Energy bills

[mangocrazy]

But yeah 2014 is ancient history, let's conclude that Putin just got out of bed one morning and without any provocation decided on a blitzkrieg in Ukraine because he's a very naughty boy, and get back to energy bills.

I'd say he'd been planning it ever since his incursion into Crimea and reckoned that an ex-Comedian would be a soft touch and the West wouldn't be that bothered. That and he thought it would play well with a domestic audience. There are also the valid points that irie raises. But I agree - let's get back to energy bills.

[mangocrazy]

Our boiler (a combi condenser) was looking a bit tired and had a leak, so I'm getting British Gas to fit a new 35kw one, along with Hive.
Standard stuff, the pressure keeps dropping and we need to top it up, I can't see any leaks around the system anywhere, so I'm blaming the boiler, it wasn't beyond repair, but I think it's been in for about 15yrs and we'd budgeted for a new one anyway.

I've fitted the pipework and radiators for three CH systems in various houses and I'd say that on balance of probablilities the leaks are either at the radiator connections or dodgy solder or compression joints in the pipework.The water only needs to weep out very gently over long periods to cause the dreaded pressure drop. If the boiler was at fault you should see tell-tale damp patches beneath it.

But at 15 years old, the boiler's best years are definitely behind it and in the near(ish) future spares availability might become a problem. I'll be replacing a 20 y.o. boiler next summer for just that reason.

[Ant]

Our boiler (a combi condenser) was looking a bit tired and had a leak, so I'm getting British Gas to fit a new 35kw one, along with Hive.
Standard stuff, the pressure keeps dropping and we need to top it up, I can't see any leaks around the system anywhere, so I'm blaming the boiler, it wasn't beyond repair, but I think it's been in for about 15yrs and we'd budgeted for a new one anyway.

I'm also having smart meters put in the day before.

It's being fitted at the beginning of Feb, so I should be able to reasonably compare usage before and after, and I'm hoping a new and more efficient boiler, without a leak, plus smart metering with a readout in the kitchen to influence behaviour, will reduce our bills.

35kw?

What are you powering? Blenheim Palace?

[Mussels]

Our boiler (a combi condenser) was looking a bit tired and had a leak, so I'm getting British Gas to fit a new 35kw one, along with Hive.
Standard stuff, the pressure keeps dropping and we need to top it up, I can't see any leaks around the system anywhere, so I'm blaming the boiler, it wasn't beyond repair, but I think it's been in for about 15yrs and we'd budgeted for a new one anyway.

I'm also having smart meters put in the day before.

It's being fitted at the beginning of Feb, so I should be able to reasonably compare usage before and after, and I'm hoping a new and more efficient boiler, without a leak, plus smart metering with a readout in the kitchen to influence behaviour, will reduce our bills.

35kw?

What are you powering? Blenheim Palace?

That was my frst thought, my old boiler was 11KW and plenty enough for heating. I know he's in a bigger and older place but that seems excessive.

[Count Steer]

35kW max isn't unusual for the hot water rating, it's quite a beast if it's the CH output but they do tend to quote MAX output so 22kW is common but they, realistically, aren't running at peak very much.

Edit: If you go onto the Screwfix site and select 11kW heat output boilers, what you get are all listed as 24kW max output.

[v8-powered]

35kw?

What are you powering? Blenheim Palace?

45kW here , and we don't live in Blenheim Palace

[Count Steer]

Worcester Greenstar 8000 35kw combi.
Three full bathrooms, four bedrooms, a couple of living rooms, big kitchen, dining room, snug, large hallway, lots of rads and a two-story granny flat with about as much living space as an average terraced house, all on the same system.

"The 35kW output rating makes this unit perfectly suitable for larger homes with a high demand for heating with up to 20 radiators. It can meet a high demand for hot water as well as homes with two or more bathrooms."

Dunno, it's what they recommended and I cba to do any calcs, I presume their rule of thumb is good enough.

They're pretty good with their sizing calcs. V pleased with our Worcester Greenstar and they come out v well in Which? for reliability. They didn't suggest a separate small boiler for the granny flat, for flexibility?

[MingtheMerciless]

British Gas have given some very mixed results when we've had them out to look at our old boiler, two of the techs whilst they fixed the fault were more interested in telling us how our boiler wasn't up to standard and implied this was dangerous, when pressed they confessed it was up to the required standard when it was installed (basically trying squeeze some more money out of the fixed price call out).

