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This lightbulb

30 replies

Chocolate1985 · 09/05/2016 19:38

Rental property how do we change it ? Someone said it isn't the actual bulb but sowmething else we change ? Can someone explain to me as if doing an idiots guide please , I feel daft enough posting this !

This lightbulb
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cestlavielife · 09/05/2016 20:05
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Perbsy · 09/05/2016 20:10

They're on a springy bit at the end, you push the long bulb towards one end and they ping out.

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specialsubject · 09/05/2016 20:23

It is either the fluorescent tube or the starter that has failed. Have you got any other fittings like this so you can swap and test?

If the tube is dead, it goes to your nearest recycling centre next time you are passing.

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PigletJohn · 09/05/2016 20:33

changing the starter is easy and cheap. I'd try that first. It is twist and pull like a bayonet lightbulb. Take out the old one so you can buy a matching new one (there are a few types). Hardware stores like Wilkinson sell the more common ones.

You will have to take the old tube to the tip (unless your electrical supplier has a recycling box) and don't break the glass due to the mercury content.

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Chocolate1985 · 09/05/2016 21:03

Hi all no it's the oldest looking light fitting in house the rest are all modern fittings we do have units nearby that could stand on to change it . It's been dead a while but sometimes flick it on by mistake and there's a tiny bit of light for a few seconds . Thanks everyone for replying and I will check out the link cestlavielife posted . On a drive to get more organised around the house !

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specialsubject · 09/05/2016 23:12

Might be worth a word with the landlord. Bulbs are your responsibility but worth asking if he would change the fitting for a modern ones. These tubes do guzzle energy and I wouldn't have left one in a rental. I changed it in my house so my tenants get the same.

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Chocolate1985 · 10/05/2016 19:36

Thanks special subject to be honest the ones linked in post didn't look that expensive to replace £3 however interested to hear they are energy guzzling as our gas and electricity bills do seem to be quite large even though we are at work all day and don't tend to have much usage at night .

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PigletJohn · 10/05/2016 20:10

They're nowhere near as bad as Halogens or incandescent bulbs, or, especially, downlighters.

A kitchen might have a 4 foot tube which is 36 watts.

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specialsubject · 10/05/2016 21:15

perhaps the house has those too?

have you done supplier comparisons, OP?

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PigletJohn · 10/05/2016 21:31

If your house is fitted entirely with energy-saving lamps, each of them will run for at least 50 hours on 10p worth of electricity. Extractor fan, about the same, less if very modern.

Have a look at your actual meter readings (not the bill or the monthly payment which may include estimates) and see how many kWh per day you are using.

BTW, a tumble drier will only run for 20minutes for 10p.

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Chocolate1985 · 10/05/2016 22:17

To be honest we tend to sit with lamps on as all of the light fittings in the house tend to be little halogen bulbs so we have lamps with energy saving bulbs . I actually emailed the supplier when we got our last bill as that was £531 for a quarter . Now it was winter but we had heating on about two hours at night hot water on about an hour as it's an old fashioned boiler where you need to turn water on separately one tv and no other really excessive usage of anything else except tumble dryer ? A friend said that having her hot water on separately had caused her to have expensive bills . I always send meter readings in though so just unsure of where the excess usage is coming from like I say we aren't in until 5.30 at night and tend to be in bed 10.30? If any of you have any tips or anything to point me where we are going wrong let me know as don't think we can handle another massive bill !

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PigletJohn · 10/05/2016 22:30

Halogens are not energy saving.

Do you mean you have a hot-water cylinder that is heated by an electric immersion heater? That is much more expensive than gas. What colour is it?

Can you work out the kWh per day from the meter readings (if you have stopped using the heating now the warm weather has come, it will drop dramatically)

It would be useful if you can tell me the metered usage for gas and for electricity, and the dates it covers.

