
- August 28, 2021
- By Hollie Hammond
- Boiler Servicing
The majority of the homeowners do not pay attention to how much gas does a 24kw boiler use per hour or month. Winter in the UK is quite extreme, and sometimes the boiler has to work overtime. It is always worth checking the bills to ensure whether you are spending more than you are supposed to or not.
We at G.L. Plumbing and Gas Engineering are working relentlessly to help you with all your queries and problems. Thus, our expert team will tell you how much gas does a boiler use per hour. We will also have a detailed discussion on how to ensure that your boiler uses the right amount of gas.
Table of Contents
Factors deciding the amount of Gas a Boiler Uses:
The amount of gas a boiler uses in an hour or in a month depends on a few factors, such as the size, type, efficiency, age, and condition of the boiler. It also depends on the number of working hours of the boiler and how much cold air enters your home.
The size of a boiler is generally measured in kilowatts (kW). And this size typically ranges from 24 to 27 kilowatts, 28 to 34 kilowatts, and 35 to 42 kilowatts.
A boiler of 24 to 27 kilowatts is accurate for a house with ten radiators and one bathroom. At the same time, a boiler of 35 to 42 kilowatts is accurate for a large house with 20 radiators and three bathrooms.
How to find the amount of Gas used?
It is very easy to find out how much gas does a 24kW boiler use per hour. Check your gas bill for the month and calculate the amount of gas your boiler used.
Consider the gas consumption of all the appliances and find the gas consumption of the boiler by the number of hours it was used.
You can also find out how much gas does a 24kW boiler use per hour by using the kW and kWh calculations. A boiler of 24 kilowatts uses 24 kilowatt-hours of energy in an hour.
Suppose the cost of energy per kWh is 3.8 pence, then it would cost around 91 pence to run a boiler for an hour. However, this cost can vary depending on the cost of gas and electricity by the supplier in your area.
How to evaluate the efficiency of a Boiler?
The efficiency evaluation of gas boilers or any other residential or commercial heating system uses the Annual Fuel Utilisation Efficiency (AFUE).
If you have a new gas boiler, then the AFUE will be prominently displayed on the front of the boiler. AFUE is the ratio of the heat output of a boiler compared to the amount of gas it consumes in that same time period.
For example, the AFUE of your gas boiler is 90 percent. This means that 90 per cent of the gas consumption is converted into heat to warm your home. The remaining 10 percent of the gas consumption is lost by the gas boiler as exhaust.
The condensing gas boilers are much more efficient than the non-condensing boilers. The efficiency of the most efficient condensing gas boilers ranges from 88 per cent to 92 percent. The efficiency of a boiler is a major deciding factor on how much gas does a boiler use.
If you have an old model of a boiler, consider replacing it with a new boiler, especially with a non-condensing boiler. This way, you can save a larger amount of money on your annual gas bill.
How Much Gas Should a Gas Boiler Use?
It is impossible to present an accurate figure of how much gas does a 24KW boiler use per hour. But you can get an estimate by using the size of your boiler. A boiler of 24kW uses 24kWh of energy in an hour. So, if your boiler is on for five hours a day, then the daily energy consumption of your boiler should be about 120kWh.
There are times when homeowners notice a sudden increase in their energy consumption or energy bills. In cases like this, there might be a chance that your boiler is using more gas than necessary.
Before coming to any conclusion, check with your energy supplier to ensure that they have not increased the energy cost.
Keep in mind that the newer contracts often come with a standing charge that must be paid with the gas bill. Take a look at your bill copy to ensure whether you are using more kWh than you are supposed to or not.
Gas boilers usually run more in winter compared to summer. If you do not think that the gas boiler running time is causing this change in the bill, then there are probably some other reasons.
Factors Affecting your Boilers Efficiency:
Lack of Maintenance:
The most common factor that affects the efficiency of a boiler is the lack of maintenance. There are multiple boiler installation essex services who have experts ready to help you with your boiler.
Similar to any type of automobile, a neglected gas boiler uses more gas than a well-maintained gas boiler. It also experiences more failures and issues than any adequately maintained gas boiler.
Gas boilers require routine checkups once a year. It is better if the maintenance check happens before the winter season starts. The expert team of G.I. Plumbing and Gas expertly conducts maintenance checks and services boilers.
