Water heating

makfli

This time of the year I turn off the gas and switch to the immersion for water heating. Just wondering would it be cheaper to use gas ? I use the sink element only, timed to switch on for 1 hour 3 times per day. This seems plenty . Not sure the power demand for the sink element 3/4 kwh ?
Appreciate advice.

Wearb

makfli wrote: »

This time of the year I turn off the gas and switch to the immersion for water heating. Just wondering would it be cheaper to use gas ? I use the sink element only, timed to switch on for 1 hour 3 times per day. This seems plenty . Not sure the power demand for the sink element 3/4 kwh ?
Appreciate advice.

A well mainted modulating mains gas boiler will be cheaper, unless you have special rate electric.

makfli

Sorry , forgot to mention my gas boiler is condensing but not a combi. No special rate electric.

Wearb

makfli wrote: »

Sorry , forgot to mention my gas boiler is condensing but not a combi. No special rate electric.

Where is Shane when you need him ????

Anyway I think it will work out cheaper to use gas. Are you on mains gas?

makfli

Yes I am on mains gas . Am I right in thinking because it is not a combi boiler that all the water in the ring pipework needs to be heated as well as the pipe in the cylinder, would this not reduce the efficiency ? Thanks for your help Wearb, hope that the above makes sense.

scudo2

Per Kw. gas is cheaper form of heat.

Condensing boilers are "A" rated, the most efficient boilers available.

In your case, gas wins hands down.






ps. Shane = golf = Fota

I've put the coffee on, but he hasn't called yet.

Or mabey he went to the wrong Fota and had a debate with a tiger about nutritional value of food.

Wearb

makfli wrote: »

Yes I am on mains gas . Am I right in thinking because it is not a combi boiler that all the water in the ring pipework needs to be heated as well as the pipe in the cylinder, would this not reduce the efficiency ? Thanks for your help Wearb, hope that the above makes sense.

Yes the pipe work does reduce efficiency, but not enough (at least in a normal installation) to reduce the advantage of mains gas over ectricity. Your central heating ring shouldn't be heating when only domestic water is required.
Experiment with heating a days supply of water in one go or at at most two goes. Assuming you have a properly insulated cylinder you should eventually find an optimum length of time to run your boiler for. I am assuming you have it properly zoned.