Hot water how long on for ?

[janet0001]

Hi all

Trying to think of ways to save energy.. how long do you have your boiler on for and what times, and are you planning to reduce this over winter? Also what temperature is yours on? I read somewhere you shouldn't need to add cold to the hot water to help efficiency?

Thanks

Interested to see your replies. As of yesterday I'm putting hot water on once a day - first thing in morning instead of twice a day. There was hot water to wash the pots and things that don't go in the dishwasher in the evening.
Unsure how to calculate whether it's more economical/efficient - as we run off a gas tank and meter readings for usage are unreliable!

Depends how much hot water you need
Mine is on for 1 hour per day. My appliances are cold fill and I have an electric shower that heats its own water so only need it for some dishes that don't go in the dishwasher and the odd bath.

Thank you - going to try an hour in the morning and evening and see how we get on!

Is this for an immersion heater OP? My mum had one, it's on for half hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. That's enough for everyone to get washed in the morning and do the breakfast dishes by hand, and enough for 2 small baths and the days washing up from dinner/tea in the evening. When you wash your hands during the day the water is tepid. It's set on a timer so it's ready when the first person gets up in the morning and nobody has to remember to switch it on in the evening. You can't have hot water below 60°c or you risk legionnaires disease. That's why you dilute with cold water when running a bath etc.

My combi boiler won't let you turn the water down below 60°c anyway. I have the hot water set to only come on when the tap is turned on, so a little cold comes out first until the water heats up. It costs more to have instant hot water because the boiler is constantly heating up a small reservoir of hot water to the set temperature 24/7.

If its like my set up there is a hot water cylinder that is heated by the gas boiler rather than an immersion heater. Mine only heats the water for 1 hour per day and that seems to be enough for us.