Comments on: 14 energy-efficient ways to cut bills this winter http://www.propertypal.com/property-news/14-energy-efficient-ways-to-cut-bills-this-winter Property News from Northern Ireland Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Property Pal http://www.propertypal.com/property-news/14-energy-efficient-ways-to-cut-bills-this-winter/comment-page-1#comment-3266 Property Pal Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:14:25 +0000 http://www.propertypal.com/property-news/?p=605#comment-3266 Hi Robert The most efficient setup really depends on how you use your hot water. The energy saving trust has this to say on the subject. From www.energysavingtrust.org.uk --- "We think it is best to only switch your hot water on when it is required; for most people this will be once in the morning and once in the evening. If you don't use a whole tank of hot water in the morning and the tank is well insulated, you might be able to get away with it coming on once in the morning only (just before you get up) and still have enough hot water to do the dishes at dinner time. As every home has different hot water needs, it may take a bit of trial and error to find the best solution for your household. It is worth checking that you have at least 75mm (3") of insulation around your tank and topping it up with an extra jacket (these only cost around £12), as this will minimise the heat lost from your tank between heating periods." --- From my own experience my hot water tank stays hot throughout the day even when it isn't being heated so when the boiler does come on again in the evening, it doesn't have to work very hard to get it back to the ideal temperature. I suggest you test this by running the hot tap a short time before your boiler is due to come on. If you are still getting hot water it is probably not necessary to have your boiler on all day. If you would like any further advice on you may like to contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012, their phone lines are normally very busy but they have a ring back service. Hi Robert

The most efficient setup really depends on how you use your hot water. The energy saving trust has this to say on the subject.

From http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
—
“We think it is best to only switch your hot water on when it is required; for most people this will be once in the morning and once in the evening. If you don’t use a whole tank of hot water in the morning and the tank is well insulated, you might be able to get away with it coming on once in the morning only (just before you get up) and still have enough hot water to do the dishes at dinner time. As every home has different hot water needs, it may take a bit of trial and error to find the best solution for your household. It is worth checking that you have at least 75mm (3″) of insulation around your tank and topping it up with an extra jacket (these only cost around £12), as this will minimise the heat lost from your tank between heating periods.”
—

From my own experience my hot water tank stays hot throughout the day even when it isn’t being heated so when the boiler does come on again in the evening, it doesn’t have to work very hard to get it back to the ideal temperature.

I suggest you test this by running the hot tap a short time before your boiler is due to come on. If you are still getting hot water it is probably not necessary to have your boiler on all day.

If you would like any further advice on you may like to contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012, their phone lines are normally very busy but they have a ring back service.

]]> By: Robert Wiltshire http://www.propertypal.com/property-news/14-energy-efficient-ways-to-cut-bills-this-winter/comment-page-1#comment-3265 Robert Wiltshire Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:57:16 +0000 http://www.propertypal.com/property-news/?p=605#comment-3265 These are all good tips. What I would like to know is it more effeicient to leave your hot water tank on 24hrs and turn the thermostat down? rather than having it on a timer say twice a day! Mine is set to 45 degrees C but is left on all the time. I have done this because I have heard that well insulated tanks use less energy to maintain a constant temperature rather than being heated from cold. Is this true? These are all good tips. What I would like to know is it more effeicient to leave your hot water tank on 24hrs and turn the thermostat down? rather than having it on a timer say twice a day! Mine is set to 45 degrees C but is left on all the time. I have done this because I have heard that well insulated tanks use less energy to maintain a constant temperature rather than being heated from cold.

Is this true?

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