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Original poster

Does anyone know if this comment about combi boilers is true?

21 replies

Nayeds · 30/01/2019 21:38

We've had a smart meter fitted recently. It's been rinsing our pre-paid meter (gas not electric as this seems reasonable). So today husband phones up our gas supplier. After asking if we have all the radiators on, and replying with "no, we only keep on two in the house because it's too expensive to have them ALL on", my husband was told the following: you need to have all radiators on a low setting to balance them out as the boiler is "dry servicing" the ones that are off. He went on to say that because the boiler is using so much effort on those two radiators, it's costing us more than if they were off. Now I'm no gas engineer but this seemed weird to me. I've searched Google and can find NOTHING to back up gas supplier's claim. Does anyone know anything about this? What is the truth? Does turning some all radiators really save on the gas bill?

OP posts:

WhereAreAllTheUsernames · 30/01/2019 21:44

Sorry don't know but I'm hoping someone can enlighten us both !

BrokenWing · 30/01/2019 21:53

Sounds like bollocks to me, but I'm no expert

Dancer12345 · 30/01/2019 22:03

I have a combi boiler and have some radiators turned off. I’ve never heard this, but hopefully someone else will know!

juniperbushes · 30/01/2019 22:06

Sounds like a load of bull to me.

However... are you using the two radiators to just heat the rooms they are in, or are they heating the whole house? If so, then the boiler will have to be on for a lot longer than if you had all the radiators on.

Drogosnextwife · 30/01/2019 22:10

Well I've heard from loads of people that it's more cost effective to keep your heating on all the time at 17° ( I think anyway) than switching it on and off. Try it for a while and see I suppose that the only way to check.

brokenhead · 30/01/2019 22:12

How much gas are you using per week, in money?

My husband is a gas engineer
He will help you understand this..

Our gas is about £90 a month and our heating is on at 23 degrees on the thermostat...

Where is your thermostat is it in the cold part of the house xx

Original poster

Nayeds · 30/01/2019 22:18

Brokenwing it's sounds like bollox to me too tbh.

*juniper bushes" we use one in the hallway as it won't turn off lol and one in the living room for warmth. Yes, just to heat the room. We keep the doors closed to not let the heat escape.

Drogosnextwife Yes, this may be the only solution but I'll try it when I can afford more gas jic.

I'm hoping someone with knowledge on boilers will come along. Fingers crossed. If not guess it's try and see.

The bit that's pissing me off is that I can't find ANYTHING that remotely resembles what he said! I found something on balancing radiators but this was related to bleeding them and the same post said to set radiators to the frost setting in this weather. Also, I can see why the providers would lie as to cover up their extortionate rates! We're switching in two weeks time anyway, but I'd like to know the answer either way.

OP posts:

epicclusterfuck · 30/01/2019 22:19

Would it depend where in the house your thermostat is?

welliwasntexpectingthat · 30/01/2019 22:29

If the burner is on it will make almost no difference to have all rads on.

mummmy2017 · 30/01/2019 22:32

I thought the system heated the water and passed it round the system, so why would it cost anymore to just send it round them all?

Original poster

Nayeds · 30/01/2019 22:40

epicclusterfuck yes the radiator near the thermostat should be on to save money and that one is on for us.

Mummy2017 because the circulating water would have to be reheated in larger quantities when more rads are on.

I just also found out the leave heating on constantly to save money is a myth according to British gas and other providers And if they are telling you to not use more, you know it's true. Unless it's a bluff but I'm being paranoid now!

OP posts:

welliwasntexpectingthat · 30/01/2019 22:42

If the burner is on (to heat) and the pump (to push it round) which both will be then there's very little cost saving.

HildegardCrowe · 30/01/2019 22:53

I've just had a new combi fitted and found that it switches itself on and off before desired room temp is being reached because I only have two rads on. This is because it heats up the water very quickly and with only two rads on, needs to switch off to avoid overheating. I've been advised to have all 10 rads in my house set on appropriate TRV setting so that the hot water has somewhere to go and this will stop it switching on and off which costs money and causes wear and tear (apparently). As I live on my own though, I don't much like the idea of heating rooms I don't use , even if in some rooms it's just enough to take the chill off.

brokenhead · 30/01/2019 22:53

No he didn't say what they told you is right
He said how much is your bill and he will try to explain what the costs are

But you should have all rads on at a running level to save energy

BikeRunSki · 30/01/2019 22:57

Thus sounds like awuestikn for @pigletjohn

FixTheBone · 30/01/2019 23:01

The other thing to look at is if there is a 'comfort mode' for the hot water - keeps the water hot for instant use - disabling it will save some money.

PigletJohn · 30/01/2019 23:50

"my husband was told the following: you need to have all radiators on a low setting to balance them out as the boiler is "dry servicing" the ones that are off. He went on to say that because the boiler is using so much effort on those two radiators, it's costing us more than if they were off."

it is incomprehensible.

i won't say it is nonsense because I can't guess what they mean. but it looks like it.

Original poster

Nayeds · 31/01/2019 01:41

I thought as much John. Any excuse as to not take blame I think it was with them.

OP posts:

Original poster

Nayeds · 31/01/2019 01:45

Yeah I have got the hot water level sorted.

OP posts:

zebakrheum · 01/02/2019 17:43

I hate my combi boiler with a passion and can't wait to get rid of the sodding thing. Water takes ages to run hot out of the taps (even the one right next to the bloody boiler) and it has a mind of its own about whether or not to heat the water at all if the central heating isn't on as well. It is also far noisier than my old boiler.
Really miss my airing cupboard as well.

HopeClearwater · 02/02/2019 17:33

Really miss my airing cupboard as well

^^This!!
I can’t afford the money or upheaval involved in going back to the water tank and ordinary boiler arrangement but I would love to be able to.

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