descaling/replacing and it's due a service. If I get these two things done will this make much of a difference to my consumption?

 

[REDSAW]

have you got a gas leak?

cant help with the diagnosis but get it serviced as you say and take it from there

 

[tamz]

When I run a bath I have to run the tap really slowly to get the water hot. If I run normal pressure the water is not warm enough and when I do run the bath the radiators cool down. The kitchen tap however is ok at high pressure

A boiler can only heat a certain amount of water to a certain temperature. The faster you run it the colder it will be. Think of it like an electric shower, run it faster it will be colder.
If your boiler is a 24kw it can raise the temperature of the water by 35º at a flow rate of around 2 gallons per minute. That is fine at a sink or basin but at a bath it looks very slow and will take a while to fill. That is just the way they work.
The radiators cool down when the water is running because (without getting technical) they are switched off while the tap runs.

 

[klove]

I now have a smart meter fitted so I can monitor hourly, thank you

 

[dancinplumba]

Terrible init ? Had a leccy one took it to bed with me an everything, got really obsessed with my energy consumption, sleepless nights, my sympathy

 

[kay-jay]

Terrible init ? Had a leccy one took it to bed with me an everything, got really obsessed with my energy consumption, sleepless nights, my sympathy

The only sleepless nights you had in eight years...

 

[tamz]

I now have a smart meter fitted so I can monitor hourly, thank you

Maybe your smart meter is a bit smarter than the old one was :lol:

You have 3 options here.
Get it serviced and checked......£££
Get onto your supplier and get it checked....£££
Buy a balaclava and a big slipper and turn the boiler off :wink:

I should also mention as you mentioned filling baths. Showers are cheaper.

 

[tamz]

Terrible init ? Had a leccy one took it to bed with me an everything, got really obsessed with my energy consumption, sleepless nights, my sympathy

You should switch to all gas Steve. Pipe in a couple of mantles and Bobs yer uncle :wink:

 

[lame plumber]

a renovation down here did just that all gas lighting bar a couple of wall lights in leccy!, had to recommission it all after they went bust for new owners, wierd in this day and age lighting a gas mantle to see to commission a boiler! took a while to suss the pipework as 3 x 22mm gas feeds up one wall as well as tank feeds etc. wasnt sure about ticket needed for gas lighting, turns out its the leisure ticket for bbqs etc.

 

[tamz]

BBQ's :lol: depends how close they stand to them.

 

[COL_nottm]

Just a daft suggestion, do you find the radiators are colder towards the bottom?
Should your system be 'sludged up' this could cause the boiler to consume more gas to warm your house, but again this would be noticable...

thinking of all possiblities

 

[klove]

thanks a good suggestion, I'll put the heating on later and check that out