Off peak water heating - not working?

[Ashley Snowdon]

Hi

i have just rented a new gaff which only has electric.

The radiators/heating are dealt with by this huge boiler thingy in the kitchen cupboard which has peak and off peak switches. Currently this is permanently off as still too warm for heating.

The hot water is dealt with by an immersion tank in your typical airing cupboard location. In the airing cupboard it has an off peak switch (which is switched on)going to the lower heating element and then has an un marked switch (turned off)going to the upper heating element. In the kitchen there is a switched marked water heater which is switched off at the moment, I am assuming this is linked to the unmarked switch in the airing cupboard? And assuming this is to boost the hot water? I also have a switch next to electric mains box marked peak water heating and this is switched off.

My my issue is that I can hear the immersion tank heating water during the peak hours and if I go to the airing cupboard and turn off the off peak switch it stops heating. Surely this isn't right especially if I have also set the mains water peak electric switch to off? I have no idea if it's heating water during off peak.

Any my help would be appreciated as don't want a huge electric bill.

Thanks
ash.

 

[Sparkgap]

What is the off peak metering like? Not unknown for older systems to lose their time and come on at funny hours (but still charged at off-peak rates). Could be your tariff as some older ones had a boost for a few hours at midday. Could be cr@p wiring! Suggest you have a look at the meter when running and see which is going (on or off-peak) or better still get a sparky to check it.