Most energy efficient way to heat water in summer - boiler or emersion?

[pinkground202]

In winter out boiler is on for 2 hours in the morning and then on again at 4.30 until 10, this means we have enough hot water (and heat) for the day.

In summer we don't need the heating on but we have the boiler on the same cycle but each individual radiator is turned off.

What I'm wondering is, is that an energy efficient way to heat the water? Would we be better to use the emersion and switch it on when needed.

I'm clueless, grateful for any advice!

Our hot water is only on for an hour or 2 twice a day and that's plenty. Shower is electric so heats it's own water and appliances are cold fill. Gas is cheaper to use than electric

Do you have separate controls for heating and hot water? I can have the water on but not the heating

Is your boiler gas or oil?
Why can't you then off the heating and just have hot water? If you turn off the radiators all summer you may find they stick when you come to use them again.
I have an oil boiler and I've tried both methods. The immersion heater gives you got water quicker but mine has no timer so I have to remember to turn it on or off. I left it permanently on one summer but I don't think that was cost effective. Using the boiler is cheaper.

I can't seem to turn off the heat and just have hot water. We've just insulted the house and put in new windows, so when we've recovered from that we'll upgrade the boiler or maybe put in a heat pump system.

We don't have a timer on the emersion so you're right it would be a nuisance turning it on and off.

energy from electricity costs about four and a half times as much as energy from gas, so it is much cheaper to use the boiler.

The boiler will be more efficient if you run it for half an hour before, and during, peak usage times, so it is not constantly topping up small usages.

What colour is your cylinder, and how long are the pipes between boiler and cylinder? it will be more efficient if you lag these pipes. No doubt your cylinder is already insulated, but some photos of the cylinder, boiler and pipes will help with other suggestions.

Sorry i should have said it's gas central heating

The cylinder is copper and is upstairs while the boiler is downstairs. The house is incredibly well insulated now, even in winter we barely need the heat on.

"I can't seem to turn off the heat and just have hot water"

that's bad. As well as the photos mentioned earlier, please photograph your programmer/timer, and the controls on the boiler. Look for the pump and the motorised valve, if any.

Look for a thermostat strapped to the side of the cylinder, probably hidden under the insulation, but with an electrical flex leading to it.

have you got a room thermostat on the wall?

Do you mean the cylinder is bare copper?

It should at least have a red jacket or two.

Thanks @PigletJohn I'm out now but will take photos when I'm home.

The plumber who was here recently showed me how to turn off the heating and just have the hot water on, but when I do that the boiler doesn't like it and when I realise there's no hot water and check the boiler the red light is on and I have to restart the boiler. This doesn't happen if I leave the heating on on the controller but turn the rads off. I hope that makes sense.

We do have a jacket for the cylinder, is it worth having a second?

No thermostats in the rooms, and rads are just on at full blast or off rather than being able to have them warm. However this isn't really an issue as the insulation is so good we only have them on for a minimal time.

It's really the hot water that I'm trying to work out!

Ours is controlled through a timer in the kitchen so you don't touch the boiler. Times can be set separately for hearing and hot water