oil usage - any comparisons?

[Ixia]

We've recently had a condensing oil boiler installed (Bosch Camry 18/25), it runs 13 radiators and a pressurised Santon (megaflo type) cylinder in our Victorian end terrace. But we're struggling with the amount of oil it's using, approx 500l per month. The heating is on 3 hours in the morning, 4hrs at night. The house has more than adequate loft insulation, double glazing and solid walls.

Given that 500l of oil would last us all winter in our last house, does anyone feel that this is excessive? I've spoken to our plumber but tbh we don't have a lot of faith in him

Any advice would be appreciated.

Ixia

 

[JoceAndChris]

Not surprised you've woken at 2.23am to worry about this! Yes, that seems excessive to me, we've used about 700l over the whole winter for a similar set up of radiators and very old Rayburn Nouvelle. But others please comment!

 

[MdB]

500l/month does sound an awful lot to me.

 

[dragonfly]

500L lasts me about 3-4 months over the winter, heating hot water and 10 radiators. I think you might have a problem!!

 

[DaveBrigg]

Is your tank secure? A friend with a tank in his front garden managed to 'use' nearly 500 litres in less than a week - he now has a lock fitted.

 

[Ixia]

Thanks for the replies. The plumber has checked today, rebalanced all the system, so we'll see.

Dave - the first thing we did after the first refill was put a padlock on it, not that oil theft is a big thing here (you can only run so far in any direction before dropping into the Irish sea -lol.)

 

[JoceAndChris]

I just have to share this. 900 litres was put into our tank 2 weeks ago by accident for free.

It was meant to go to a neighbour who also lives up a dirt track but they got muddled. I love Lincolnshire!

 

[Ixia]

Maybe that's our mistake, we moved from the Lincs/Notts border, though we never benefited from free oil deliveries!

However, we called out a drains company a couple of months ago, they unblocked next doors drains instead of ours :roll: Not really that good a bargain for them as there was nothing wrong with their drains in the first place .

 

[chuckey]

From my experiance we use 1/2 of our years gas during this quarter so oil useage would be correspondingly higher. Is the boiler actually condensing - plumes of white smoke (actually water vapour) when its running, also when its just heating the DHW it will be very inefficient. The point to think about is that the boiler make up the difference between the indoors temp and the outdoors temp. So if the outdoor temp. is 10 deg C and the indoor is 18 deg C then the boiler has to output 8 units of heat, if the outdoor temp is 0 deg C then the boiler has to output 18 units of heat, i.e. 2 1/4 times more. Reducing the thermostat's setting by 1 deg C would save you 12.5% in the first case and about 5% in the second.
Frank

 

[Ixia]

Thanks for the advice chuckey. Yes, the boiler is visibly condensing. We're actually waiting for the addition of a solar panel (long story) as the cylinder has a twin coil, so that should help with the DHW costs, once we have sorted out the planning app.