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Rank 2
August 31, 2022
Solved

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

M.isterW
Rank 6
Rank 6
October 24, 2022

It looks like your meter is reading gas volume. That's converted to kWh before you're billed.

 

Your gas meter should show on the front what it is recording (it's likely to be cubic meters but you should check). Then you can use a calculator on the internet to convert it to kWh. Note that the calorific value of gas does vary a small amount so an internet calculator might give a slightly different figure to your bill.

1992 4 bed detached house. Solar PV + battery, Zappi EV charger, Mitsubishi Ecodan ASHP and i-life2 fan assisted radiators.... No gas 😊
Newcomer
October 24, 2022

Thanks M.IsterW.

This makes sense, it is measured in m3.

Although it still seems high, I haven't had any heating on and only used hot water.

I'm trying to use zero energy, but to no avail.

Newcomer
October 24, 2022

It looks like your meter is reading gas volume. That's converted to kWh before you're billed.

 

Your gas meter should show on the front what it is recording (it's likely to be cubic meters but you should check). Then you can use a calculator on the internet to convert it to kWh. Note that the calorific value of gas does vary a small amount so an internet calculator might give a slightly different figure to your bill.

Thanks M.IsterW.

This makes sense, it is measured in m3.

Although it still seems high, I haven't had any heating on and only used hot water.

I'm trying to use zero energy, but to no avail.

Jeffus
Rank 20
Rank 20
October 24, 2022

As @M.isterW says you can't simply subtract the meter reading for gas unfortunately.

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.

 

This isn't correct. 20089 and 20059 are not kWh readings, so the 30 isn't a kWh usage. 

Your monthly kWh figures on the usage page look very typical for a user like you yourself.

If you look on your bill there is more info if you really want to see all the details on the calculation. Here is mine for example

 

Newcomer
November 27, 2022

I’m concerned there’s something wrong somewhere, either the boiler or the meter. Saturday the 26th saw two showers had and a bit of washing up. No heating and no cooking, but I’ve been charged £4.60 for gas use alone! 
 

Has anyone else found prices are this ridiculous or do I likely have a fault somewhere? 
 

Thanks 

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
November 27, 2022

Hi you would be best starting with your meter readings .. check if they are estimated or actual. Then you can check against price

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}
Newcomer
November 27, 2022

I submit a meter reading every day! 

juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
November 27, 2022

Can you show the kWh screen for those days please. Can you see half hourly usage too ? Your meter may not be set for half hourly readings but if it is it makes it much easier to check how things are running.

Ah… late to the party !!

Newcomer
November 27, 2022

It’s not connected to the smart meter as the wall is too thick to pick up the signal, so I do a manual reading every day (when I remember) to try and stay on top of it. What’s confusing me is that the days where we’ve had the heating on for a few hours are coming in at the same cost or less! 

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
November 27, 2022

Do you have those readings ? If so each days use can be calculated 

Bring me Sunshine ~ E&E {Solar PV, Battery Storage, Hybrid EV, ASHP and Home Assistant automation}