Sudden increase in usage after electrical work

[UNG]

I agree it's Combi boiler, so water cylinder no longer required.
But did the installers of the new boiler remove the cylinder ?
Has the old immersion heater been powered by the CU replacers ?

Not sure why your pushing the immersion heater route even if one had been left connected I would think it would have burnt out by now as the water evaporates from the cylinder also there would likely be a noticeable increased level of humidity / condensation in the property

 

[mainline]

I agree it's Combi boiler, so water cylinder no longer required.
But did the installers of the new boiler remove the cylinder ?
Has the old immersion heater been powered by the CU replacers ?

Op said : There are no immersion heaters or anything like that on the property.

 

[michael8554]

The water feed to the tank would keep the tank full.
But we'll see what the OP discovers at some point.

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

What tank, they have a combi.

 

[UNG]

The water feed to the tank would keep the tank full.
But we'll see what the OP discovers at some point.

Clearly you have little understanding of plumbing, when changing over to a combi it is normal to isolate the water feed to the tank so you can divert the hot water pipe from the tank to the combi boiler

 

[michael8554]

I have successfully installed a complete central heating and hot water system myself, so I do have a tiny amount of understanding

So I'm aware how a Combi should be installed.

My premise is that the combi was installed but the installer left the cylinder, pipework, and wiring.

Then the CU was changed and the electrician wired up the immersion and it's switched on.

The OP doesn't own the house so may be mistaken about "no immersion", we'll see, if he ever comes back after inspecting the house.

Has anyone come up with a likely solution yet ?

 

[mainline]

I have successfully installed a complete central heating and hot water system myself, so I do have a tiny amount of understanding

So I'm aware how a Combi should be installed.

My premise is that the combi was installed but the installer left the cylinder, pipework, and wiring.

Then the CU was changed and the electrician wired up the immersion and it's switched on.

The OP doesn't own the house so may be mistaken about "no immersion", we'll see, if he ever comes back after inspecting the house.

Has anyone come up with a likely solution yet ?

There are certain questions that the Op hasn't replied to yet.

But even if there is an immersion tank being heated, can you explain why there would be an increase in consumption to previous ? The hot water would now be supplied from the combi.

 

[michael8554]

The Immersion heater, if there was one for emergency use, was off, hot water was supplied by the gas boiler.
The new CU was installed, the electrician wired up all the existing circuits, and turned on all the breakers.
But I'm getting tired of saying the same thing over and over , so let's see what the real cause turns out to be.

 

[ProDave]

The Immersion heater, if there was one for emergency use, was off, hot water was supplied by the gas boiler.
The new CU was installed, the electrician wired up all the existing circuits, and turned on all the breakers.
But I'm getting tired of saying the same thing over and over , so let's see what the real cause turns out to be.

You are suggesting there is an immersion heater, heating a now unused tank. If so it would either have reached temperature and cut off, so it's usage would only be every now and then to make up for heat loss from the tank. That would not account for the extra usage. Or the tank would be sitting there boiling it's head off and the house would be full of steam, or worse.

But until the OP bothers to come back and tell us more, this will remain a mystery.

 

[UNG]

The Immersion heater, if there was one for emergency use, was off, hot water was supplied by the gas boiler.

I'm struggling with this I cannot think of any reason to leave a hot water cylinder full of water for an emergency the plumbing of change over valves would make it not worthwhile, then you also have to consider the potential health risks from legionella having stored water which would need regular heat cycles and tank pasteurisation to prevent it

The new CU was installed, the electrician wired up all the existing circuits, and turned on all the breakers.

So no local isolation on the immersion then or has the electrician accidentally turned that on as well

But I'm getting tired of saying the same thing over and over , so let's see what the real cause turns out to be.

If you took the time to read the posts countering your assumption you would not need to keep saying the same thing over and over

 

[mainline]

The Immersion heater, if there was one for emergency use, was off, hot water was supplied by the gas boiler.
The new CU was installed, the electrician wired up all the existing circuits, and turned on all the breakers.
But I'm getting tired of saying the same thing over and over , so let's see what the real cause turns out to be.

They could have had a Combi previously, and have now had a replacement Combi so never had an immersion in the first place.

The OP right from the start said that there is NO immersion heater or anything like it.

 

[Andy™]

surely im not the only one thinking the meter was bypassed and its now not bypassed?

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

The Immersion heater, if there was one for emergency use, was off, hot water was supplied by the gas boiler.
The new CU was installed, the electrician wired up all the existing circuits, and turned on all the breakers.
But I'm getting tired of saying the same thing over and over , so let's see what the real cause turns out to be.

Third liner of the OP's original post:-
"There are no immersion heaters or anything like that on the property".

 

[7029 Dave]

Could it be that most of the meter readings have been estimated, and now you have had an actual reading which has pushed up the amount of units used hence the high bill, or as mentioned it possibly be a faulty meter. I would contact your energy supplier and ask for an accuracy test on the meter.

 

[mainline]

Looks like the OP has deserted us.

Or maybe he's still looking for that illusive immersion tank

 

[mktdeeping]

Hi I am posting on behalf of my parents who are retired. In September they had a new consumer unit fitted, a new cable for the power supply to the garage installed and a new gas boiler installed. Since the work was completed their electricity usage has increased by about 500-600kWh per month. They were low users before so this is a shock. There are no immersion heaters or anything like that on the property. We have bought a whole house energy monitor which is showing quite high usage through the day with a peak during the evenings. They are just using a lamp and a tv in the evenings plus a fridge and freezer. It is causing a huge amount of stress. We are even considering if the new neighbours (it is a semi detached property) could be stealing the electricity. There are also new neighbours on the other side. I doubt this is the reason but we're going mad trying to figure it out. I don't know how to check if anyone else is stealing their supply. Could it be a faulty wire somewhere? The evening peak suggests its related to heating as they tend to put the heating on during the evening. But its a gas boiler so that idea may be daft. Can anyone suggest any possible reasons why this has happened or things that we can try please? Thank you.

Try turning everything off and seeing if the meter is still running.

 

[7029 Dave]

Try turning everything off and seeing if the meter is still running.

Known as a creepage test

 

[mainline]

Known as a creepage test

Are you sure ? I thought a creepage test was to do with the shortest distance between two conducting points.

 

[7029 Dave]

Are you sure ? I thought a creepage test was to do with the shortest distance between two conducting points.

That's what it was called at SSE

 

[mainline]

That's what it was called at SSE

Maybe someone misheard and what they actually said was leakage