The last one took one look at the boiler, said it was a card fault and he couldn't get spares as it wasn't made anymore, would we like a quote for a new boiler? 10 minutes on eBay I'd found a new boxed card and it was on its way, took 5 minutes to install.

Current boiler is a Vaillant and it's got an 8 year warranty so long as the service book is signed off. Its not been fault free, 2 x pressure sensors and 2 x diverter valves in 4 years but given vaillant their due, they've been out in a few days and fixed the fault on the day.

[Mussels]

I've found that with other plumbers, I had one out to fix an old back boiler. Simple fix but then he threatened to condemn my boiler as he couldn't see enough air bricks, helpfully offered to come back the next day to fit one so told him him to sling his hook.
Any company like BG will have upsell targets, a maintenance contract is a good way to get a foot in the door.

[Count Steer]

Best to ask up front 'Are you going to stick a PDA* on it?'

If the answer is 'No'. Then they should shut up and fix it.

It's all a bit wrong to pressure people on the back of a problem but that's what happens. If you decide when the time is right and say 'Come and sell me a boiler' you change the position somewhat so, don't wait until you have to have one.

*Potentially Dangerous Appliance - which will be labelled as such and rendered unuseable on the spot. At least that was was they called them. Now it's probably a 'non-optimal appliance' (So the boiler doesn't get upset).

[irie]

We have a Vaillant Ecotec (837?) installed 10-1/2 years ago. In that time has been serviced annually by local company and once needed a new pressure valve. Will keep it running until either it completely fails or a year before new boilers will be outlawed. Then it'll be replaced by another combi boiler.

[MingtheMerciless]

We have a Vaillant Ecotec (837?) installed 10-1/2 years ago. In that time has been serviced annually by local company and once needed a new pressure valve. Will keep it running until either it completely fails or a year before new boilers will be outlawed. Then it'll be replaced by another combi boiler.

That's my thinking as well, we'll be getting a new gas combi in the 18 months before they are "banned". So far I've not heard anything positive about the electric heat pumps.

[MyLittleStudPony]

We have a Vaillant Ecotec (837?) installed 10-1/2 years ago. In that time has been serviced annually by local company and once needed a new pressure valve. Will keep it running until either it completely fails or a year before new boilers will be outlawed. Then it'll be replaced by another combi boiler.

That's my thinking as well, we'll be getting a new gas combi in the 18 months before they are "banned". So far I've not heard anything positive about the electric heat pumps.

Why not get several?

Store them under your bed, like people did with incandescent light bulbs before they were banned.

[MingtheMerciless]

We have a Vaillant Ecotec (837?) installed 10-1/2 years ago. In that time has been serviced annually by local company and once needed a new pressure valve. Will keep it running until either it completely fails or a year before new boilers will be outlawed. Then it'll be replaced by another combi boiler.

That's my thinking as well, we'll be getting a new gas combi in the 18 months before they are "banned". So far I've not heard anything positive about the electric heat pumps.

Why not get several?

Store them under your bed, like people did with incandescent light bulbs before they were banned.

It's an incandescent lamp! Bulbs come up in spring!

[Horse]

i in the 18 months before they are "banned". .

Isn't it only new installations that will not be allowed?

[MyLittleStudPony]

I'll tell you what has also gone up in price, Eglo Rocamars.

Last time I bought one it was a hundred quid for a three'er. Now it's double that.

[demographic]

I'm still wondering how we ended up paying twice as much for our energy than people in France.
Yay, Go Privatisation...

[MyLittleStudPony]

I'm still wondering how we ended up paying twice as much for our energy than people in France.
Yay, Go Privatisation...

It's nice and Brexity too. Nice and Brexity.

[Bowman]

The 35 kw rating will be when it's in hot water mode. In heating mode most combis are up to 24kw, they have a modulating output usually about 8 or 9 to 1. Min would be about 4.5 kw.
BG are ok at what they do but are very expensive in comparison to independent installers.
An Ideal Vogue 40kw max with a 12yr warranty is a good option. The 12yr warranty could save you a lot in contract maintenance fees and be substantially cheaper.
If you wanted a fix on your boiler its probably the expansion vessel has lost its charge.
Would you happen to be in S.Wales?

[demographic]

I'm still wondering how we ended up paying twice as much for our energy than people in France.
Yay, Go Privatisation...

Lol, still fighting Thatcher

Got no answer?
I'm still wondering why a country with its own natural gas, huge renewables, and a fair bit of nuclear has the highest energy prices in Europe while France pays about half what we do for energy.