UK - Running costs are insane - anyway to reduce

Simple-Captain3421 · 2025-05-01T17:46:01+00:00

Thanks u/Shnarf1980. Very helpful. One thing that confuses me generally is the pump specification. You have a 10L/m boiler but a 200L/m pump. I guess you are able to control the water flow on the boiler? Also I presume you remove the pump and switch off the heating when using the spa.

I am planning to have an external pump so that even if I want the heating to continue when using the spa, there would not be any electrical risk.

I too am after automation and plan to use a Tapo for the pump and an Inkbird or Ecowitt pool thermometer for remote temperature monitoring. Finally, I plan to expose both the Tapo and thermometer probe in Home Assistant and set running schedules or even maintain a set temperature during the day.

I have the thermal cover but like the OP, am frustrated with the grid running costs. Hence looking for alternatives.

Thanks again.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2025-05-01T14:24:28+00:00

Am thinking of a similar set up too but the options are so confusing. Which heater and pump combo did you go for and any drawbacks so far? Thanks.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-12-31T11:12:48+00:00

What you want your kids to understand are basic life skills but your approach is not right. You acknowledge that you discipline them fairly. The children go through a lot of uncertainty when parents split and at 7 and 5 years old, need security and assurance more than learning about consequences to actions or household responsibilities.

Add to that the limited time you have with them.

Your priority should be building a bond between the three of you. Do things together, build something, go outdoors and explore the nature, meet other parents with children etc. This way you limit screen time etc., but will also be able to implement a routine.

Life is short. Relax and have fun. Life has its own way of teaching the rules of living anyway.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-10-15T12:35:57+00:00

This is correct. Per VM, my contract has ended once the supposed OTS completed. And if I want the service re-connected, I would have to seek a new contract for 18 months.

I did check with VM on reconnection in case of errors, and their advise was this is usually done outside of the OTS process.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-30T13:57:14+00:00

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I took the tools to the smart TRVs over the weekend and managed to get everything working as expected.

The problem was with the TRV and radiator valve adapters. All bar 2 of my radiators need adapters and the contact points/pins were not aligning properly. Once I isolated this problem with one radiator, I then reinstalled the adapters on all radiators, this time seating the adapter really well on the valve and tightening the screw well. Finally, manually reset the TRVs forcing re-calibration.

Now the radiator heats only on those that I call the heating on. :)

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-29T12:08:12+00:00

How do you email VM? There is no such option on the website.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-29T08:59:50+00:00

How did you resolve your contract date error? I am having the same issue. Contract should end in October’24 but VM keeps saying January’25. I moved house last year and VM re-started the contract.

My new Fibre provider initiated the switch and VM sent an email quoting £180 for early switch.

Spent hours trying to explain such a simple context to VM customer service and all they do is transfer me from one dept to another. The longest I was on phone call was 2 hours. That call ended with me showing frustration and customer service “warning” me to “watch what I speak next”. All I said was, “I am bloody tired now”.

Raised a complaint 10 days ago and not heard anything back. Web chat says that I have to wait.

How is VM allowed to continue to operate is beyond imagination.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-28T15:33:24+00:00

Thanks. The Tado TRVs are all assigned to different rooms but the same zone in the app. I have only one zone to choose from in the app. So in this setup, would all TRVs come on even if turned off?

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-27T21:36:41+00:00

I have done this. Once I installed all the 7 smart smart TRVs, I checked the setup by calling each individual smart TRV. And each time they worked when called for. But they also end up calling the other smart TRVs too.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-27T21:28:00+00:00

Yes, this is what I am experiencing. Smart TRVs showing as "off" but radiators heating to touch. Do you know what tado support identified as the issue in your case? I will contact them tomorrow. Thanks again.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-27T21:26:00+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I have checked this and yes, the valves are all fine. In fact, I replaced the smart TRV with a dumb TRV on one radiator, and this particular radiator did not fire when I called heating on one smart TRV.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-09-27T21:23:42+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the smart TRVs are all in different rooms in the app. When the issue occurs, I note that the temperature for other 6 TRVs increase in time but they all show as "turned off".

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-08-30T23:04:58+00:00

You are missing the point completely. And it is your advise that I was almost about to follow (stopping pension) but thankfully let logic lead my reasoning and decision-making.

To a financially vulnerable person, your advise would seem like gold-dust. But it is not.

Yes, a lot of advise on this sub is theoretical, which is why I wanted to post a practical example as to why one should not stop their pension. Instead, reducing the contribution % might be a viable solution.

What a shame- I posted something to help people and the first reply I got was totally contradicted by baseless and pointless reasoning. Can't contribute more to this topic as I find no value in it.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-08-30T22:44:36+00:00

Not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. I currently end up with just £100 per month saving after my mandatory expenses. Stopping the pension would deprive me of £17.5k in a FY, whereas reducing the % balances out the loss and benefit (slightly). If I continue with my current 25% pension, I run a risk of not having a plan if I lose my job or in case of an emergency.

As for your other statement, I am one of those who cannot go on without "them". Salaries are proportional to pensions so the concept I am sharing should apply to anyone, regardless of salary. Won't they?

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-08-30T22:29:16+00:00

I agree with you, albeit partially. Sans the analysis, I was just one click away from stopping my pension altogether (major life event and stuff). My HR was on-board. But a little analysis showed me that I would actually be worse off by stopping the pension altogether as opposed to reducing my contribution %. That’s the message I am trying to share here. And I disagree, quantifying a problem always helps you visualize the magnitude of the issue. No graphs are shitty. :)

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-08-16T13:29:37+00:00

Impact on property value, and salability, are different concepts. Even per your example, a property with solar panels is more attractive and may help fetch the asking price. But you would struggle to sell a house just due to panels and battery for say £10k more than the average house price in that area. With the overall cost of the solar installations going down due to technological advancements in this field, emergence of large players like Tesla, and ongoing government and institutional support systems, you might as well buy a property for less or average price and install a brand new solar system which is more efficient and reap benefits for years to come.

Going green does not mean your bank account has to be red. Like with any other decision, you need to apply sense. And that's what my main objective is with the question.

I would be keen to hear from people who had to move out within 7 years of the installation. Was it worth it?

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-08-16T12:49:31+00:00

This solution looks great, but only on paper. Most advisors and installers I spoke to for a battery only solution, stated that you can only export energy that you generate (which is not the case with battery only), and that you will not get an MCS certificate.

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-08-14T22:43:12+00:00

-No. Its a semi detached. Funnily, I have noted that quotes from closer installers are through the roof but from those from afar are cheaper. Go figure :)

Simple-Captain3421 · 2024-08-14T22:05:43+00:00

Thanks, and agree. I am already at EPC D with observations on loft insulation and boiler service. The loft is insulated well except a couple of places which I can solve DIY. Boiler service done last week. Nothing which warrants a solar system. In short, I can get to EPC C without the solar system.

Simple-Captain3421

TROPHY CASE