Old Age:
The efficiency rating of a gas boiler improves as more and more technology evolves surrounding the gas boilers. Generally, gas boilers that last for more than 15 years are very less efficient than the new gas boilers. There is a chance that your old and less efficient boiler will give up on you on a roughly cold night.
Excess Amount of Air:
The presence of excess air in the gas boiler’s combustion chamber absorbs energy from the gas. This causes a rise in temperature in the gas consumed by the boiler. Proper operation of a gas boiler requires a small amount of excess air to complete combustion. But too much air can significantly reduce the efficiency of a gas boiler and also contribute to pollution.
Poor Efficiency of the Home:
Even the most efficient boilers in the market cannot perform efficiently if your home is inefficient. This will increase the gas consumption of the boiler as it will have to work harder to keep your home warm. Air leaks and insufficient insulation of the home are the major causes of high gas bills.
How to Improve the Efficiency of a Gas Boiler?
There is no need to sacrifice the comfort of a warm home just because the gas bills are high. If you are in fear of how much gas does a boiler use per hour then Don’t worry! As you can use these few tips to improve the efficiency of your gas boiler:
Scheduled Maintenance:
Scheduled boiler maintenance will not only improve its efficiency but will also decrease the chance of unexpected boiler breakdowns. The technician will make several important checks during boiler maintenance. These checks include:
- Testing the controls,
- Checking the pressure and temperature readings,
- Lubricating the moving parts,
- Checking the water level of the boiler,
- Inspecting whether there are any leaks in the pipes or not,
- Cleaning the gas burner and other necessary parts of the gas boiler.
Monitor the Gas Boiler:
Closely monitor your gas boiler to ensure that every part of it is running smoothly. Check the levels of water once every two weeks and check whether there are any leaks or not. Monitor the gas temperature of the boiler and keep it between 70 to 80 degrees.
Increase the Efficiency of Your Home:
During winter, seal all the air leaks in your home to keep warm air inside and cold air outside of the home. Sealing the air leaks will ensure that your gas boiler does not consume more gas than required. Seal around the doors and windows, lighting fixtures, exterior wall outlets, and make sure that you have sufficient attic installation.
Replace the Thermostat:
Invest and install a new and advanced thermostat if your home has an older version. A new and programmable thermostat can efficiently reduce the cost of your gas bills significantly. It will also help the boiler in providing more comfort and warmth to your home.
Use the Ceiling Fans:
Flip the switch at the top and reverse the direction of the ceiling fans in winter. The blades of the fan will rotate in the reverse direction and push down the warm air near the ceiling into the room. This solution will reduce the overall gas consumption of a boiler and keep you warm at the same time.
Is It Time to Replace the Boiler?
If you are wondering how much is a boiler or is it time for you to get a new gas boiler installed, a few rules may come in handy. You will have to replace your boiler with a new one if:
- The gas boiler requires repair at least once every six months.
- Nothing much has changed, except for the cost of the gas bills.
- Leaks on the pipes of the gas boiler are more frequent.
- The age of the gas boiler is more than 15 years.
- Notice too much change in temperature throughout the day while using the boiler
How Much Gas Does a Boiler Pilot Light Consume?
A pilot light is a small flame in a gas boiler that burns continuously. The pilot light remains lit at all times as it ignites the main burner when the boiler has to be turned on. It uses a small amount of gas as it continues to stay lit up all day and night.
A pilot light consumes gas that costs up to £82 a year. The advanced boilers are fitted with an electric ignition instead of a pilot light. If your gas boiler comes with a pilot light, then it is probably time for you to look for a new advanced boiler.
A new boiler is much more efficient and can help you to save the amount of gas that the pilot light consumes.
It is essential to ensure that your gas boiler is efficient if you want to keep your gas consumption and gas bills at a reasonable level. If you maintain and service your gas boiler once every year, it will run efficiently for a longer period of time.
Final Words:
There is no accurate value of how much gas does a 24kW boiler use per hour. But you can always make sure that the gas boiler does not consume more gas than it is supposed to.
For emergency boiler installation services essex contact us. Aside from Boiler Installations we provide boiler servicing, boiler breakdown and repair, along with a range of other plumbing and gas engineering services locally.