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Do Combi-Boilers effectively 'waste' water?


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Pour it in your washing machine?

 

What?...That's even worse!

 

So now to be a fully fledged (honorary) Yorkshire man, I've got to collect the water being run from the sink into a bowl, do my ablutions in it, and then pour it in the washing machine?

 

Get a grip now Pete, be sensible

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As others have said, the issue is not a combi boiler versus boiler and water tank issue. Water is wasted because the point of use (your tap) is a long way from the source of hot water (tank or combi boiler). If you don't use the tap for a while, the water standing in the pipe cools down - thus you've wasted the energy you spent in heating it up in the first place, and you need to run this cold water away before getting any new hot water. Ideally, your hot water tank or combi boiler would be immediately next to the tap, so there would be no need to run off any cold water.

 

In the case of large buildings such as offices, large apartments etc, having long pipe runs between the hot tank and the taps can result in a big energy cost. in these cases it is usual to provide a hot water circuit by pumping from the hot water tank around in a loop and back into the tank. This pipe is well insulated and there is very little heat loss. The loop runs close to the taps, such that there is only a short spur of pipe which could cool down.

 

Domestically, this isn't usually enough of a problem to require a hot water circuit(although I don't know how big Morris Mansions is),

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What?...That's even worse!

 

So now to be a fully fledged (honorary) Yorkshire man, I've got to collect the water being run from the sink into a bowl, do my ablutions in it, and then pour it in the washing machine?

 

Get a grip now Pete, be sensible

 

So throwing water down the drain is "effectively" a combi issue? Most taps are within a few meters or so from the entrance to a washer..how difficult is that?

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Pete,one bloke I know uses rain water for flushing the loo,he went barmy when someone flushed it.He also puts one cup of water in the kettle.

 

My old house mate when I was at uni used to insist on doing this. He'd pour the water out of the kettle to ensure that there was only one cup to boil and make his coffee. Then after he's made his coffee we'd have to re-fill the kettle and boil again to make our tea/coffee.

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As others have said, the issue is not a combi boiler versus boiler and water tank issue. Water is wasted because the point of use (your tap) is a long way from the source of hot water (tank or combi boiler). If you don't use the tap for a while, the water standing in the pipe cools down - thus you've wasted the energy you spent in heating it up in the first place, and you need to run this cold water away before getting any new hot water. Ideally, your hot water tank or combi boiler would be immediately next to the tap, so there would be no need to run off any cold water.

 

In the case of large buildings such as offices, large apartments etc, having long pipe runs between the hot tank and the taps can result in a big energy cost. in these cases it is usual to provide a hot water circuit by pumping from the hot water tank around in a loop and back into the tank. This pipe is well insulated and there is very little heat loss. The loop runs close to the taps, such that there is only a short spur of pipe which could cool down.

 

Domestically, this isn't usually enough of a problem to require a hot water circuit(although I don't know how big Morris Mansions is),

 

Perfect logic and well explained...But I guess I'm stuck with the system as-is. I'll have to wait and see I guess.

 

Just another thought. Is it worth totally disregarding the fact I'm on a meter, and use everything as I did prior to the water meter being fitted. Then when the first bill comes in, I'll know immediately if it's cheaper, (and if it's more expensive) I can then take steps to reduce my usage, rather than worry about it now?

 

Oh and the Morris mansions, is basically a 2 up-2 down. :)

 

---------- Post added 07-01-2016 at 13:57 ----------

 

You think that's a bit extreme,he got divorced because she was having the central heating on when he went out,honestly,true story.The funny thing is he doesn't think he is tight.

 

I've already been chastised for using that phrase. The word is apparently 'careful'...Not 'tight...:hihi:

 

---------- Post added 07-01-2016 at 13:59 ----------

 

My old house mate when I was at uni used to insist on doing this. He'd pour the water out of the kettle to ensure that there was only one cup to boil and make his coffee. Then after he's made his coffee we'd have to re-fill the kettle and boil again to make our tea/coffee.

 

My boss, insists on filling the kettle to the max and boiling that regardless of how much water he actually needs...Never been able to figure out why. :huh:

Edited by PeteMorris
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