Electric Water Heater

[Jamtart98]

Hi.
Although I am resident in Spain I think my problem is a basic,and common,one so I hope some of you can offer advice on my problem.
I had a Gas (container) Water Heater which was beyond repair and had a new Edesa 100 litre Electric Water Heater fitted early in December.It is not connected to the Heating System.
There are two of us who shower every day and the rest of the hot water is used for washing dishes and washing in general.
I believed from previous advice from various sources that keeping it on 24/7 was the most economic way to run the Water Heater and so let it run this way.
However I got a shock on receiving the first Account since the start of using it as it was more than Double my previous accounts,both in money and consumption terms.
The Electric company increased their charges from 1st.January by 9% and VAT went up 2%. Even allowing for these factors this seems to be a huge increase.
I am caught in two minds whether to query it as it may be the way I have been running the system,having said that many people I know have commented that their bills too have increased drastically.
So can anyone advise me if my consumption is down to running the new Water Heater 24/7 or might there be another explanation?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[tamz]

I think it would be more expensive leaving it on 24 hrs but anyrate electricity is an expensive way to heat anything.

 

[Reg Man]

Electric is expensive, but so is most energy now. I would try cutting down on your heating times. I thought Solar panels were the spainish theme.

 

[Jamtart98]

Thanks. You,ve confirmed what I thought and I,ve actually started operating it with a timer. This is obviously experimental too but hopefully
this will reduce the consumption and my bills.

 

[Jamtart98]

Electric is expensive, but so is most energy now. I would try cutting down on your heating times. I thought Solar panels were the spainish theme.

Thanks for that. I am now experimenting with a timer which will hopefully cut consumption and my bills.
Many Cities and Towns now make it compulsory for all new buildings to have solar panel heating.

 

[clivetheplumber]

First apartment we had, had a 100 litre electric water heater & we run that on a timer.
As you say the leccy has gone up, plus we now get billed monthly, instead of quarterly, and as Iberdrola has only the same amount of meter readers, you get one actual reading, then an estimated one, so your bill could be wrong.
Roll on the summer, when all you want is a cold shower

 

[Jamtart98]

Thanks Clive,
I suspect the Bill may be wrong as I,m hearing about a lot of people complaining that their bills have increased
drastically. I,m using the timer and will take a meter reading at the end of this month and compare it to this last one.
As you say,roll on summer and cold showers!!!

 

[Dannypipe]

As said, solar thermal is the way to go in Spain. Shame you didn't upgrade. Leaving it on 24/7 is a waste. You'll see a reduction in cost now you have a timer.