). It would make sense to use the electric immersion instead on overnight 6.7p electricity, but would need a time switch fitting and also not sure of its longevity given it's meant as a boost / backup..
👍 - I'm doing exactly that (having done the same analysis finding it's cheaper using off-peak leccy then gas).
... using one of these 😎 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Immersion-H..._df_B0C3M6VB68
... which I wired after the immersion switch itself (which you can see stays on)
The WiFi smart switch can be setup with timer schedules as required, and controlled from your phone or switched manually
@meldrewreborn how do the solar thermal panels differ from normal solar panels? Is it just like a single panel?
Normal solar panels are photovoltaic ie produce electricity whereas solar thermal heat water, which then heats your tank via a heat exchanger (and can get very hot so might need some thermostatic control to prevent over heating)
They're widely used in Mediterranean regions and also by a lot of off-grid users, and very easy to make yourself such as this example
the water gets gradually heated by the sun, and circulates through some extra coils in the hot water tank. Gradually the return water gets hotter and is then heated even more in the panel and the temperature of the circulating fluid gradually rises during the day. I’ve seen the system shut down with the panel temp @ 150c!. The tank temp is limited to 75c for safety purposes. The pipework cannot use solder as this would melt. And the system has to contain glycol to prevent freezing in winter. Electricity powers the circulation pump.
the saving depend on the size of the panels, your hot water consumption, and the fuel you normally heat your water with. In terms of kWh, I think my 2 panels saves me between 2,000 and 2,500 kWh per annum. My panels displace gas so the cash savings are comparatively modest. The savings are very substantially in the summer months, with very little in the winter.
my gas consumption in the summer months falls close to zero.
Current Eon Next customer, ex EDF, Zog and Symbio. Don't think dual fuel saves money and think the smart meter programme is a waste of our money. Chronologically Gifted. If I offend let me know by private message, but I’ll continue to express my opinions nonetheless.
@DebF_EONNext..the saving depend on the size of the panels, your hot water consumption, and the fuel you normally heat your water with.
However the capital cost of installing such a system makes it pretty much questionable - replacing a tank for one with 2 heat exchanger coils (assuming you haven't already got one and you're going to retain the c/h exchanger coil) comes in at around £500 before you even start looking at the coils; pipework; controls etc.
So a (low) guesstimate in excess of £750 ... I'm heating my water for less than an hour on cheap rate Next Drive leccy with an electric immersion heater, so say around 2kWh @ 4p = 8p per day, would take me about 25 years to pay back 🤣
Thanks @meldrewreborn we had solar on our roof when we first moved in here, it heated the hot water and the underfloor heating so I assume this is what they were too. It's unfortunate when the roof was repaired they weren't replaced.
I have tried to convince my landlord to install an ASHP as we qualify for a discount through a council initiative, but they like the current set up - living rural we are completely off grid so they weighed up what was most cost effective for them. Sticking with a dual fuel wood/coal burning stove was the answer however it's not the greatest for the environment. I am very keen to explore heat pumps more though, so reading threads like this help a lot!
I'm using the immersion heater on the cheap night rate of Next Drive Smart tariff which is well below gas or oil prices currently.
Unfortunately the dishwasher and washing machine are cold fill but generally they run at night anyway.
Immersion is on for 2 hours max so 6 kWh per day would be the most it uses, 2190 kWh per year, but in general I will be heating with oil when the prices are in a more normal position.
So long as we’re making sensible choices utilising the facilities available to us that’s good. As shown above, there are many factors like location and ownership/ rental status that comes into it. like many I don’t have an EV.
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