NIBE F205 boiler - please help!

[Misha]

Hi, I live in a one bedroom flat on my own and am only in for around 12 hours today. I've got my NIBE boiler on setting 2 (winter setting). I don't leave anything on standby or lights on etc when they're not needed. I've used 750kwh in 30 days. I'm pretty certain it's the boiler that's the problem. Has anyone installed or used a NIBE F205 before? Any advice on how to reduce electricity consumption? Should I put it on setting 1 during the day, when I'm not in, and put it on setting 2 when I'm in? Should I switch all of my radiator TRV valves off during the day? One thing I'm really confused about is the fact that the homeowner NIBE f205 manual I was given says there is a timer to reduce energy consumption...but the building manager has advised me to keep the temperature constant all day. He insists that the heating will only kick in when it has to.

 

[rpm]

Welcome to the forum Misha, not being a heating guy all I can suggest is download the owners manual and see if that helps you to understand the settings.

 

[Misha]

Welcome to the forum Misha, not being a heating guy all I can suggest is download the owners manual and see if that helps you to understand the settings.

Thanks, mate. There are a couple of manuals. I have read those. I've been given contradictionary advice. The manual says that the timer further reduces energy consumption, but when i called the manufacturer's helpline they said it would be more energy efficient if the temperature was kept constant! Nibe boilers have had some bad publicity. They've been on The One Show, BBC news and Ripped off Britain. People have ended up with bills 3-4 more than they were expecting! Even when my thermostat is set to a high temperature and the TRVs are open fully, the temperature in my living kitchen area and my bedroom only goes up to 16-17 degrees...it's freezing. I've been wearing a hat and gloves indoors.

 

[jtsplumbing]

If system is that bad have you considered turning it off and getting another form of heating ? portable heaters for instance, have seen something about new type of electric heater very cost effective BUT a bit pricey to purchase.

 

[Nostrum]

This model is a heat pump with heat recovery ventilation.

From the small amount of info I have heard on these units, I seem to remember the main problem being the back up 3kw immersion heater coming on when it shouldn't being the cause of the issue.

It's quite specialised and not something the majority of heating engineers will have come across (me included)

 

[Chalked]

The trouble with electric boilers is that , kw for kw,
Electricity is nearly 3 x the cost!

 

[Chalked]

Looking at the specs for this heater it uses 2-5 kw.
you used 750 kw in 30 days = 25kw per day. Divide this by 12 hours and you have 2.08 kw per hour.
unfortunately, it's working correctly. But very expensive to run.

 

[Misha]

If system is that bad have you considered turning it off and getting another form of heating ? portable heaters for instance, have seen something about new type of electric heater very cost effective BUT a bit pricey to purchase.

I haven't no. The boiler also heats up water for washing. The unit is designed to run 24 hours a day.

 

[Misha]

This model is a heat pump with heat recovery ventilation.

From the small amount of info I have heard on these units, I seem to remember the main problem being the back up 3kw immersion heater coming on when it shouldn't being the cause of the issue.

That's right. That's what people were saying on the TV programmes.

 

[Misha]

Looking at the specs for this heater it uses 2-5 kw.
you used 750 kw in 30 days = 25kw per day. Divide this by 12 hours and you have 2.08 kw per hour.
unfortunately, it's working correctly. But very expensive to run.

Thanks for looking at the specs. I've had the boiler running on setting 1 today. The immersion booster is off on setting 1. I kept the thermostat for the heating (it's in my hallway) at 20 degrees. The heating has been coming on when the temperature has been dropping by one degree. I kept the TRV in lounge/kitchen area fully open, my bathroom one was completely off and my bedroom one was set at 3. From 8.00am-3.00pm, 4kwh were used. I had my TV on for about 15 minutes, my computer on for about 30 max, my wifi on for 30 max and the fridge on.

Yesterday, from 8.00am-4.00pm only 1kwh had been consumed. The fridge was on and the boiler was on setting 1. I set the thermostat in my hallway to 16. I closed the TRVs on all of the radiators.

I don't have access to the electricity meters. They're locked in a room that only the caretaker can get into. He took a morning and afternoon reading today, and he has been for the past week. Cut a long story short, I was having issues with low boiler pressure, so a plumber came round and fixed a leak on Monday. Ever since Monday, I have been trying out different settings to see what uses less energy. The caretaker has said he will take morning readings only on Mon, Tues and Weds next week. He said if i want readings after that, I'll have to have weekly readings. I don't have much time to try out more settings. I don't want to end up with a huge bill again 🙁

 

[Nostrum]

That sounds very reasonable considering the time of year?

 

[Misha]

That sounds very reasonable considering the time of year?

The caretaker advised me to keep the temperature constant all day, every day. I probably used about 1kWh on my computer/tv yesterday during that7 hour period. 3kwh divided by 7 and then times by 24 hours is about 10 kWh per day. The flat is still cold though! The living room got to 16 degrees when i had the trv fully open. Bedroom was at about 15 degrees - trv was on setting 3. My bathroom trv was completely off. I was wrapped in blankets all day.

 

[Misha]

And 10kWh isn't including anything like energy used for cooking, watching tv, using my computer or charging my phone.

 

[jtsplumbing]

As B4 turn it off and buy some different heaters !! sent you a Private message with information about alternatives

 

[Misha]

As B4 turn it off and buy some different heaters !! sent you a Private message with information about alternatives

How would I heat my water? Thanks for the info.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Has water tank got its own immersion heater ?

 

[Misha]

Has water tank got its own immersion heater ?

yes, the immersion heater uses 3kwh. The boiler heats up the water for washing and the radiators

 

[stevetheplumber]

if its the same as gas you should have access to your meters for emergencies i would be demanding a key

 

[Misha]

if its the same as gas you should have access to your meters for emergencies i would be demanding a key

i asked for one but was told i can't have access. I live in a block of about 40 flats. All the meters are in one room downstairs. Tenants aren't allowed access due to health & safety. I was told there is a lot of electric and a 3 phase supply in there...

 

[jtsplumbing]

yes, the immersion heater uses 3kwh. The boiler heats up the water for washing and the radiators

OK so if you live alone how much hot water do you use, ? do you bath or shower, do you have a dish washer ? if you only shower then you don't need a tank of hot water, [if you have electric shower] got a dish washer ? then you don't need hot water for washing up , new washing machine only uses cold water