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Chocolate1985 · 10/05/2016 22:43

don't have a separate hot water cylinder everything works off the boiler (installed 2008) and there's a switch which has three settings one to heat water , one for heating and a timer we don't use . Bathroom and lounge have light fittings which have about five halogen bulbs in them which we don't tend to switch on the lights in bedrooms are normal overheard bulbs but again tend to only be in bedroom with lamp on . I can post again with the last meter readings will need to log into account . Thanks

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Chocolate1985 · 10/05/2016 22:51

Meter readings:40786 for electricity December till March and gas was 08451. this is for a couple in a two bedroom house . Just wondering we use a small electric oven one of those worktop ones would that cause a higher use of electricity ? We have two televisions but tend to only have on. I compared my bill with my aunt and uncle who have three children and who admit they have a lot of appliances on (also have my gran living with them so they have heating on a lot for her ) and their quarterly bill was only in the 300£ region so I definitely think we are missing out somewhere .

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PigletJohn · 10/05/2016 23:31

Are those the meter readings for the end of the period? To work out usage we also need to know the readings (and dates) for the beginning of the period.

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MargotLovedTom · 10/05/2016 23:48

Shock £531 for a quarter in a two bed house??!!! We pay about £70 per month gas AND electric for family of five in a three bed house (with a stupid amount of halogen spotlights thanks to previous owners).

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PigletJohn · 10/05/2016 23:54

We don't know yet, but it might be based on Actual meter readings for the winter quarter, rather than regular monthly payments averaged over the year.

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Chocolate1985 · 11/05/2016 09:08

Previous bill September to November the readings wer 39618 for electricity and 07744. I know its ridiculous what we are paying and have read several things about the provider sending people wrong bills . We have never relied upon estimated bills always enter meter readings .

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BombadierFritz · 11/05/2016 09:18

For our calculations we have used the following annual energy usage amounts which are based on industry figures:

(1) Small House / Flat - gas usage of 8,000kWh and an electricity usage of 2,000kWh
(2) Medium House - gas usage of 12,500kWh and an electricity usage of 3,100kWh
(3) Large House - gas usage of 18,000kWh and an electricity usage of 4,600kWh

Those are npower estimates of average annual usage

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BombadierFritz · 11/05/2016 09:23

So in november your elec was at 39618 and then in march it was at 40786? Usage = 1168?

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BombadierFritz · 11/05/2016 09:25

Gas 7744 to 8451 so usage =707?

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PigletJohn · 11/05/2016 09:32

If that's for a 90 day period, the electricity is 13kWh per day, which is not unusual for winter (about £1.30 to £1.50 per day). It would come down in summer if you use the tumble drier less and if you have any electric heaters.

For gas it is 707 cubic metres which, if for 90 days, is almost 8 a day which is a bit high but not abnormal for winter. It is equivalent to about 88kWh. In the region of £4 per day. You can reduce your winter heating costs with good insulation and draughtproofing. I gather you use a timer to restrict the heating hours. What temperature do you set your room thermostat? How thick is the loft insulation? How old is the house?

If the time period is not 90 days, my daily use estimates need to be recalculated.

Now that the warm weather has come, I presume your heating is off and your gas usage is no more than 1 cu.metre per day. Have a look.

Cost of running the TV is not important, neither are energy-saving bulbs. Halogens, spots and downlighter are very wasteful. The lights to improve first are ones that are on for long periods, such as hall, landing, porch, living room. People will worry about phone chargers, but they are tiny users even if you have dozens.

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BombadierFritz · 11/05/2016 10:03

If it is for 90 days, how much are you paying per unit op? Are you on a good tariff?

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Chocolate1985 · 11/05/2016 12:38

Hi I would need to check my bills to see price of exact unit the tariff I am on is the one that Was arranged by the landlord or previous tenants ? The thermostat on heating is about 20 and have definitely not had that on lately or tumble dryer . House is about 25 years old needs a bit of work but in a bit of a situation as landlord wants to sell if we ever (doubtful ) ge a mortgage and would intend to do it up then as regards Windows and new boilers etc weirdly enough just got a reminder in for meter readings for this quarter so once w have taken them will be able to notice difference or not since the last bill . Thanks everyone for your help one good thing about summer is reduction in using heating and tumble dryers and lights etc

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BombadierFritz · 11/05/2016 12:52

Are you sure the first reading was correct and you were not paying the previous tenants part of the bill? Definitely check your tarif as you could be paying double for no real reason

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