Energy bills

[cheb]

I've set my stat so the butter in the kitchen is just spreadable in winter, anything hotter is a waste.

[Ant]

RE: Legionnaires in the tank if the thermostat is set too low, isn't that only a problem if the water is sat there too long? If you're using it everyday, then it's not sat there long enough to go pooy?

Also isn't a lower temperature going to mean the boiler needs to heat more water more often? I thought storing it hotter means you won't run out so quickly, as you can add more cold and use less hot water.

[Mussels]

Aside from killing bugs a water tank only holds a certain amount of water, if there are 4 people having a shower in the morning and the boiler can't heat water fast enough then starting with hotter water can make all the difference.

[demographic]

Stuff from a water testing site site about legionaries...
"Maintain correct water temperatures
Water temperature control is one of the key ways to control the risk from Legionella as the bacteria cannot live above 60°C and is dormant below 20°C. Water should always be kept at temperatures that prevent the growth of bacteria:

Cold water should be stored and distributed below 20°C
Hot water should be kept at 60°C of higher
Hot water should be distributed at 50° or higher

Regularly flush hot water pipes & tanks
To prevent water from stagnating, both pipes and water tanks should be washed out frequently, and especially in cases where the outlets are not being used often. With water tanks, if the water stored is not always used up fully, it can stagnate and this increases the chance of bacteria growth. Water tanks should be flushed and then cleaned with disinfectant. The same risk applies to water pipes. If some of your taps are not being used regularly, you should run them for 5-10 minutes as a precaution once per month.


Insulate pipes and tanks
Insulating hot and cold pipes and tanks properly can help keep the temperature of the water at the right level.



Clean shower heads regularly
Cleaning and de-scaling showerheads helps remove any bacteria build up. Clean showerheads and the outside of taps every few months at a minimum."

[v8-powered]

A lot of modern boilers will automatically run a high temp programme every once in a while to boil the nasties

[DefTrap]

Hot tubs and jacuzzies are waiting to kill you.

Sex pond? Unless it's your own, you're better off bathing in the sea where they're actually dumping raw sewage.

[Count Steer]

Hot tubs and jacuzzies are waiting to kill you.

Sex pond? Unless it's your own, you're better off bathing in the sea where they're actually dumping raw sewage.

A doctor described hot tubs as 'human soup'.

[slowsider]

Hot tubs and jacuzzies are waiting to kill you.

Sex pond? Unless it's your own, you're better off bathing in the sea where they're actually dumping raw sewage.

A doctor described hot tubs as 'human soup'.

Life in a minestrone ?

[Docca]

So OVO won’t let me port my product over to the new house and I have to start another quote with them. This worries me. I’m already in for £450 a month, but I’m moving to a house that is more insulated and has (some) solar panels. Despite that, what’s the bets it won’t be cheaper?

[demographic]

Little used outlets, dead ends, corrugated pipes, plenty of places for the bugs to grow.
If you have a shower in your house that you haven't used for a while, then it's a risk.

Yeah, thats why plumbers are warned against creating dead pipe ends just blanked off.

[Count Steer]

So OVO won’t let me port my product over to the new house and I have to start another quote with them. This worries me. I’m already in for £450 a month, but I’m moving to a house that is more insulated and has (some) solar panels. Despite that, what’s the bets it won’t be cheaper?

Works both ways though, you can go to another supplier if they're ending the contract - so you have a bargaining chip.

[David]

I was with Bulb in Wales, when I told them I was moving, they just shu the a/c down (maybe because they are in special measures)...now with Octopus. Just paid the first bill...£108 for gas and leccy (including the Govt. help) compared to £100 for just elecric in Wales. We had oil and a woodburner there , used daily unless very warm, as we were 1,300 feet up. So far we don't seem to be going over budget according to the smart meter.

[Kneerly Down]

I do wonder if the worrying about legionnaires in domestic situations is overdone.
The stats seem to show virtually zero cases.

[Horse]

https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/article ... emperature

[Hoonercat]

Ofgem warns of possible disruption to power this coming winter. An interesting read, as it explains how energy producers in the UK are at risk of huge daily fines if they fail to provide enough energy and the National Grid has to source it elsewhere.

there is a significant risk that gas shortages could occur during the winter 2022-23 in Great Britain. As a result, there is a possibility that Great Britain could enter into a gas supply emergency.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63118574

[Mussels]

https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/article ... emperature

I'd pieced most of that together over the last few days but it looks like a good explanation of it all. I've now dropped a few more degrees to 45 to see if this 60s bungalow could cope with heat pump heating, If I feel cold I'll try to work out what else I can change before I increase the temp.
Being a bungalow I have plenty of roof space so it might be possible to go off grid if we ever find a decent energy storage option.

[Horse]

https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/article ... emperature

it looks like a good explanation

My thoughts too.

After posting the link I checked. My boiler running at 54°.

[wheelnut]

Talking to a customer today. Smallish food manufacturer. Energy bills have gone from 40k per month to 120k per month.

[Ant]

Industry is going to have a bit of a problem and then the consumer, from the energy company lies. Record profits they're making, so why can't the cap to back to where it was?

[Greenman]

Industry is going to have a bit of a problem and then the consumer, from the energy company lies. Record profits they're making, so why can't the cap to back to where it was?

Greed. It really is as simple as that!