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August 31, 2022
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My gas supply is solely for hot water/heating - how is my gas usage so high even when boiler is off?

  • August 31, 2022
  • 62 replies
  • 11142 views

I have a Vaillant ecoTEC Plus 630 boiler paired with a megaflo eco systemfit unvented cylinder.  My gas usage is nearly 3 times my colleagues who has a combi boiler (they have a much larger house, more occupants and has a gas hob and oven). My gas usage is solely for hot water/heating.  My system is managed through the nest app and my water is heating for a total of 4.5 hours a day (I don’t have hot water whenever I want). I went on holiday for a week, turned my system off and it still charged me for all but 2 days of the 7 I was away.  We’ve had no heating on and only the hot water scheduled for the times mentioned above. My usage is around 800-850kWh per month.  I live with my boyfriend and two year old.  I’ve spoken to so many people who can’t find the issue - can anyone help?! Picture of my usage for the week I was away.

Best answer by Jeffus

Updated on 08/09/25 by Chris_OVO:

 

Hi @Anders95 I think i would start by getting a boiler engineer to look at your setup. Particularly your controls. 

On first inspection it doesn't look like the issue is related to your smart meter given the usage pattern when you are away. 

 

1. We need to see the daily usage page for the gas readings so we can see the 30min readings. Just to check when the gas boiler is firing up. For a day when you were at home, and a day when you think the boiler was off, but it still looks like you used some gas. I think your boiler may be firing up every other day when you are away. It will also help check your boiler isn't on for more than 4.5 hours normally. 

2. You have your water on for quite a long time 4.5 hrs. This seems a lot for the size of your household. It obviously depends on usage e..g  use of showers and baths., but still that seems high. Especially as you have a modern tank. Do you know the size of the tank? Have you tried reducing the time? 

3. I would check the thermostat on the tank to see if it is set at a too higher temperature.

4. I am not convinced the boiler is actually off when you are away. On first inspection it looks like it is still on and firing up every other day for a short time as the water in the tank has cooled down a bit naturally perhaps . 

5. It doesn’t look like you have a gas leak as you have a zero reading every other day when you are away. Unless it is something in the boiler when it is turned on. But you would certainly smell the gas leak then if it was happening. So i don't think it is that.

6. Unfortunately with a tank you will end up heating water you don't actually use. You have a modern tank so this will help, but some of the water will cool before you use it. That is not the larger issue you are seeing though i think. 

7. There is a small chance you have a leak on one of your hot water pipes from your boiler so you are heating water you are then loosing somewhere. But that doesn't explain the usage pattern when you are away. 

8. You could try downloading this app and seeing what is says for your gas readings, especially to see if the app can see your 30min readings. 

https://www.glowmarkt.com/

9. You are right, there is no way you should be using 800kWh of gas just for water heating. That would be 9600 kWh a year. A typical house only uses 12000kWh for heating and water according to the ofgem figures and most of that is for heating and not hot water. 

Does that help? 

62 replies

Newcomer
September 5, 2022

OFGEM quotes the average dual fuel user in their price cap tables as 12,000 kWh for gas and 3,100 kWh for electricity.  You may not think you are high users but the figures say otherwise.

Your home is bigger than most, Your occupancy is perhaps normal, but when you factor in a lot of other households is probably bigger than most.

When you say you have had new meters installed  because of high usage, have you noticed any difference in consumption?  @Blastoise186 is the expert, but I think that  when meters are replaced it is standard for the old ones to be sent for accuracy testing before they’re scrapped / reissued (if they’re smart meters).  If I’m correct, then if you hear nothing then the old meters were within calibration limits.

That would leave you with the inevitable conclusion that despite your beliefs, you are high users.  If the new prices are scaring you a bit (with your usage they’d scare me) then you perhaps need to look at why your usage is high and what to do about it.  Incentivising the family to turn things off when not being actively used might pay dividends.

Eon and EDF customer. Don't think smart meters are worth the expense.
Newcomer
October 4, 2022

The only gas usage I have today is between 1.30 and 2.30  but no one was home at that time so how were we using gas? 

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
October 5, 2022

It may have been a pilot light or your hot water tank running.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
October 5, 2022

Hey @Jan Obrien,

 

Welcome to the OVO Online Community.

 

@Blastoise186 has some good suggestions here.

 

It could also be residual gas left in the pipes that causes the meters to clock consumption. Do keep an eye on it though, if you are certain you are are not using any gas appliances it could mean you have a gas leak. These guides may be helpful:

 

 

 

Are you checking the smart meter reads to get this information? Are any of the reads estimated? 

 

 

Keep us posted!

Renewable Energy? Big Fan.
Newcomer
October 5, 2022

Think about your gas appliances and how they are set to operate. A combi might cycle to maintain internal temperature or a system boiler might fire to maintain tank temperature.  you could have a leak on your hot water pipes - lots of possibilities, but you should be able to work it out.

Eon and EDF customer. Don't think smart meters are worth the expense.
Newcomer
October 24, 2022

Hi, 

I haven't used any gas at all apart from washing a few dishes.

Shower is electric, limited to 1 Shower per day for 2 minutes.

My September/October gas reading was 20059 at the start of the new billing period and 20089 at the end of the billing period. Ovo has my usage as 344.16 KWh used.

My calculation is 20089 - 20059 = 30 KWh.

My manual meter reading in March 2020 was 17985.

My calculation is 20089 - 17985 = 2104 KWh over 30 months

But my Ovo account says I have used over 20,000 KWh since March 2020.

I very rarely put the heating on even before the new price increases.

I am very confused as my bill is still £170 per month with everything except the essentials turned off at all times.

My gas meter is a krom schroder bk-g4, I ignore the numbers in the red box.

Any help is appreciated.

 

Newcomer
October 24, 2022

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October 24, 2022

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Newcomer
October 24, 2022

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October 24, 2022

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